Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson says her senior side need the help of young players to qualify for the European Championship in 2025.

Image source, FAW

Rhian Wilkinson admits Wales have to aim to make history by reaching the Euro finals in Switzerland.

Wales are the best-ranked side in League B4 of Euro 2025 qualifying - with Kosovo and Ukraine also joining Croatia in their group.

Tonight marks the start of the latest bid to reach a first ever major tournament, something Wales have come so close to doing in recent campaigns only to fall agonisingly short.

"This is something we want to do as a team, but we can't think that far ahead," said Wilkinson.

"We know we've got three Fifa windows before we even get to the first play-off and then there's the second play-off.

"We talk about it in terms of vision clarity and making sure we're all heading in the same direction, but then it's the next game and the performance ahead of us."

Read more: Wales boss Wilkinson targets history in 'perfect' role

Katie Sherwood
Former Wales midfielder on BBC Match of the Day Wales

I'm expecting an attacking style, I think that is what this team needs.

If you look at Rhian Wilkinson's previous teams, they score goals, but they also don't concede many.

I'm really excited for Wales to get going.

Wales have only played one game since Gemma Grainger's departure, but it proved to be a very positive evening as Jess Fishlock and Lily Woodham scored to give Wales a 2-0 away win against Republic of Ireland.

Rhian Wilkinson watched from the stands in Dublin on that occasion, as interim boss Jon Grey led the team to a convincing win.

Image source, FAW

Rhian Wilkinson insists it will be "evolution, not revolution," as she looks to make her mark in her first match in charge.

Wales have come close to qualifying in recent campaigns, only to fall agonisingly short.

"We have our ambitions, we know what it will take to achieve them," she said.

"I am looking forward to getting on the grass and getting that first game under our belt.

"I think the team is flying and that's a great thing. They are in a position where they can go out and deliver.

"Absolutely it is evolution not revolution. This team does not need to be revolutionised. We just want to add elements to add to our success."

Read more: Wales head coach Wilkinson wants 'evolution, not revolution'

Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales at the Racecourse, Wrexham

If Croatia lose tonight and their manager blames a lack of potassium, then I am going to have told hold my hands up as a culprit.

Staying in the same hotel as the Croatian national side, this morning I somehow didn't see the giant 'Reserved for Croatian football team sign' and ended up stealing one of their bananas.

There is probably a banana Split joke in this, as it was a Croatian banana, but I haven't worked out the details of this anecdote/theft yet.

Image source, FAW

Jess Fishlock says Wales are determined to reach their first major finals in what is likely to be her final campaign.

Fishlock, 37, is bidding to reach 150 caps as Rhian Wilkinson's side face Croatia and Kosovo in their opening qualifiers this month.

But the Seattle Reign midfielder accepts her time as a Wales player may be coming to an end.

"I am 37 now and probably this is going to be my last campaign," she said.

Fishlock considered quitting after Wales' World Cup qualifying hopes were ended after a play-off defeat by Switzerland in October 2022.

"After the Switzerland game, I really thought about quitting, it was very hard. I tried to be strong for the squad when we were together," said said.

"I went to bed, I woke up and when I woke up I was ready to go again.

"'One more campaign', that's what I said when I woke up."

Read more: 'Euro qualifiers are probably my last campaign' - Fishlock

Wales captain Sophie Ingle says her side have taken a lot of learnings from their Nations League campaign.

Wales suffered five defeats in the competition's top tier before earning a 0-0 draw with Germany in Swansea to finish off the campaign.

Since then, Wales beat Republic of Ireland 2-0 in February and are now preparing to face a side lower ranked than them for the first time in more than a year.

On the latest episode of the Feast of Football podcast, Carl Roberts, Iwan Roberts and Helen Ward preview Rhian Wilkinson's first game in charge of Wales.

Listen here: Episode 298 - A New Era for Wales

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Tonight's game against Croatia will be Wales' first at the Stok Racecourse since March 2020.

The Cardiff City Stadium and Swansea.com Stadium have hosted the majority of games in recent years, but will not be used during this campaign.

Llanelli's Parc y Scarlets will host their other two home qualifiers against Ukraine on Friday, 31 May and Kosovo on Tuesday, 16 July.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

So we know Wales' opponents, but how can Rhian Wilkinson’s side reach the Euro 2025 finals in Switzerland?

BBC Sport Wales presenter Catrin Heledd explains how the complicated qualifying process works.

Rhian Wilkinson was appointed Wales head coach on 27 February on a three-year deal, succeeding Gemma Grainger who quit the role to take charge of Norway.

The 41-year-old is a former Canada defender, winning 181 caps and two Olympic bronze medals during her time as a player.

But Wilkinson's roots are in Wales. She has a Welsh mother and lived in Wales for 18 months as a child.

"My mother is Welsh, and I spent part of my childhood growing up in south Wales, so I'm excited to involve myself with the country's culture and explore that part of my roots even further," Wilkinson said when appointed.

Read more: Rhian Wilkinson named new Wales head coach

Image source, FAW

Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales at the Racecourse, Wrexham

And here's how the away side shape up for tonight's match in Wrexham.

Croatia: Doris Bacic, Maria Kunstek, Leonarda Balog, Kristina Nevrkla, Tea Vracevic; Tea Krznaric, Ruzica Krajinovic, Ana Jelenic, Petra Pezelj, Andrea Glibo, Izabela Lojna

Subs: Ana Filipovic, Laura Fiket, Ivana Slipcevic, Janja Canjevac, Ivana Kirilenko, Karla Jedvaj, Veronika Terzic, Paula Vidovic, Ana Maria Markov, Fatjesa Gegollaj

Image source, BBC Sport

Michael Pearlman
BBC Sport Wales at the Racecourse, Wrexham

Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson makes one change to the side that won in Dublin in their last match, with defender Josie Green dropping out of the starting XI.

She is replaced by Ella Powell, who is likely to start at right wing-back with Rhiannon Roberts moving into central defence.

Jess Fishlock is likely to have a free role as she represents Wales for the 149th time in her glittering career.

Wales: Olivia Clark; Ella Powell, Lily Woodham, Rhiannon Roberts, Gemma Evans, Hayley Ladd; Rachel Rowe, Sophie Ingle, Angharad James, Jess Fishlock, Elise Hughes

Subs: Laura O’Sullivan, Soffia Kelly, Josie Green, Charlie Estcourt, Mayzee Davies, Lois Joel, Alice Griffiths, Ffion Morgan, Ceri Holland, Kayleigh Barton, Mary McAteer, Ellen Jones, Ella Powell

Image source, BBC Sport

A new era for Wales begins this evening, as head coach Rhian Wilkinson takes charge for the first time.

There is no friendly game to ease Wilkinson into the job, as tonight Wales begin their Euro 2025 qualification campaign against Croatia at the Racecourse.

We'll bring you everything you need to know about the qualification group and Wilkinson's appointment before kick-off, but first here is a look at the two teams.

Image source, FAW