Rhian Wilkinson credits Wales for much-needed performance after winning first game of 2025 | OneFootball

(Kara Thomas/SPP)

Rhian Wilkinson has praised her Wales side after they ended 2025 with their first win of the year, ending a 12-game winless run.

Wilkinson’s side beat Euro 2025 hosts Switzerland 3-2, with goals from Ingle, Hannah Cain and Lily Woodham.

Ingle had a part in all three goals, providing assists for Cain and Woodham, as Wales showed their cutting-edge in front of goal.

It was a massive boost for Wilkinson’s side, who now look ahead to the World Cup qualifiers, where they were drawn alongside Czechia, Albania and Montenegro.

What did Rhian Wilkinson say after Wales’ first win of 2025?

Speaking after Wales’ 3-2 win over Switzerland, head coach Rhian Wilkinson said she was a “proud coach” after ending a tough 2025 on a positive.

She also made a lighthearted comparison between Ingle and the retired Jess Fishlock, after the Bristol City midfielder’s starring performance. Ingle is not known for her goals, while Fishlock netted 48 in 165 games.

Wilkinson told the BBC: “Clearly, Sophie Ingle is our next Jess Fishlock in front of net. We talked about that, we’ve got to be holding ourselves to account in front of net and you don’t usually create as many chances as we did the other night (Friday’s 1-1 draw with South Korea).”

She added: “A win is one thing, a performance is another. So many different moments in the game and they absolutely rose to the occasion. I’m a proud coach today.

“I think every game we’ve played this year has been against teams that are ranked higher than us. It was a tough year as a result because we pushed ourselves.

“But we’ve been going toe-to-toe for a while now and knocking on the door, and this was the performance we needed, especially at the end of a tough year.”

Wales end difficult 2025 on a high note

Friday’s draw with South Korea meant that Wales were on their longest run of games without a win (12), since they went 15 games without winning between 1997 and 2001.

The last time Wales had won a game was their Euro 2025 playoff win against the Republic of Ireland last December.

Going into this international break, Wales were also on a seven-game losing run, which included losses to the Netherlands, France and England at Euro 2025.

In Wales’ defence, during their 12-game winless run, they had also played Italy, Sweden and Denmark twice in the Nations League and a tough friendly against Australia.

Their 5-2 defeat to Poland in October was a tough blow for Wales, as was their 1-1 draw with South Korea, which they dominated.

Wales results in 2025