Euro 2025: Boss Rhian Wilkinson says Wales are ‘culturally behind’ with women’s football

Wilkinson said she would like to see more families embracing the women’s game and there was still a perception being fed down that it is inferior to the men’s game.

“I hate this men versus women argument, I’ve spoken to Craig [Bellamy, Wales men’s manager] at length about it,” she added.

“I am as big as supporter of his, as he is of mine, and there’s no need for comparison. We are Welsh, we are proud of being Welsh, we are proud of Welsh sport. Your Welsh women’s team is on the world stage, come and support them.

“Get rid of all this other story you’ve got in the back of your head. It’s time to step forward and just support our female and male athletes equally.

“Whenever I feel that we are demonstrating to our young people, boys and girls, that there is a more than and a lesser than and that it’s gendered, it really bothers me.

“Because I can see that next generation, don’t think that they’re not noticing that their mums and dads bring them only to the men’s game, like that is of more value.

“I’m not talking about financial value and that’s where I think people get confused. I’m talking about you’re showing and demonstrating that the men are more deserving just by showing up or how you talk about it at home.”

Wilkinson said men’s boss Bellamy has been a great advocate.

“The men’s team, I’ve had a few of them come in to speak to the group, it means a lot,” she said. “Why wouldn’t we try and big each other up and promote one another?

“And I think Craig epitomises that. He never mentions being a father or having a wife or having a mother. It’s just he’s a proud Welshman and the women had an opportunity to put the sport on the world stage.”

Wilkinson added players like Jess Fishlock, Wales’ most-capped player and record goalscorer are “criminally underrated, even at home”, and said she was hoping Wales’ first major finals appearance can create a lasting legacy of more opportunity for girls at grassroots level.

“I think my biggest, biggest message is we cannot continue to be okay with it being so difficult for our young girls to have the same opportunities,” added the former defender, who won 183 caps for Canada.

“I’m hoping that this Euros campaign will continue just to highlight these incredible women, ambassadors of the game, give them a platform that they so richly deserve and that that message starts resonating more and more – not just in our cities but across this amazing country.

“Because there’s a lot of beautiful small areas in Wales that really do have a challenge to not just have a women’s team but to have a competition for those young girls’ teams to play in.

“That is the challenge, it needs to continue to be invested in, and to continue to grow.”