Ingle eager to recover to be part of Wales' Euro adventure

Sophie Ingle says Wales' "incredible" feat in qualifying for a major championship for the first time in the history of the women's team is the best spur she could have wished for in her recovery from a serious knee injury.

The 33-year-old Chelsea midfielder damaged her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during her club's pre-season win over Feyenoord on 7 September.

That ruled Ingle out of the culmination of Wales' Euro 2025 qualifying campaign, which climaxed on Tuesday as she watched her team-mates seal a 3-2 aggregate victory after the second leg of their play-off final against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

"This is my aim now, I've got eight months to get back fit - as fit as I can - and hopefully be in with selection for this Euros," Ingle said.

"Obviously it's a daily grind but at least I've got an amazing aim to try and reach."

Goals from Hannah Cain and Carrie Jones in the Aviva Stadium saw Wales book their place in next summer's finals in Switzerland, after near misses in qualification for the past three major tournaments.

"It's been so long in the seniors, 15 years, back-to-back campaigns and to watch the girls [qualify]... it was incredible," Ingle added.

"At the time when you miss out on campaigns and you watch the Euros or the World Cups that you're not there, it's tough as a player, individual, team.

"You think 'little old Wales could be there' but those learnings are so important for us as a group of players and staff, and the majority of the team have stuck together for at least 10 years now.

"Obviously we're adding a bit of youth in, a bit more experience into our team and to finally do it is honestly amazing."

Ingle says that Wales finally realising their dream of reaching a major championships will continue to resonate as the women's game strengthens in the nation.

"I think we've been fighting for so many years for so many different things off the pitch and then Friday night [in the first leg in Cardiff], to get a record crowd - we've been building for that for years and years, it doesn't just happen over time," she said.

"Now hopefully with us winning, us getting to a major tournament, that fan base is going to continue to grow, there's going to be more girls and boys wanting to come to our matches and support us, and we'll give back as much as we can.

"It's special, I think the women's game now in Wales is going to skyrocket and I'm just so glad I'm a part of it, alongside many of my best friends over 10-plus years.

"It means so much to all of us, don't get me wrong, but especially the likes of Jess [Fishlock], everything she's done for Welsh football, for us as mates, team-mates over the years, just seeing how happy she is at the end of that game... I'm so glad we did it for her as well."