"Wilkinson insists it would be a "waste of energy" to try to fill the void left by Fishlock's international retirement. "You don't do that. It's impossible and it's not fair to the player [who comes in]," Wilkinson said. Image source, FAW "I've watched it happen in Canada when Christine Sinclair retired and then they just decided 'oh this is the next [one]'" "They are one-offs. You can't do that.""
"Fishlock, who has spent the majority of her club career at American National Women's Soccer League side Seattle Reign, has joined Kayleigh Barton in hanging up the red shirt of Wales in the wake of Euro 2025, meaning opportunity knocks for younger, less experienced players to show they can flourish on the international stage. The change of personnel, Wilkinson acknowledges, means Wales face a period of transition."
Wales begins life after Jess Fishlock with a friendly against Poland, commencing a rebuild following the retirement of a long-serving cornerstone. Fishlock featured in more than two-thirds of Wales women's matches and remains a defining presence as her international career ends. Head coach Rhian Wilkinson rejects attempts to find a direct replacement, calling such efforts a "waste of energy" and noting that one-off players cannot simply be replaced. The retirements of Fishlock and Kayleigh Barton open space for younger, less experienced players to step forward. Wilkinson describes the period as both scary and exciting, with clear development opportunities.
Read at www.bbc.com
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