Wales have no fear of 'beatable' Ireland
Rhian Wilkinson says Wales have nothing to fear in their Euro 2025 play-off final against the Republic of Ireland as they try to reach a major tournament for the first time.
Wales welcome Ireland to Cardiff on Friday (Live on RTÉ2/Player), with the Aviva Stadium hosting the return leg on Tuesday.
The winners will progress to the European Championship finals in Switzerland next summer.
The Republic broke new ground by qualifying for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, while Wales are still waiting to play at a major tournament, having suffered play-off despair against Switzerland last time out.
Wales boss Wilkinson said: "We’ve never done it before and we’ve got nothing to be fearful of. We have nothing to protect.
"When you haven’t done something before you always have that challenge to be the first. This is the attitude we have.
"Ireland have been there before and they’ll potentially have that fear of not going again.
"We have two incredible challenges ahead of us, but these are the games that are meaningful and have pressure on them – and that’s a privilege."
Ireland are ranked 24th in the world - five places higher than Wales - and thrashed Georgia 9-0 on aggregate to coast through their play-off semi-final.
Wales needed extra time before overcoming Slovakia 3-2 on aggregate but did beat Eileen Gleeson's side 2-0 in a February friendly.
"Obviously that helps," said Wilkinson, who was watching in Dublin that night just hours after being appointed as Wales head coach.
"Winning is always going to breed confidence and success and positivity.
"But that team is not the same and we are not the same as we were in February, so it’s a brand new challenge.
"We know they are absolutely beatable because of the game in February, but equally we’ll have to be better than we were then to beat them again."
Wales’ most-capped player and record goalscorer Jess Fishlock has not played since the Slovakia victory a month ago, but Wilkinson says the Seattle Reign veteran is "fully fit" and will start at Cardiff City Stadium.
The Republic are without injured quartet Louise Quinn, Ellen Molloy, Lucy Quinn and Jess Ziu, but London City Lionesses duo Megan Campbell and Ruesha Littlejohn are available.
Watch Wales v Republic of Ireland in the Euro 2025 play-offs on Friday from 6.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on 2fm's Game On
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