Jess Fishlock of Wales. Pic: Getty Images.

Wales’ World Cup Dreamer Jess FishLock Insists “It’s About The Football . . . But It’s Never Just About The Football”

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By Paul Jones

As Wales gear up for the biggest match in their history, it is possible to assess the impact they are making in a number of different ways.

They have reached the play-offs for next year’s World Cup for the first time; they beat Bosnia & Herzegovenia in front of another record home crowd of 14,200 on Thursday night; and on Tuesday evening in Switzerland they could match the men’s team and actually qualify for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

A win will give them a minimum reward of an inter-continental play-off match next February to go to the finals, while a two-goal advantage over the Swiss could give them direct qualification, depending on other results.

But for one ex-international, Nia Jones, the power of the messages being sent out by Gemma Grainger’s team was brought home to her in the playground in the school at which she teaches.

She tweeted: THIS MORNING IN YEAR 7/8 FOOTBALL CLUB A BOY SAW SOMEONE TRY A VOLLEY OFF A CROSS AND HE SHOUTED “It’s like Fishlock!”

The crying and heart emogies gave a clear indication of how she felt about that moment. Gareth Bale? Old school. Jess Fishlock? The latest, must-copy Welsh football star.

 

Her injury time goal, effortlessly guiding Rachel Rowe’s free kick into the top left corner to help Wales win 1-0, was a thing of stunning beauty. No wonder the boys wanted to copy it.

Not that there is anything new about Fishlock grabbing the headlines. Arguably, the greatest female footballer produced by Wales, she is now 35 and has 134 caps and 30 goals for her country.

All that is missing from her international portfolio is a trip to the finals of a major championship. Tuesday night at Stadion Letzigrund, in Zurich, will give her the chance to finally fulfil her dream.

It won’t be easy, the Swiss are ranked nine places ahead of Wales in the FIFA world rankings at No. 21, but having won so much around the world during her career in England, France, Germany, Scotland, Australia and America, Fishlock is ready to take anything in her stride.

If Wales win by two clear goals, and Portugal and Scotland win the other two UEFA qualifying finals via penalty shoot-outs, Wales will go straight through to the World Cup finals. If they just win, then they will go into the 10-team Inter-Continental play-off to try to clinch the final place.

Wales manager Gemma Grainger insists winning remains the target, not a two-goal advantage.

“We are targeting a win,” she says.

“We are always going to set out to win, by however many goals is not really in our mind. It’s the same game-plan, it’s the same competitive edge, it’s the same mindset.

 

“[I would be] happy with a 1-0 win – final answer.”

Fishlock is clear in her mind, too.

“As far as I am concerned, we have nothing to lose. We have never been to a World Cup before, we have never been in this situation before, so what have we got to be scared of? What have we got to be worried about?” says Fishlock.

“We are going into a situation we’ve never been in before, so there’s no pressure because no-one will expect us to win.

“In terms of rankings, seedings, everything – the pressure is all on Switzerland.

“I just feel we should go and enjoy it and play like we can play. We haven’t beaten teams like the Swiss away from home, but if we play only 50 per cent of how we played against France, then we’ll give them a game – I can promise you that.”

Already an MBE, Fishlock will join the ranks of Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Ian Rush, Neville Southall, Mark Hughes, Ryan Giggs, John Charles and Jayne Ludlow in the pantheon of Welsh footballers if she can guide her side to another great win.

She is the trailblazer for the women’s game in Wales and more than happy to fly around the world to represent her country.

Jess Fishlock warming up for her club, OL Reign. Pic: Getty Images.

She loves the football, but it is the political points the Wales team are making on the field that drives her on as well.

“There is a broader narrative with women’s sport in general with this Welsh team. When you consider everything we have to fight for whenever we are doing our sport, there is always a bigger picture,” she adds.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have the luxury of it just being about football. That’s something we have always had and always carried.

“Off the field, this team has changed an entire nation. That is what we have done – whilst also still doing everything we have done on the field.

“We sit down in groups and ask: what can we do for schools? What can we do for clubs? What can we do for this or that?

 

“We know that what we do is never going to be just about football.”

Whether you agree with her or not, the evidence is there for all to see. Just take a look at what is going on in the school playgrounds.

 

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