Wales vice-captain Ceri Holland is in line to win her 50th cap for her nation if she plays both friendly matches in this international window.
Liverpool midfielder Holland currently has 48 caps to her name, and if she plays against both South Korea and Switzerland, she will add her name to the long list of Welsh half-centurions.
A potential 50th cap is an accolade so many look forward to, but for Holland, it’s just a case of one game at a time.
“It’s not something I’ve thought much about to be honest! I take one game at a time but it’s on my radar the fact that I’m getting closer to that milestone.
“But for me, it’s always been one game at a time and it’s all about 49th cap first.”
Holland made her Wales debut in April 2021 in a friendly against Canada at Cardiff International Sports Campus down in Leckwith.
The game took place during Covid and was Gemma Grainger’s first match in charge, and Holland recalled feeling a mix of emotions on the day she made her debut.
“I remember being really nervous before that game. I was playing in midfield alongside Haz and Jess, but I was excited at the same time. I remember coming into camp and never expecting to even play, so to start was a real shock to me.
“Despite the result I really enjoyed the game. It was during Covid as well which was a really strange time. It’s a time I wish my family could be there, but the situation is what it was.”
Fast forward four-and-a-half years later, and a lot has changed for Holland in a Wales shirt.
In that time, Cymru’s most versatile players has gone from a shy character to being a vice-captain, a surprise first start to becoming one of the first names on the team sheet and has been a consummate professional throughout.
Reflecting on a whirlwind few years, Holland admitted this past year has been a real change but is hoping to wear the red of Wales for many more years.
“My international has progressed quite quickly, but I’ve really enjoyed it. I think it’s been this last year that I’ve felt like a leader in this team.
“I always thought that I didn’t have that much experience compared to a lot of the girls here, so I kind of always took a step back in that sense. This year I’ve tried to put myself forward more, and Rhian has really helped me to do that and that’s been important for me.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far, and getting to wear the shirt is always the highest of honours. I hope to do it many more times.”
Two former Adran Premier players in latest Wales squad
Holland’s Terrific Wales teammates
Wales players Lily Woodham and Ffion Morgan in action during a training session at The Vale Resort, Cardiff.
(Pic by Ashley Crowden/FAW)
Another Wales star who is line to win 50 caps if she appears in both games is Ffion Morgan.
Morgan has impressed for West Ham since making the move over from Bristol City this summer, and Holland has praised the winger for wanting to push herself.
“Ffion is fantastic. She brings a lot of personality and a lot of pace. She’s absolutely rapid! I was really impressed with Ffion during the last camp. I thought she really improved, and that move to West Ham has been really beneficial for her.
“She’s moved away from home, and she’s really put herself out there, and that’s what we need players to do. We need players to push themselves at the highest level, and that’s what Ffion has done.”
One player who heads into the final camp of the year full of confidence is defender Lily Woodham.
The wing-back swapped the blue of Seattle Reign for the red of Liverpool in the summer and is coming off the back of a Player of the Match performance against Chelsea in the WSL.
Holland believes the move to the red half of Merseyside has done Woodham the world of good and still believes she can become even better in the future.
“Lily has got the attributes to be really successful in her career. She’s improving week in and week out and is working really hard at Liverpool. I’ve tried to take her under my wing a little bit, but I think Gemma Evans has probably done that a bit more!
“It’s been a really good move for her so far. She’s really enjoying it which is the main thing, but she’s being pushed at the same time which is positive. Lily has got so much more to give, but she’s improved so much in these past few months.”
Ending on a High
CARDIFF, WALES – 04 APRIL 2025: Wales’ Ceri Holland scores and celebrates making the game 1-1 during the UEFA Women’s Nations League A Match between Wales and Denmark at The Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff on the 4th April 2025. (Pic by John Smith/FAW)
While it has been an historic year for Wales, it’s also been a difficult one.
Despite reaching their first major tournament, Wales have lost nine of their eleven matches this year, drawing the other two (both against Sweden).
Rhian Wilkinson’s side have faced teams higher than them in the FIFA Rankings in every game this year, but Holland stressed the fact that the team isn’t shying away from the fact that they need a win.
“We never want to lose football matches, we’re very clear on that. There’s always disappointment when we do lose and no one is shying away from that.
“I hope that nobody thinks that we’re just happy with this being a successful year playing higher ranked opposition. It’s not about that. Sometimes you have to look at the bigger picture.
“When you go back and analyse a game you can take that emotion out of it, and we have consistently improved as the year’s gone on. We’re aware the teams we’re playing are a little bit further in their journey than we are.
“We’ve had some transition, new players come in, but we know we have to win football matches and that’s something we won’t shy away from.”
The first game of this window will see Wales take on South Korea in Malaga on Friday night.
The fixture is another chance for Cymru to test themselves against a non-European team, a challenge that Holland is looking forward to.
“It’s always good to face nations from a different continent because it gives you a different challenge. Australia had a slightly different style of play; they were very direct and looked threatening on the counter.
“South Korea like to possess the ball, and they’ve got some very good players. We don’t know too much about those players. When you play European opposition all the time you tend to play against a few of them week in and week out at club level.
“South Korea will be a different kind of challenge but it’s one we’re looking forward to.”
(Featured Image: John Smith/FAW)