Hayley Ladd believes the heartache of missing out on major tournaments has shaped Wales’ history-makers as she prepares for her international career to go full circle at Euro 2025.
Wales will end their long wait for a major tournament appearance against the Netherlands in Lucerne on Saturday – and 105-times capped Everton defender Ladd has had a longer journey than most.
She won her first Wales cap in Switzerland 14 years ago and was part of teams that went close to qualifying for Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Cup.
Ladd said: “It is frustrating when you’re in those moments and you feel the team can do better.
“But I reflect on those campaigns under different managers and I believe it has built us up to where we are now.
“We’ve learned different styles and we’ve got different attributes as a group. We’ve been tested along the way and that experience has rolled into us being in a really good shape now.
“It helps us that we’ve got to a major tournament having been through all that heartache. We’ve evolved and with time we’ve added more layers to our game.
“Losing the World Cup play-off to Switzerland (to a last-gasp goal in extra time) hit hard, especially being in the back line, but I didn’t feel in that game we’re as confident as we are now.”
Ladd returns to Switzerland at the Euros having made her debut in the Swiss town of Saviese against New Zealand in June 2011.
Only team-mates Jess Fishlock, Sophie Ingle and Angharad James have won more caps than the 31-year-old.
She said: “I’ve got such fond memories of that first camp. It was up one of their amazing mountains and it was magical getting my first cap there.
“To go back to Switzerland with this group, with all the hard work we’ve put in, is a really special moment.”
Wales, the lowest-ranked team at Euro 2025, are also in the same group as France and defending champions England.
Ladd was born in St Albans in Hertfordshire but qualified to play for Wales through her Haverfordwest-born father.
Prep time 🏃♀️ pic.twitter.com/PyxEMoFjCD
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) July 1, 2025
“I couldn’t believe the draw,” said Ladd. “I had to take another look and let it sink in.
“England is a Derby game and the teams in our group are particularly good. But you realise it’s the biggest stage and you’re going to play the top teams.
“There’s the added element that teams may underestimate us because the group is so strong, and that could play to our advantage. But there is no shying away from the quality of the teams in our group.”
