This qualifying campaign has seen Wales go back to the well having made history by reaching Euro 2025, the first major women’s tournament in the nation’s history.
Their attempts to repeat the qualification feat have not been helped by the loss of the inspirational Fishlock, who called time on her stellar international career last October.
Forward Kayleigh Barton – with 89 caps and 22 goals for her country – was another influential senior figure who said goodbye in the wake of the Euros, leaving head coach Wilkinson with holes to fill.
“The transition years can go either way,” Wilkinson said after the Czech triumph.
“It could be the excuse why you don’t perform, but equally it could be the reason that you discover something new.”
With Fishlock gone, Hannah Cain has emerged as Wales’ key goal threat, scoring six goals in the group phase, a tally bettered by only two players across Europe.
Cain’s progress has been significant given that she had only five international goals to her name before this campaign, and there are others in Wilkinson’s squad who have made steps forward.
Elsewhere in the attacking department, 19-year-old Mared Griffiths has quickly established herself as a senior international of some note, with her three goals in the group taking her to four in just 10 Wales games.
In midfield, Laura Hughes showed signs in the most recent camp that she could have a significant role to play alongside established stars like Sophie Ingle and Angharad James, while Carrie Jones continues to impress having reached 50 caps – and captained Wales for the first time – at the age of just 22.
The return to action of centre-back Mayzee Davies, another 19-year-old, after a year out with injury is another significant plus for Wales at the end of the group phase.
“We lost some massive characters, some really good players [after Euro 2025],” Holland said.
“I think we had some big players [in the previous campaign], but I think we’ve still got some very big players and we’ve got some fantastic youth coming through as well.”
