KUALA LUMPUR – Wales hockey midfielder Fred Newbold is refusing to dwell on his team’s frustrating Nations Cup campaign, instead shifting his focus to the upcoming EuroHockey Championship and their ultimate goal of qualifying for the 2026 FIH World Cup.
Newbold’s remarks came after world No.19 Wales were held to a 2-2 draw by France in their final Group A fixture at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
The result saw Wales finish third in the group on two points, ending their hopes of reaching the semi-finals. France, meanwhile, topped the group with seven points to advance to the knockout stage.
Despite the outcome, Newbold believes Wales are heading in the right direction.
“It was a better performance today. This tournament has been frustrating in terms of results, but we put together more consistent phases of good hockey and played the way we wanted to,” the 24-year-old told Scoop when met after the match.
“The yellow card towards the end was disappointing—it disrupted our momentum—but overall, there were plenty of positives. We’re looking ahead to the next few matches with confidence.”
Reflecting on their earlier group-stage matches, Newbold admitted the team had let a golden opportunity slip against South Africa — a result that ultimately proved costly.
“We were 4–0 up against South Africa at half-time in the first game, and that’s a match you simply can’t lose. That result still stings. But in international hockey, it often comes down to small moments. You can’t dwell on the past—we just have to focus on what’s ahead.”
Even so, Newbold praised the character and depth within the Welsh squad, particularly highlighting the contribution of the younger players.
“We’ve got a great group—a mix of young talent and experienced heads. A few first-cappers really stepped up in this tournament, and our senior guys continue to lead by example. There’s a lot of potential here.”
Looking ahead, Newbold emphasised that their focus is now on delivering a strong showing at the EuroHockey Championship later this summer, with the aim of earning promotion to the A-Division and ultimately securing World Cup qualification.
“Our focus now is on the Euros at the end of the summer. We want to qualify for the A-Division and then push for a spot in the World Cup next year. We’re playing good hockey—we just need to maintain it for the full 60 minutes, not 59.”
Wales will next contest a crossover match in the Nations Cup on Friday, aiming to end their campaign on a positive note before regrouping for their European push. — June 18, 2025