Fishlock’s desire to compete at the top with Wales has seemed like less of a fantasy in the past decade with increased spending from the Football Association of Wales leading to steady progress for the international side.
Twice, under manager Jayne Ludlow, they almost qualified, first for a World Cup and then for a European Championship. The latter disappointment, where Wales missed out to Northern Ireland on away goals scored, despite an identical points tally and a vastly superior goal difference, still hurts.
It was a similar story in 2022, Wales beaten in a World Cup play-off final in (again) Switzerland, losing 2-1 to the Swiss in the final seconds of extra time, with a penalty shoot-out looming.
At each failure, Fishlock has pondered, often publicly, retiring from international football.
“After Switzerland I didn’t know what to do. Can I do two more years? Can I deal with anymore heartache? It took a long time to get over that defeat, it was a bit soul-destroying to be honest.”
Yet she continued, never stopped chasing the dream and eventually, it came to fruition.
Wales won their Nations League B group and qualified for the Euro 2025 play-offs, drawing Slovakia in the semi-finals.
Disaster struck with Fishlock sidelined for a month leading into the match with a calf injury, fit enough only to start as a sub in the away leg. With Wales 2-0 down and facing a crisis, Fishlock entered the fray and created a goal for Ffion Morgan.
It was Fishlock – of course – who scored the goal that levelled the tie in Cardiff, playing 120 minutes as Wales eventually triumphed 2-0, with Fishlock creating Ceri Holland’s injury time winner.
Fishlock also provided the assist for Lily Woodham in the first leg of the play-off final as Wales drew 1-1 with Republic of Ireland, before the dramatic second leg in Dublin where a 2-1 Welsh win saw them finally make history and qualify for a major tournament for the first time.
After the match Fishlock told the pitchside BBC reporter that it was “the proudest moment,” of her career.
With the benefit of hindsight, another emotion has been added to the euphoria. A feeling of relief.
“There was a big element of, you know, oh my god, finally,” Fishlock said.
“Finally this has happened. And there was relief which I wasn’t expecting. Maybe I just hadn’t realised how kind of big it had been weighing on me for all these years until that moment happened. And so there was obviously joy and euphoria but there was also relief for me specifically.
“I can’t believe that we have done it.
Finally the greatest female footballer Wales has ever produced will represent her country on the biggest stage.
The dream has become reality.