Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency Image caption, Mayzee Davies suffered an ACL injury playing for Wales in May 2025 ByMark PoyserBBC Sport Wales Published 2 minutes ago Wales defender Mayzee Davies says missing Euro 2025 through injury has given her extra motivation for the World Cup play-offs.
The 20-year-old suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury on international duty in May 2025 which kept her out of action for 13 months.
She missed Wales' historic first ever major tournament appearance and now is determined to reach the 2027 World Cup.
Wales face Albania in Shkoder on Friday, 9 October in the first leg of their semi-final with the return fixture in Llanelli four days later.
Albania v Wales Women's World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final Friday, 9 October at 17:00 BST Loro Borici Stadium, Shkoder Watch on iPlayerListen on Sounds Live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales Extra, Radio Cymru, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.
"It was so hard," she said.
"It was just so sad for everyone, even in my street, it affected us.
"I'd just broken through [into the team] and I was 18 going to my first major tournament.
"It was horrible, and I think everyone close to me felt it.
"And at the time, I didn't realise how bad it was until I looked back and went how did I get through that?
"It was horrendous." Reaching World Cup would 'extra special' Figure caption, Davies dreams of World Cup after missing Euros with injury The Manchester City defender returned to action with Wales for their final two group qualifiers in June against Montenegro and Czech Republic.
And now she is determined not to miss out again.
"I want to get to the World Cup because obviously I missed out last time, so I want to feel what it's like to go to a major tournament with Wales.
"It does give me that extra motivation.
I love playing for Wales and I think we're quite a passionate country anyway.
"So I think to play in a World Cup for Wales, obviously in Brazil, it would be amazing.
"Not just for me and my family, obviously coming off the back of the injury as well, I think it would make it extra special if we got there." Davies admits she found her 13-month recovery tough and worried she may never return.
"I think once I had the surgery I was literally stuck on the sofa, I couldn't do anything on my own.
"I was like, how am I ever going to like be a footballer again at this stage?
"But I had good people around me, team-mates, my family, and then it does get better.
"One day you just wake up and you're like, 'oh, I can start to walk again now'." Wales can't dwell on 'who's not here' Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Ceri Holland is one of a number of players who are missing through injury for Wales Wales have suffered a host of injury withdrawals ahead of the Albania ties, losing a number of key players including Ceri Holland ands Hayley Ladd.
But facing a team 37 places below them in the Fifa world rankings, Davies knows there can be no excuses for Wales as they bid to set up a play-off final against either Romania or Norway.
"Obviously this camp we've had a lot of injuries to like more experienced players, the usual faces," she said.
"But I think everyone in this group now, you have to make sure all the new people feel a part of the team and feel valued.
"She [Head Coach Rhian Wilkinson] said at the end of the day, we always respect every opponent we come up against.
"But this is a must-win game and we can't dwell on who's not here.
