'Right time' to go, says Wales icon Fishlock

Jess Fishlock insisted the time is right for her to step away after the Wales icon made her final international appearance.

Fishlock extended her record as Wales' most-capped footballer as she wore the red shirt for the 166th and final time in Saturday's 2-1 friendly defeat to Australia in Cardiff.

The 38-year-old was substituted in added time at the Cardiff City Stadium, waving goodbye to a crowd of more than 11,000 and then giving an emotional speech on the pitch after the final whistle.

While she acknowledged she feels physically able to play for the national side, Fishlock said she had made the right decision by calling time on her Wales career in the wake of last summer's first major tournament appearance.

"This is the right time now," Fishlock said.

"I do feel [I can still play], but can I do it for another however many years is a big question. Maybe I can do it today, but I'll probably be in bed for two weeks after this, so that's where it gets a little bit more difficult.

"I feel like I'm leaving with the group more than capable of pushing on now. And in truth that's all I ever wanted to do, was be able to leave knowing that there's a group behind us that are able to push forward."

On an emotional afternoon in her home city, Fishlock felt sadness as she left the field.

"It kind of all hit me that this would be my last time," she added.

Fishlock came close to tears as she spoke to the crowd after the game.

She was then thrown in the air by her team-mates on the pitch, before they interrupted her post-match press conference, dancing on the stage while singing 'Fishlock's on fire'.

Fishlock said she did not how she would cope with life as a former international, adding: "I have to figure out a way obviously.

"It's all I've known, my whole career basically was playing for Wales before I was a professional. There's always been stability for me, [it is] a safe place really.

"It allowed me to grow as a person. It's been the biggest the biggest honour of my life, getting to represent Wales for this long.

"I guess I'll just have to try to figure it out."

Fishlock's stellar Wales career has spanned 19 years.

While she hopes to continue playing club football with Seattle Reign for at least one more year, Fishlock says her Wales retirement will allow her to make her life "what I want to make it".

"I get that choice now," she said.

"Hopefully I get to spend more time with my wife, which will be nice, and we can go on some holidays and we can evolve and I can evolve my life, really, and start a different version of it.

"I know it's going to be difficult, of course. I've been doing something for so long and created so much, but I am also really looking forward to starting a different journey, a personal journey, I guess."