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Tag: wales

  • Euro 2020: Wales can’t just rely on me – Bale

    Euro 2020: Wales can’t just rely on me – Bale

    Real Madrid attacker Gareth Bale is fed-up with the focus being on him during Wales’ Euros campaign.

    Bale also indicated that his Wales teammates will do what it takes to win games as a team and do not put their egos ahead of the group.

    “Of course, I have the experience of playing in big games and hostile games,” said Bale.

    “But it’s not about me stepping up, it’s about the team stepping up. Everyone always go on about individual performances – individual this and that, who scores and who does what.

    “But the most important thing is we work hard collectively as a team, we attack and we deliver together. I’ve said it all through my Wales career, whether I’m scoring or not, that it doesn’t matter who scores.

    “Everyone’s too driven by this individual performance thing when you can’t do anything without your team-mates. We’re just purely focused on doing everything as a team together.”

    Wales face Turkey at the Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan, where the local fans are expected to support the Turkish team, but Bale will not intimidated by a possible hostile atmosphere.

    “I think it’s good to be playing in front of big crowds,” added Bale.

    “It will be nice to have that atmosphere at the stadium and get back to a bit of normality. Obviously we’d prefer to be playing in front of 34,000 Wales fans, but it’s not meant to be.

    “If anything, it kind of spurs us on to be a bit more ruthless on the pitch, and hopefully we can keep them silent.”

  • Man Utd winger reveals big Wales ambitions

    Man Utd winger reveals big Wales ambitions

    Manchester United winger Daniel James wants to help Wales repeat their heroics from Euro 2016.

    The Manchester United winger is a sure thing to make Wales’ squad for the European championships this summer.

    Asked if he thought Wales could repeat their success from 2016, in which they reached the semi-finals, James replied: “Yes, I don’t see why not?

    “I watched the last Euros on holiday in Marbella and it was unbelievable.

    “I just wanted to be a part of that.

    “Back then, I never thought I would be.

    “We are all looking forward to it.

    “The games this week have been all about the World Cup qualifiers but they are big games going into the Euros this summer.

    “We have nothing to lose.

    “We have shown we can compete against the best teams and we just have to keep performing.

    “We have strength in depth and players who can come in and do just as well.

    “Everyone in the squad has played a part throughout the campaign and the last ten days have been unbelievable.”

  • Man Utd legend Giggs arrested on suspicion of assault

    Man Utd legend Giggs arrested on suspicion of assault

    Wales manager Ryan Giggs has been arrested on suspicion of assault, according to British media reports on Monday.

    A report said the police were called to the 46-year-old former Manchester United winger’s home on Sunday night after receiving reports of a disturbance.

    “Police were called at 10:05 p.m. on Sunday to reports of a disturbance. A woman in her 30s sustained minor injuries but did not require any treatment,” the report quoted a statement from Greater Manchester Police as saying.

    “A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of section 47 assault and section 39 common assault.”

    He was released on bail pending enquiries, the report said.

    Greater Manchester Police were not immediately available for comment.

    The Welsh football association (FAW) noted the allegations against Giggs.

    “The FAW is aware of an alleged incident involving the men’s national team manager Ryan Giggs,” it said in a statement.

    “The FAW will be making no further comment at this current time.”

    Wales were due to name their squad on Tuesday for November matches against the U.S., Ireland and Finland but have postponed it, reports said.

  • COVID-19: Giggs taking positives from Euro 2020 delay

    COVID-19: Giggs taking positives from Euro 2020 delay

    Wales manager Ryan Giggs says he is trying to “look at the positives” of Euro 2020 being postponed until next summer.

    Uefa made the decision on 18 March to push the event back a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    The tournament, due to take place from 12 June-12 July this summer, will now run from 11 June to 11 July next year.

    “We were all geared up for the summer and had good momentum. Of course that’s the negative,” said Giggs.

    “It has obviously changed our plans because we were geared up to perform this summer, we had made a trip to Baku to check things and to Rome but we are just going to replicate everything next year.

    “But I always try to look at the positives. We will hopefully have Joe Allen, which we wouldn’t have had this summer, we will have a fit and firing David Brooks.

    “Also the young players who have done so well will have a year more experience, so there are plenty of positives, but ultimately we were built up for this summer.”

  • Wales lose Euro 2020 qualifier in Croatia

    Wales lose Euro 2020 qualifier in Croatia

    Wales paid the price for some poor defending in Croatia as they suffered the first defeat of their Group E Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.

    Croatia took an early lead when Jamie Lawrence turned Ivan Perisic’s driven cross into his own net.

    The World Cup finalists made it 2-0 after the break when Wales failed to clear and Perisic smashed home.

    Substitute David Brooks pulled a goal back with 13 minutes to go but Wales could not force an equaliser.

  • Robson-Kanu retires from Wales duty

    Striker Hal Robson Kanu has retired from international football with immediate effect.

    Robson-Kanu and defender Neil Taylor were absentees from the Wales squad to play the Republic of Ireland and Denmark in Nations League qualifiers.

    The 29-year old West Brom forward confirmed the news in a statementshortly after the squad announcement.

    Newcastle defender Paul Dummett, who previously asked not to be selected for international football, is recalled.

    Robson-Kanu retires having made 44 Wales appearances, scoring five goals, including two at the Euro 2016 finals. Most famously, he scored Wales’ second goal in their stunning 3-1 win over Belgium in the quarter-finals of that tournament.

    “I have made the decision to retire from international football. Long thought, but a decision made; commitments to my family and dedicating what time I have available to them and choosing to focus on my club career within sport and time needed away from the game,” Robson-Kanu wrote.

    “I wish Ryan Giggs and the team continued success in the years to come, and appreciate his understanding and support, a new generation to continue building on what Gary Speed and Chris Coleman have set in place.”

    Manager Giggs says he understands the decision made by the West Brom forward, who he believes has secured his status as a Welsh football “icon”.

    “I spoke to him yesterday and it was a difficult decision for him,” Giggs said.

    “He’s had a difficult six months, with the birth of his baby, and he wants to focus on his family and his club career.

    “He’s an icon in Welsh football with the goal he scored against Belgium and I wish him all the best.”

    Teenage forward Tyler Roberts is selected in the Wales squad, as is Manchester City’s 18-year old Matthew Smith and Chelsea defender Ethan Ampadu.

    However, Euro 2016 squad member Jazz Richards misses out.

    Wales manager Giggs also confirmed defender Ashley Williams will remain as Wales captain despite being sent off in two of his past four club appearances.

    Giggs said he was pleased to be able to recall Dummett, who asked not to be selected for a qualifier in Serbia in 2017.

    “It is a boost. I spoke to Paul when I took over and he wanted to focus on Newcastle at the time.

    “But I’ve had a chat with Paul and he’s in a good place now.

    “He’s playing regularly and captained his boyhood club on the weekend. I’m looking forward to working with him.”

    Wales squad: Hennessey, Ward, Adam Davies, Gunter, Roberts, Chester, Williams, Mepham, Lockyer, Ben Davies, Dummett, John, Ampadu, Allen, Smith, Ramsey, King, Ledley, Wilson, Brooks, Lawrence, Woodburn, Bale, Vokes, Roberts.

    BBC

  • Manchester United legend,Ryan Giggs set to be named Wales manager

    Manchester United legend,Ryan Giggs set to be named Wales manager

    Ryan Giggs is set to be named the new Wales manager on a four-year contract.The Football Association of Wales has called a news conference for Monday afternoon in Cardiff, where the former Manchester United winger is expected to be unveiled.

    Provided there is no late hitch, Giggs will be announced as the successor to Chris Coleman, who left for Sunderland in November.

    Craig Bellamy, Osian Roberts and Mark Bowen were also interviewed.

    The panel set up to conduct the search, led by FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford, is expected to put the finishing touches to the agreement on Monday morning.

    The recruitment panel decision does not have to go to the ruling council of the association because they have full powers to make the choice.

    Giggs, who has long been a target for the FAW, was one of the favourites for the role once Coleman departed after Wales failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

    Captain to manager?

    Giggs won 64 caps between 1991 and 2007 and captained his country – but he was criticised for regularly pulling out of squads and especially for missing friendly matches.

    The Manchester United great was in caretaker charge of the Red Devils for four games at the end of the 2013-14 season following the sacking of David Moyes.

    He spent the next two seasons as Louis van Gaal’s assistant but left after Jose Mourinho was appointed manager at Old Trafford.

    Giggs lost out on the Swansea job to Bob Bradley after being interviewed for the manager’s role at the Liberty Stadium in October 2016.

    It is understood that Bellamy and Roberts, who is the FAW’s technical director, also had their supporters at Welsh football’s governing body.

    Bellamy, 38, won 78 caps and is the country’s fourth most-capped player.

    The former Newcastle, Liverpool and Blackburn forward is currently an academy coach at Cardiff City, where he ended his playing career in 2014.

    Roberts has worked throughout all age grades in the Welsh system and been widely credited for helping to produce the talented crop of youngsters who will be at the disposal of the new senior manager and was Coleman’s assistant boss during a spell in which Wales reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

    Tony Pulis was also among the initial contenders to succeed Coleman, but he ruled himself out when he became Middlesbrough manager last month.

    Bowen was available after leaving Stoke, where he was assistant to boss Mark Hughes until the latter was sacked by the Potters on 6 January.