Wales kick off their Euro 2020 qualification campaign at home to Slovakia on Sunday evening in a game certain to bring back plenty of fond memories for the Welsh.
Wales’ first game en route to a Euro 2016 semi-final was a 2-1 win over Slovakia and now, almost three years on, Wales get their Euro 2020 qualification campaign underway in Cardiff against the same nation.
The Welsh squad is much-changed from the one that claimed that famous win in Bordeaux. Former manager, Chris Coleman, has since departed with Ryan Giggs replacing him. Whilst on the pitch a combination of retirements, loss of form and injuries have left Giggs with a new-look Welsh squad.
The home side have been dealt a major blow after confirmation that midfielder, Aaron Ramsey, has withdrawn from the squad through injury. The Arsenal midfielder, named in the Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament, has returned to his club for treatment on a thigh injury.
One player that will return after sitting out their mid-week friendly win against Trinidad and Tobago is talisman, Gareth Bale. Wales’ all-time record goal scorer is undoubtedly the star in this youthful Welsh team and will spearhead a three-pronged attack that is likely to include any two from David Brooks, Harry Wilson, Dan James and Ben Woodburn.
Incredibly, Harry Wilson (22) is the oldest of the quartet but could be edged out for a starting berth after Liverpool teammate, Ben Woodburn, claimed the winning goal against Trinidad and Tobago and The Racecourse. Newly-crowned Wales Player of the Year, Brooks, will be a leading contender to start alongside Bale but the Bournemouth man has been nursing an injury of his own in the lead up to the game. Brooks sat out the mid-week friendly win but seems to have recovered from the ankle injury that kept him in the stands and will start in Cardiff.
Ashley Williams will start in central defence for Wales, and in a squad packed with youth, the experience of the Welsh captain could prove vital. In what will be his 85th game for Wales, Williams will join the late Gary Speed in joint-third place on the list of all-time appearances for Wales. Only Chris Gunter (94) and Neville Southall (92) sit above Speed.
Gunter is in the match day squad for Wales but may have to be content with a place amongst the substitutes. For several years a stalwart for the national team, Gunter made the right-back position his own. However, the emergence of Connor Roberts has seen Gunter displaced during the Giggs reign.
Ahead of the Slovakia game, Wales manager, Giggs, has claimed that the result will be more important than the performance. The former Manchester United winger explained how crucial it is that his side get off to a winning start.
Giggs explained, “No matter what the results were, it’s important for us to get off to a good start. First game at home it’s not going to be easy. They are coming here with three points and something to either hold on for or go on and win and be in a strong position so we will need to be up for it.”
With no other playing scoring more than two goals for Wales, there will be a tremendous amount of pressure on the shoulders of Gareth Bale. The Real Madrid man can be backed to add to his 31 international goals at 5/4 to score any time. Alternatively, he is 16/5 to score first at the Cardiff City Stadium. Predictably, Bale opened the scoring when the teams met in Bordeaux in 2016. On that occasion, Wales claimed a 2-1 win. A repeat of that score line is available at a very tempting 15/2.
Sunday’s opponents, Slovakia, have already got their Euro 2020 qualification campaign up and running. Playing at home to Hungary on Thursday evening, Slovakia claimed a deserved 2-0 win. They are a massive 15/1 to repeat that score line in Cardiff.
Match odds
Wales – 53/50
Draw – 203/100
Slovakia – 261/100