- Best Euros
- Semi-finalist 2016
- 2016 Euros
- Semi-finalist
Wales Euro Schedule
| Date | Fixture | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 12th June 2pm | Wales v Switzerland | Baku |
| 16th June 5pm | Turkey v Wales | Baku |
| 20th June 5pm | Italy v Wales | Rome |
Click here to read a full Group A preview
Road to the Euros
Losing two of their opening three group games did little for Wales’s hopes of qualifying from a group that included Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan. However, they rallied to win three and draw two of their remaining games, the last of which was a crucial 2-0 home win against Hungary, which both saw off the Hungarians’ challenge and also helped the Welsh maintain their one-point advantage ahead of Slovakia.
Current form
Five wins and a draw in their Nations League campaign saw Wales top a group that included Finland, Ireland and Bulgaria with room to spare. Their World Cup qualifiers kicked off in March with an unsurprising 3-1 reversal in Belgium (although Wales did take an early lead), but they bounced back.with a dogged 1-0 home win against Czech Republic. a scoreline they repeated against Mexico. They maintain hopes of emulating their 2016 showing, but their recent 3-0 defeat in France suggests they might come up short against Europe’s top-tier teams.
Squad assessment
Since lockdown last year, Wales have lost just twice out of eleven games, and the fact that their remaining nine games have produced six 1-0 wins and two goalless draws highlights both their strength and their weakness. Defensively, they are well-organised and resilient, but going forward they might just lack the cutting edge to open up opposing defences. With Ryan Giggs’s future in doubt as coach, Rob Page is in Welsh hot seat, and his preference for a defensively organised possession-based approach should suit his squad’s abilities and limitations.
Key players
While Aaron Ramsey’s mix of experience, quality and influence in midfield will be important, the hopes of Wales progressing beyond the group stage rest on the shoulders of their talisman Gareth Bale. Despite limited opportunities at Spurs, he has grabbed 11 goals in 20 appearances, none of which lasted a full 90 minutes (10 off the bench, 10 times subbed). If he hits the ground running in the group games, then a repeat of 2016’s heroics might be more than just a pipe dream. he will not be able to do it alone, however, and much will depend on Wales’ organisation and work ethic elsewhere, and their ability to supply Bale with quality service.
Click below to read more about each of Wales’ Group A opponents: