Category Wales

Tributes paid to former Wales, Burnley and Swansea winger Leighton James | Football

The previous Wales winger Leighton James has died on the age of 71. James’s former golf equipment Burnley and Swansea – the place he spent 13 years of a vibrant 19-year senior profession – have been amongst these to pay tribute to a gifted participant who gained 54 caps for his nation. “We’re sorry to listen to the information of Leighton’s passing,” the Burnley chairman, Alan Tempo, mentioned of James, who had three spells at Turf Moor and scored 81 targets in 399 appearances for the Clarets. “He left an indelible mark on this soccer membership and tales of his taking part in expertise nonetheless echo round Turf Moor. Our ideas are along with his household at this unhappy time.” Swansea-born James made his Burnley debut in 1970 – his tempo and trickery rapidly making him a followers’ favorite – earlier than becoming a member of Derby for a then membership document charge of £310,000 and having a one-season cease at QPR. James returned to Burnley in 1978 earlier than becoming a member of his hometown membership two years later and serving to their rise in to the outdated First Division below John Toshack. “Swansea…

Read MoreTributes paid to former Wales, Burnley and Swansea winger Leighton James | Football

Cardiff turns into a theatre of pain and leaves Wales facing an empty summer | Wales

Well, that’s one thing new no less than. And don’t fear. It solely takes about 30 years, a bit little bit of scar tissue, and maybe a mournful novelty tune to recover from it. Poland had 5 pictures on course all night time on the Cardiff Metropolis Stadium. Sadly for Wales all 5 got here within the penalty shoot out on the finish of two and a half hours of relentlessly draining Euro 2024 qualifying playoff soccer. Within the course of a primary ever aggressive shootout for Wales turned additionally a primary ever defeat by that almost all knuckle-biting of margins. It fell to Dan James to contribute the decisive miss at 5-4 down, all the time the worst option to lose on this self-contained theatre of ache. The kick felt incorrect from the second James lined it up. The run was too brief. There may be that feeling, in these moments, of a footballer all of a sudden cramped in their very own area, the radar beginning to bleep, the dials whirring, the day beginning to slide the incorrect method. Wojciech Szczesny didn’t actually have to reserve it, simply stay within the path of…

Read MoreCardiff turns into a theatre of pain and leaves Wales facing an empty summer | Wales

Ramsey reliant no longer: Wales’s new class are filling the void | Wales

Listening to Rob Web page final week talk about resisting the temptation to name up Lewis Koumas, the 18-year-old who scored on his Liverpool debut final month, was to ram residence the sense that this actually is a brand new period for Wales. A couple of minutes later, Matty Jones, the Wales Underneath-21s supervisor who performed with Koumas’s father, Jason, jested concerning the line doing the rounds at their base within the Vale of Glamorgan. “I feel it’s an inside joke in the mean time that I simply see former teammates of mine and look if their sons are taking part in,” he stated. Web page believes Wales are in impolite well being; the most effective place they’ve been in his tenure as a result of so many gamers – besides, worryingly, his 4 goalkeepers – are recurrently making a dent for his or her golf equipment. However maybe probably the most telling indication of the shift was when he instructed they don’t want Aaron Ramsey in fairly the identical means they as soon as did. It was the 33-year-old’s double that propelled Wales to Euro 2020, the same night Gareth Bale’s flag stole the…

Read MoreRamsey reliant no longer: Wales’s new class are filling the void | Wales

Wales v Croatia: Euro 2024 qualifier – live | Euro 2024 qualifying

Key occasions Present key occasions solely Please activate JavaScript to make use of this characteristic 36 min: Croatia actually not having fun with themselves, the Welsh forwards operating again to deal with after they suppose they’ve time on the ball. 33 min: Brozovic, one among that trio of midfielders that took Croatia to such heights, steps ahead. None of them have had it simple in Cardiff. 31 min: Croatia making an attempt to step out, having been penned again, however then Wales go lengthy, and Neco Williams follows up on Harry Wilson’s flick and lets fly. Good save from Livakovic once more. Will Wales come to rue their dominance not leading to a purpose? 29 min: Beautiful holdup play from Kieffer Moore, such a very good contact for a giant man. Perhaps not the very best finisher ever, however a fantastic footballer. Bournemouth ought to use him extra, and by the tip of the season, might nicely do. 28 min: A Croatia assault, and Ben Davies covers nicely to chop off Majer. 26 min: Livakovic collects the ball from a flick-on and takes his time. Croatia want a breather, and are in peril after that…

Read MoreWales v Croatia: Euro 2024 qualifier – live | Euro 2024 qualifying

UK and Ireland confirmed as hosts for men’s Euro 2028 by Uefa | Euro 2028

The UK and Eire have been confirmed by Uefa because the hosts of the lads’s European Championship in 2028. The choice was a formality after Turkey withdrew its bid final week. Ten venues throughout the 5 host international locations have been proposed to Uefa for a event to be contested by 24 groups, 10. Six of these venues are in England and one every in Northern Eire, Republic of Eire, Scotland and Wales. It raises the prospect of Wembley internet hosting the 2028 ultimate, seven years after it hosted a men’s Euros final and 6 years after it hosted a women’s Euros final. About three million tickets shall be on the market and the organisers intention to cost them pretty. The collective bid made its presentation to Uefa’s govt committee on Tuesday and the award of the event was then rubber-stamped. Bid leaders estimate that the 2028 event is projected to generate about €3bn (£2.6bn) of financial profit for the 5 host nations. Euro 2028 stadiums The 5 groups are anticipated to take part in qualification within the regular trend, with Uefa reserving two “security web” berths for host groups that don’t qualify on benefit.…

Read MoreUK and Ireland confirmed as hosts for men’s Euro 2028 by Uefa | Euro 2028

Nayir and Guler guide Turkey to win against Wales after Morrell sees red | Euro 2024 qualifying

After hanging within the sport valiantly with 10 males for therefore lengthy, for Wales how this shortly unravelled into one other completely demoralising night. Turkey had a purpose disallowed both aspect of the Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward beautifully denying Hakan Calhanoglu from the penalty spot halfway by the second half however the hosts finally obtained on the scoreboard legitimately through the substitute Umut Nayir on 72 minutes. Then got here a second, courtesy of one other substitute, an exquisite bending effort from 25 yards by Arda Guler. Abruptly, that was that. Different adjectives would in all probability spring to thoughts for Wales, who performed greater than 55 minutes with 10 males after Joe Morrell was given a straight pink card. Ward regarded like being the hero for Wales after holding out Calhanoglu’s spot-kick, awarded after Aaron Ramsey was harshly penalised for handball, low right down to his proper however Turkey didn’t relent. Nayir, who had a purpose disallowed for handball three minutes earlier, towered above Chris Mepham and his header was too highly effective for Ward, whose proper hand couldn’t stop the ball nestling within the nook after it kissed a submit. On the midway…

Read MoreNayir and Guler guide Turkey to win against Wales after Morrell sees red | Euro 2024 qualifying

Poland and Swiderski consign Wales to Nations League relegation | Nations League

Wales’ World Cup send-off led to a 1-0 defeat to Poland and relegation from the Nations League’s prime tier. Karol Swiderski, simply as he had carried out when the 2 sides met in Wroclaw in June, got here up with a second-half winner to seal Wales’ demotion to League B. Wales wanted victory in Cardiff to safe their place within the prime flight of European soccer and relegate Poland to the second tier. However Poland stood agency after Swiderski’s strike and Wales couldn’t discover a method by, with Gareth Bale going the closest when heading in opposition to the crossbar in stoppage time. This was Wales’ closing sport earlier than their first at a World Cup for 64 years, their Qatar opener in opposition to the US approaching 21 November. Bale returned to the beginning line-up to win his 108th cap, only one in need of Chris Gunter’s males’s nationwide group report. Bale was a second-half substitute in Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to Belgium after arriving late on camp from America because of his enjoying commitments at Los Angeles FC. The 33-year-old accomplished his first 90 minutes for the reason that World Cup qualifier in opposition…

Read MorePoland and Swiderski consign Wales to Nations League relegation | Nations League

Gareth Bale and Wales focus on getting house in order before World Cup | Wales

When England exited Euro 2016 through an ignominious defeat to Iceland, Wales took nice delight of their distress, celebrating at their lodge base in Dinard. A video of the Wales squad leaping for pleasure and huddling collectively as England’s gamers fell to the ground like dominoes went viral. England’s relegation from the Nations League is incomparable and neither had been Wales, 67 days out from once they collide of their closing Group B match on the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, ever going to ponder a repeat of these scenes, which, it’s honest to say, acquired blended critiques. It’s 5 lengthy video games with out a win for England and 4 for Wales however the latter undeniably discover themselves in a great place earlier than internet hosting Poland on Sunday, inspired by a powerful second-half efficiency in Thursday’s defeat to Belgium, No 2 within the Fifa rankings. Then there may be the small matter of a visit to Qatar and a primary World Cup in 64 years on the horizon. Wales’ first Group B opponent, the USA, have additionally not satisfied of late and slipped to defeat to Japan on Friday however Gareth Bale shouldn’t be…

Read MoreGareth Bale and Wales focus on getting house in order before World Cup | Wales

Belgium v Wales: Nations League – live | Nations League

Key occasions Present key occasions solely Please activate JavaScript to make use of this characteristic Calming half-time leisure. HALF TIME: Belgium 2-0 Wales Wales have appeared half-decent in assault, however in any other case they’ve been very a lot second finest. Belgium may simply have had a number of extra. They’ve been magnificent. Right here’s Peter Oh: “I’m afraid even a rousing half-time speech by Michael Sheen himself gained’t repair this one.” 45 min: Roberts races down the fitting and wins a nook. Might Wales seize one thing that might completely alter the momentum of this sport? Properly, practically. The nook will get during to Williams on the left. He’s acquired time to lure and form a shot in direction of the highest proper. Sadly it pings off Norrington-Davies’s shoulder and over for a aim kick. 44 min: Nothing comes of that nook both. Wales may do with half time. 43 min: Nothing comes of the nook, which is half cleared. Hazard comes again at Wales and wins one other. 42 min: Belgium, unruffled, return up the opposite finish and proceed to probe. All of a sudden Tielemans lotions a protracted go up the fitting…

Read MoreBelgium v Wales: Nations League – live | Nations League

Emiliano Sala pilot told friend plane was ‘dodgy’ before fatal flight | Emiliano Sala

The pilot of a aircraft by which the footballer Emiliano Sala died instructed a pal the plane was “dodgy”, after an outward flight from Cardiff to Nantes. The 28-year-old participant was flying from Nantes in France to Wales to affix then Premier League membership Cardiff City when the aircraft crashed within the Channel near Guernsey. His pilot, 59-year-old David Ibbotson, was additionally killed. Audio aired on the BBC’s Transfer: The Emiliano Sala Story podcast captures Ibbotson expressing his issues. In a voicemail to his pal Kevin Jones, aired on the podcast, Ibbotson will be heard saying: “I picked a footballer up from Cardiff. He’s simply been purchased from Nantes for, I feel it was about, £20m-worth or one thing. “They’ve entrusted me to choose him up in a dodgy (plane). Usually I’ve my lifejacket between my seats however tomorrow I’m carrying my lifejacket, that’s for positive.” An inquest in March discovered the Argentina-born striker was unconscious when he died from head and chest accidents on the night of 21 January 2019, having been poisoned by fumes from the Piper Malibu’s defective exhaust system. Ibbotson, whose physique has by no means been discovered, was an beginner…

Read MoreEmiliano Sala pilot told friend plane was ‘dodgy’ before fatal flight | Emiliano Sala