By Matthew Burgess Defending Cup holders Connah’s Quay reached a third successive Nathaniel MG Cup final after veteran marksman Michael Wilde secured a 2-0 victory over Taffs Well. Wilde, a three-time winner of the League Cup from previous spells with The New Saints and the Nomads, pounced from close range on Callum Morris’ probing delivery […]

Brennan Johnson insists Wales can shock England and keep their World Cup dream alive. Wales’ hopes of making the knockout stages were left hanging by a thread after losing 2-0 to Iran. England’s goalless draw with the United States on Friday night means that Wales still have a path to the round of 16, but qualification is out of their own hands unless they beat Gareth Southgate’s side by a four-goal margin.

It must have felt a long way from Tylorstown as Robert Page starred out towards the world’s media and tried to explain how the heady optimism of just 16 ago had evaporated under a hot Arabian sun. Little more than two weeks ago, the Wales manager was in his home village, announcing the squad he would take to take to a World Cup finals, the first Wales manager to do so for 64 years. Now, that adventure already seems to drawing to a close after just two games following a 2-0 to Iran which was unexpected, but felt feasible from the moment Kieffer Moore missed an early opportunity.

By Graham Thomas Kieffer Moore can terrify Iran when Wales play their second match at the World Cup in Qatar on Friday. That’s the prediction of former Wales striker Iwan Roberts, who was once a similar big, powerful target man for both club and country and became a folk hero at Norwich City. Moore is […]

By Paul Jones Wales striker Kieffer Moore plans to torment Iran in the air just like England did. England smashed six past Iran in their World Cup opener, with the Iranians having no answer to the Three Lions’ aerial power. The 6ft 5in Moore watched the first half of that game before Wales set off […]

By Graham Thomas Ben Davies is part of the Wales squad chasing World Cup glory out in Qatar, but the Tottenham Hotspur star also wants to inspire the next generation. Davies – still only 29 years old, but already one of the most experienced players in Welsh football – is a huge advocate of young […]

By Paul Jones Harry Wilson has praised Neco Williams’ “courage and bravery” for playing in Wales’ World Cup opener on Monday following the death of his grandfather. Williams’ grandfather died on Sunday and the Nottingham Forest full-back shared the sad news on social media after playing in Wales’ 1-1 draw against the United States. “Yesterday […]

Since it had been 64 years since Wales were last at a World Cup, Robert Page could have been forgiven for being sketchy about their tournament form. The Wales manager didn’t go for Ivor Allchurch and Terry Medwin up front, but, strangely, he did appear to forget the impact Kieffer Moore has had on his team over the past couple of seasons and the anxiety his presence causes opponents. It meant that Moore did not appear until the second half at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, where his eventual presence against the USA transformed Welsh fortunes – and the match – and enabled Page and his players to leave with a priceless 1-1 draw.

Gareth Bale believes Wales can inspire a grateful nation of schoolchildren when they play their first match at a World Cup finals for 64 years on Monday. The Wales captain was in an emotional and reflective mood when he sat in front of the world’s media at the team’s pre-match press conference in Doha, 24 hours before they face the USA at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. It is a match of enormous historic significance and the fact that youngsters across Wales have been given time off their lessons to watch on TV was not lost on Bale, who has spent 17 years in the squad since being first capped as a 16-year-old.

Ben Cabango thought back to playing with his brother Theo in their garden. “Me and him just always used to get at it,” he said. “Looking back now, it’s just good times.” The stakes are vastly larger these days. Ben Cabango is the 22-year-old Swansea City defender preparing for Wales’ first World Cup game in 64 years, against the United States on Monday. 

Joe Allen has been backed by Joe Ledley to defy medical predictions – and help guide Wales on another major tournament adventure. Swansea City midfielder Allen has given Wales fans a major boost by taking part in training in Qatar after two months sidelined with a hamstring injury. If he proves fit ahead of his country’s World Cup opener against the USA on Monday – a match that is live on S4C – it will revive memories of Ledley’s miracle comeback from a broken leg at Euro 2016.

Wayne Hennessey’s arms are huge enough to wrap around Gareth Bale every time Welsh football’s biggest bromance is re-ignited at the team hotel. But can those arms – which give the Wales captain an enormous bear hug in countless social media clips – keep out the world’s best strikers in Qatar? The Wales goalkeeper certainly thinks so and that’s good news for anyone thinking of backing him in the markets for keeping clean sheets in the group stages at the World Cup.

By Gareth James Wales defender Connor Roberts will fulfil his World Cup 2022 ambition less than a year after fearing he would not survive a severe bout of pneumonia. Roberts was hospitalised last December and the situation was so grave that his wife Georgina was given no guarantee that the 27-year-old would pull through. “I […]

By Paul Jones Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey admits that he would love to have seen his “ultimate hero” Neville Southall play in a World Cup. Despite Southall’s sustained brilliance during a 92-cap international career that spanned 15 years, Wales did not make it to the global showcase, highlighted by agonising near-misses for the 1986 and […]

By Gareth James Football Association of Wales boss Noel Mooney has declared the World Cup a “game-changer” for Welsh football and the country itself. Skipper Gareth Bale and company arrived in Qatar in the early hours of Wednesday morning for Wales’ first appearance at a World Cup since 1958. Wales were the smallest nation to […]

Daniel James says he owes his World Cup place to his late father Kevan and will be thinking about him when Wales start their tournament on Monday. James’ father Kevan died suddenly at the age of 60 in May 2019, just as the winger was on the verge of joining Manchester United from Swansea in a £15m transfer. “It’s down to him that I’m playing here today,” said James, whose father came from Aberdare in the Cynon Valley.

Welsh football fans will hope to raise a glass to honour the players out in Qatar next week, but admirers of Joe Ledley can start now. The former Wales star and legendary fans’ favourite will be guest of honour at a wine-tasting through sport event in Penarth on Wednesday night. Hosted by the Speakeasy Club at Old Penarthians Rugby Club, former Cardiff City, Celtic and Crystal Palace midfielder Ledley will be chatting about his memories of Wales’ unforgettable march to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 as well as his time with those three famous clubs.

Gareth Bale has handed Wales a massive World Cup boost by declaring himself 100 per cent fit for the tournament in Qatar. Skipper Bale’s fitness has been a source of major concern ahead of Wales’ first appearance at the finals for 64 years. The 33-year-old has played just half an hour of football since completing his first 90 minutes for over a year in Wales’ Nations League defeat to Poland in September.

By Gareth James Rob Page believes he can turn the Wales v England World Cup showdown into a scrap with Gareth Southgate to see who’s king of the desert. Wales manager Page and his England counterpart will meet in Qatar on November 29 in the final round of matches in Group B. By that stage, […]

Russell Martin has described Swansea City’s goalless draw at bottom club Huddersfield as a “brilliant performance.” The Swansea head coach watched his team dominate the game but their fifth game without a win leaves them outside of the play-off places as the Championship campaign goes into a four-week break for the World Cup in Qatar. Remarkably, the Swans’ stuttering form has not seen them fall out of the play-off picture and although they are back in eighth spot, they will resume on December 10 level on points with sixth-placed Millwall.