Wales manager Robert Page declared it a case of “job done” after his team continued a promising start to their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign by beating Latvia 1-0 in Cardiff. Kieffer Moore’s first-half header made the difference, with the victory following a 1-1 draw away to Croatia three days ago.
Lee Kendall has told his Barry Town United champions to forget about next season for now – and savour the sweet taste of success. Barry are sipping champagne and going back up to the JD Cymru Premier as champions, their Cymru South title confirmed by a thumping 5-0 triumph at home to Pontardawe Town at the weekend.
Ben Foster has told Wrexham fans worried he may need Premier League pampering: “Don’t worry – I’m low maintenance.” The former England goalkeeper kept a clean sheet on his debut for the club as they beat York City 3-0 at the weekend to move another step nearer towards a return to the Football League. Foster, 39, had signed for the club earlier in the week on a short-term deal until the end of the season as cover for the injured Rob Lainton.
It will be interesting to see who is the proudest person leading out Wales in front of a packed house at Cardiff City Stadium against Latvia on Tuesday night – Wales skipper Aaron Ramsey or his seven-year-old son, Sonny. Both got a taste of captaincy last weekend – Aaron with Wales in Croatia and Sonny with the pre-academy side at Cardiff Cosmos.
Wales Under-17s are one match away from making history in the UEFA Under-17 Elite Round. A win against Montenegro on Tuesday afternoon will see the Wales youngsters qualify for the European Under-17 Championship finals in Hungary later this year. A 1-1 draw against Iceland at the FAW’s Dragon Park facility in Newport on Saturday sees Wales on top of Group 2 going into the final round of qualifying matches, which are being hosted in South Wales.
Joe Morrell says Wales must be “ruthless and relentless” against Latvia on Tuesday to build on their promising start to Euro 2024 qualification. Wales held World Cup semi-finalists Croatia to a 1-1 draw on Saturday as substitute Nathan Broadhead marked his debut with a dramatic last-gasp equaliser.
Rob Page has revealed Wales hero Nathan Broadhead was in tears after scoring a last-gasp equaliser on his debut against Croatia. Wales were heading to an opening defeat in Euro 2024 qualifying after Andrej Kramaric had given the World Cup semi-finalists a 28th-minute lead in Split. But Ipswich striker Broadhead, winning his first cap as a 64th-minute substitute, levelled in the third minute of stoppage time after Chris Mepham had flicked on Connor Roberts’ long throw to secure a 1-1 draw for Wales.
Rob Page admits he watched Sky Sports News all summer waiting for the news that never came. “I was watching after the World Cup, waiting for it to be announced that Luka Modric had retired,” says the Wales manager. “But he didn’t retire, so we have to make sure we’re at our very best.”
The last time Ben Foster came to Wales, he was forced to watch himself being waved at on his own camera after having a goal put past him. That was two years ago when then Swansea City striker Jamal Lowe struck twice against Foster, before waving into the former Watford keeper’s GoPro camera he keep at the back of the net.
Swansea midfielder Ollie Cooper says “incredible footballer” Luka Modric has inspired him but insisted he would not be daunted should he make his Wales debut against the Croatia star. Cooper could cap a rapid rise on Saturday when Wales start their Euro 2024 qualification campaign against the World Cup semi-finalists in Split.
Chris Mepham believes Wales can cope without the likes of Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, Joe Allen and Johnny Williams when they usher in ‘a new era’ in Croatia this weekend. The four retirees will be watching from the sidelines as Rob Page’s new look side kick-off their latest European campaign in Zagreb. Latvia – Tuesday’s opponents at the Cardiff City Stadium – Armenia and Turkey complete the Group D line-up, with the top two teams qualifying automatically for the finals in Germany.
David Brooks is set to get a Wales recall this summer after returning to action following cancer treatment. Brooks returned to the pitch on Saturday 535 days after his last game, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute in Bournemouth’s 3-0 Premier League defeat at Aston Villa. The 25-year-old was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma in October 2021 and revealed he was cancer-free last May.
The New Saints are the JD Cymru League champions again – and would bet against them being crowned champions in 2024? Certainly, no-one who’s taken a look at the club’s astonishing success over the past few seasons. It was hardly the most spectacular clinching of a Championship. TNS ground out a weekend 0-0 draw against Connah’s Quay Nomads at the Deeside Stadium.
Wales boss Rob Page says Brennan Johnson will handle the pressure of being compared to Gareth Bale. The retirement of former skipper Bale – the men’s team’s record goalscorer and most capped player – in January has left Wales with a huge void to fill for the forthcoming Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
Rob Page’s Wales squad announcement for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Croatia and Latvia last week was a landmark moment for Welsh football. The dark hour which had been a subject of dread for an entire sporting generation had actually arrived: Gareth Bale was no longer be available for Wales selection. His contributions in a red shirt – as well as those of fellow national team heroes, Joe Allen and Chris Gunter – have now officially entered the realm of memory.
New captain Aaron Ramsey wants Wales’ young generation to create their own history after the departures of Gareth Bale and other talismanic figures. Nice star Ramsey has taken over the captaincy for the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign after Bale ended his illustrious career in January. Chris Gunter, Joe Allen and Jonny Williams, also part of the Wales squad who reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, have retired from the international scene as manager Rob Page ushers in a new era for Welsh football.
Cardiff City are seeking answers after their match at Rotherham was abandoned in what the Millers’ manager Matt Taylor called “farcical circumstances”. The Championship match was called off on Saturday in the 47th minute due to an unplayable pitch caused by heavy rainfall at the New York Stadium. Cardiff had taken the lead through Jaden Philogene after only five minutes of play, but now face a tricky re-playing of the game within a crowded fixture last.
Russell Martin insists Swansea City have got their mojo back just in time to face bitter rivals Cardiff City. The two clubs clash in the Welsh derby on April 1 in the capital, with Martin convinced his team’s 2-0 victory over Bristol City on Sunday has altered the outlook. After ending a run of six matches without a win, Martin is now looking forward to renewing the most heated rivalry in Welsh football after the upcoming international game.
Cardiff City are far from sorry they ended up signing Sory Kaba. They may, however, be sorry they didn’t get Sory sooner. A third goal in eight games from Guinean striker Kaba in the 1-1 midweek win over play-off chasing West Brom, salvaged another vital point and left the Bluebirds four points clear of the Championship relegation zone.
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper hopes Jonjo Shelvey can play a key role in helping secure Premier League survival – and keep a Welsh managerial presence in the top flight. Former Swansea City chief Cooper is the only remaining Welsh manager in the Premier League after the sacking of Nathan Jones at Southampton last month. Pontypridd-raised coach Cooper took Forest up from the Championship last season after two seasons at the Swansea.com Stadium.