When Wales face Belgium tonight, it will be the latest chapter in an eventful recent rivalry between the nations. It will also be an opportunity for Swansea City supporters to remind themselves of one manager’s influence on both their club and country, as Jack Hammett outlines. It’s nearly five years since Wales last faced Belgium. If you can’t recall the match, it was the greatest night in Welsh football history. A few weeks later, a familiar face took over the Belgium managerial job – and is now in charge of the number one side in the world.

Kevin De Bruyne insists Wales’ proud record against Belgium belongs to the past and has no bearing on their opening 2022 World Cup qualifier. De Bruyne believes Belgium are a far better side than the one that lost to Wales at Euro 2016 in France, a defeat the Manchester City midfielder says acted as a turning point for the world’s top FIFA-ranked team. Wales stunned star-studded Belgium to win that European Championship quarter-final 3-1, extending the Dragons’ recent unbeaten record against the Red Devils to four games with two wins and two draws.

Gareth Bale insists he is in the best shape possible to lead Wales into their World Cup qualifying campaign against Belgium tonight. The 31-year-old Tottenham forward – who has never played at the finals of the tournament – begins another mission in Leuven, believing his loan move from Real Madrid and then increasing match action has put him into peak fitness. On arriving fresh for international duty, Bale said: “Over the last few years this is probably the most match fitness I’ve had.

Daniel James always held faith he would become a success at Manchester United, Wales caretaker manager Robert Page has claimed. Wales winger James hit the ground running at United following his £15million move from Swansea City in June 2019, scoring three goals in his first four games. James made 46 appearances last term, but the 23-year-old found himself on the first-team fringes earlier this season and his Old Trafford future looked bleak.

When Wales face Belgium on Wednesday night there will be one Welshman in attendance doing his best to make sure it’s a winning start for the Belgians. Richard Evans will find it a strange experience, but is clear his allegiances are now with Roberto Martinez and the official No.1 ranked team in the world, as he tells Graham Thomas. The Welshman at the heart of Belgium’s World Cup qualifying campaign admits he will hold mixed emotions when his employers face his homeland on Wednesday night. Richard Evans is Belgium’s head fitness coach and has been the trusted right-hand man to manager Roberto Martinez since their days together at Swansea City.

Swansea City boss Steve Cooper has spoken to all the necessary federations regarding the welfare of his players in this international window – except that is, for the FAW. Following yesterday’s damaging derby day loss to Cardiff City at the Liberty Stadium, Cooper revealed there had been no discussions with anyone from the Welsh set up despite the call ups for Connor Roberts and Ben Cabango.  Brandon Cooper and Lewis Webb are also involved at under 21 level.

Gemma Grainger has been appointed manager of the Wales women’s team on a four-year contract. Grainger spent 11 years working with the England women’s age group set-up as head coach of teams from under-15 to under-23 level. She succeeds former manager Jayne Ludlow, who left the position in January after more than six years at the helm.

The New Saints are considering appointing Chris Coleman as their next manager, Dai Sport understands. The former Wales manager – who led his country to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 – has emerged has a shock candidate to replace Scott Ruscoe, who left the club earlier this month. Coleman is understood to be interested in The New Saints vacancy, in what would be his first role back in football since leaving China in May 2019.

Gareth Bale is in safe hands with Wales and Tottenham have no concerns about him linking up for international duty, according to Robert Page. Wales caretaker manager Page has insisted there has been no contact between Wales and Spurs over  national captain Bale’s condition. Bale and injured Aaron Ramsey were both named in the Wales squad for their opening 2022 World Cup qualifiers – in Belgium on March 24 and against the Czech Republic in Cardiff six days later.

Gareth Bale is still unable to play for a full 90 minutes, according to his Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho. The Wales captain has returned to a rich vein of form in recent weeks, having seemingly overcome the injury problems that undermined the initial period of his loan move from Real Madrid. But with the start of the delayed Euro 2020 finals just 13 weeks away, Mourinho has claimed Bale is still not up to lasting a full game.

By Paul Jones Ryan Giggs will remain on the sidelines for three more Wales matches – two of them World Cup qualifiers – as he awaits the outcome of his extended bail over assault allegations. Instead, Robert Page will stay in charge for the three games against Belgium, Mexico and the Czech Republic as the […]

Former Wales captain Ashley Williams has said he was disappointed at receiving “no answers” when manager Ryan Giggs left him out of the national team. Williams – who announced his retirement last month at the age of 36 – rates the last qualifying campaign for the delayed Euro 2020 finals as one of the two most difficult periods of his career. The former Swansea City skipper – who led his country to the semi-final of Euro 2016 – has revealed he felt left in the dark about the reasons why he was being overlooked despite playing regularly in the Championship for Bristol City.