Showing posts with label FAWales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FAWales. Show all posts

Monday, 25 April 2016

Coleman Believes Bale will Stay



Chris Coleman believes Gareth Bale will stay at Real Madrid - and that Wales will benefit from the forward’s decision. The 26-year-old has been linked with a move to Manchester United but Wales manager Coleman is convinced Bale’s future lies with the Spanish side.

Coleman, speaking after the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying draw in St Petersburg, said: “Gareth will do what he wants to do, he’s good enough to play for any team on the planet but I think he will probably end up staying at Madrid and who would blame him for that?

“There is pressure in playing for Real Madrid but Gareth is one of those players who can handle that. The demands of playing in the Premier League and the demands of playing in La Liga are different. From our point of view we get a fresh Gareth Bale – if he’s in the English Premier League physically it’s more demanding.”

Coleman also rejected claims that Bale’s contribution to Wales is so great that they are effectively a one-man team.

“No one has ever said that to me and anyone who has ever seen us play would not say that. We have a lot of talent in our team, all our success has been down to a team ethic and Gareth fits into that. We are difficult team to play against, we are hard to break down and we have goalscorers and match-winners.

“We have also got a group of 11 players on the pitch who are prepared to defend for their lives. If you look at our record in this European campaign so far we have conceded one penalty and one free-kick. You can’t be a one-man team with a defensive record like that.”
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Wales’ only appearance in the World Cup finals was in 1958, but they were drawn as top seeds in Group D along with the Republic of Ireland, Austria, Serbia, Moldova and Georgia.

Coleman, who added he would focus on qualifying for Euro 2016 in France before thinking about a new deal to take him through to Russia, said: “It’s a long time isn’t it? First and foremost we have got to take care of qualifying for France. After we know our fate with France we can start concentrating on the World Cup but we know it has been a long time since 1958 and we know we have got a lot of work to do in the Euros yet.

“It’s been widely-publicised my contract is coming up at the end of the Euros and we are all just keeping our eye on that tournament because we can’t afford to start thinking too far ahead. There is a lot of work to be done and once we know our fate we can start thinking about everything else.”



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Friday, 18 March 2016

Bale Out of Wales Friendly Squad


Gareth Bale has been left out of Wales' squad for the forthcoming friendlies against Northern Ireland and Ukraine.

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey and West Ham defender James Collins are also absent from Chris Coleman's squad.

Coleman said Bale's absence was a joint decision between the Football Association of Wales and Real Madrid.

Wales host Northern Ireland in Cardiff on 24 March before travelling to Ukraine four days later.

Bale was also absent from the Wales squad that lost to the Netherlands in November, following correspondence with Madrid.

His availability for March was thought to depend on the impending birth of his second child.

Midfielder Andy King is also absent after missing Leicester City's win over Newcastle on Monday because of illness.

But Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies is included despite suffering a head injury in Thursday's Europa League loss to Borussia Dortmund.

Davies joined Spurs from Swansea City in July, 2014

Fulham defender Ashley Richards comes into the squad in place of Newcastle's Paul Dummett, who picked up a hamstring problem in January.

Richards' Fulham teammate George Williams also comes into midfield in the absence of King and Wolves' David Edwards - who required surgery on a foot injury.

The other changes from Coleman's 24-man squad in November see Southampton's George Isgrove, Brighton's Andrew Crofts, Reading Hal Robson-Kanu and Birmingham City's David Cotterill all recalled to a now-26-man squad.

Coleman on Bale: "It was a joint decision. Real Madrid have been absolutely first class all the way along.

"They have never ever put an obstacles in our way, so equally we have to recognise that, if you look at the last couple of months, they have been tough for Gareth fitness-wise.

"And looking at the bigger picture it is all about the summer, making sure we have our strongest squad going into the tournament and, of course, he is part of that.

"So at this moment in time it suits both parties that he does not come. It is not just the games, it will be the travelling as well."

"Both parties feel it is right he stays where he is, works there, gets treatment, does everything he needs to do there. I think he will benefit from that between now and the end of the season."

Coleman on the relationship with Real Madrid: "We have worked as hard with Real Madrid as with any other club. Internationals do not belong to us. I have said that before.

"We have to make sure we look after them when we get them and we treat them properly because if you do not, you gamble with their fitness and down the line you are going to be punished for that.

"You cannot blame clubs for reacting if their player has been pushed too much and you have gambled with him if he is carrying an injury, he goes back to his club and he can't play for three or four weeks.

"We have never ever done that. We have never gambled,

"But to be fair to Madrid, myself and Osian Roberts, we went out there spent a few days there. I think they appreciated that. We certainly did."

Full Wales squad
Goalkeepers: Hennessey, Ward, Fon Williams.
Defenders: A Williams (c), Chester, Davies, Gunter, Matthews, Taylor, Henley, Richards.
Midfielders: Ledley, Allen, Vaughan, Huws, J Williams, MacDonald, G Williams, Isgrove, Crofts.
Forwards: Cotterill, Robson-Kanu, Lawrence, Church, Vokes, Bradshaw.


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Saturday, 12 December 2015

EURO 2016 Finals Draw


The Republic of Ireland have been drawn in Group E at Euro 2016 against world number one ranked Belgium, Italy and Sweden.

Martin O’Neill’s side will open their campaign against the Swedes at the 80,000 capacity Stade de France on Monday June 13th.

Their second match takes place in Bordeaux on Saturday June 18th when they take on Belgium . Their final group game comes in Lille on Wednesday June 22nd where they take on Italy.

Northern Ireland have been drawn with world champions Germany, Poland and the Ukraine.

Wales have been drawn in England’s group alongside Slovakia and Russia.

Group A
June 10: France v Romania, Stade de France, Paris, 8.0
June 11: Albania v Switzerland, Lens, 2.0
June 15: Romania v Switzerland, Parc des Princes, Paris, 5.0
June 15: France v Albania, Marseille, 8.0
June 19: Romania v Albania, Lyon, 8.0
June 19: France v Switzerland, Lille, 8.0

Group B
June 11: Wales v Slovakia, Bordeaux, 5.0
June 11: England v Russia, Marseille, 8.0
June 15: Russia v Slovakia, Lille, 2.0
June 16: England v Wales, Lens, 2.0
June 20: Russia v Wales, Toulouse, 8.0
June 20: Slovakia v England, St-Etienne, 8.0

Group C
June 12: Poland v Northern Ireland, Nice, 5.0
June 12: Germany v Ukraine, Lille, 8.0
June 16: Ukraine v Northern Ireland, Lyon, 5.0
June 16: Germany v Poland, Stade de France, Paris, 8.0
June 21: Ukraine v Poland, Marseille, 5.0
June 21: Northern Ireland v Germany, Parc des Princes, Paris, 5.0

Group D
June 12: Turkey v Croatia, Parc des Princes, Paris, 2.0
June 13: Spain v Czech Republic, Toulouse, 2.0
June 17: Czech Republic v Croatia, St-Etienne, 5.0
June 17: Spain v Turkey, Nice, 8.0
June 21: Czech Republic v Turkey, Lens, 8.0
June 21: Croatia v Spain, Bordeaux, 8.0

Group E
June 13: Republic of Ireland v Sweden, Stade de France, Paris, 5.0
June 13: Belgium v Italy, Lyon, 8.0
June 17: Italy v Sweden, Toulouse, 2.0
June 18: Belgium v Republic of Ireland, Bordeaux, 2.0
June 22: Italy v Republic of Ireland, Lille, 8.0
June 22: Sweden v Belgium, Nice, 8.0

Group F
June 14: Austria v Hungary, Bordeaux, 5.0
June 14: Portugal v Iceland, St-Etienne, 8.0
June 18: Iceland v Hungary, Marseille, 5.0
June 18: Portugal v Austria, Parc des Princes, Paris, 8.0
June 22: Iceland v Austria, Stade de France, Paris, 5.0
June 22: Hungary v Portugal, Lyon, 5.0

Last 16
June 25 – Match 1: Runner-up Group A v Runner-up C, St-Etienne, 2.0
June 25 – Match 2: Winner D v Third-place B/E/F, Lens, 8.0
June 25 – Match 3: Winner B v Third-place A/C/D, Parc des Princes, Paris, 5.0
June 26 – Match 4: Winner F v Runner-up E, Toulouse, 8.0
June 26 – Match 5: Winner C v Third-place A/B/F, Lille, 5.0
June 27 – Match 6: Winner E v Runner-up D, Stade de France, Paris, 5.0
June 27 – Match 7: Winner A v Third-place C/D/E, Lyon, 2.0
June 27– Match 8: Runner-up B v Runner-up F, Nice, 8.0

Quarter-finals
June 30 –QF1: Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2, Marseille, 8.0
July 1 – QF2: Winner Match 3 v Winner Match 4, Lille, 8.0
July 2 – QF 3: Winner Match 5 v Winner Match 6, Bordeaux, 8.0
July 3 – QF4: Winner Match 7 v Winner Match 8, Stade de France, Paris, 8.0

Semi-finals
July 6: Winner QF1 Portugal v Winner QF2, Lyon, 8.0
July 7: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4 , Marseille, 8.0

Final
July 10: Stade de France, Paris, 8.0



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Monday, 12 October 2015

Spot Welsh Dragon Mr Barnett


Jonathan Barnett likes to talk. 

But the again he is a football agent and during August or January these are the most powerful people in football and everyone is expected to listen. Trouble is much of what they have to say can be nonsensical with Barnett’s musings proving that expected line in gibberish over recent months. Much of that talk of seemingly of little help to his number one client Gareth Bale it would seem. Highlighting the necessary evil that agents have apparently become in the game of football these days.

Barnett’s most recent episode was reported in The Independent from a speech at Soccerex where he explained how Bale had missed out on “millions” in sponsorship deals by refusing to play for England. With Barnett admitting he had attempted to persuade Bale’s parents, Frank and Debbie, both from Wales, to make their son consider the switch.

“When we first got together when he was 15, we talked about whether he was going to play for England or Wales. I nearly got my head bitten off by his dad, who is fanatically Welsh, and his mum.” Said Barnett

“He could have qualified through his grandmother and I tell you that it has cost him millions and millions of pounds. You can imagine what it would have been like if he were playing for England next summer in the Euros... but he does love playing for Wales.”

The relevance of this untimely anecdote saying more about Barnett’s need for attention given that Bale scored the vital goal against Israel in the UEFA EURO 2016 qualifier the same week. A goal that has brought the Principality within a whisker of a first major tournament since 1958. When John Charles strode Ninian Park in his pomp and last brought such honours to the nation. 

A feat that has eluded an endless list of other greats like Mike England, John Toshack, Gary Sprake, Mark Hughes, Ian Rush, Terry Yorath, Mickey Thomas, Neville Southall, Dean Saunders, Ryan Giggs, and Craig Bellamy - to name check just a few. All Welshmen that could have been eligible for England had they not been reared as Welsh Dragons from their infancy. A point seemingly missed by Barnett. 

But then again Barnett is prone to these faux pas.

In May he claimed Bale was suffering at Real Madrid because his team-mates were not passing the ball to him enough. The comments coming in the wake of the Champions League semi-final first leg against Juventus when the statistics showed Bale making fewer passes than most of his team‑mates. Albeit Uefa stats showed that the Welshman covered more ground than many of those same team-mates. 

The remarks also untimely as Madrid’s season was unravelling and the club’s most expensive signing was suffering injuries and unable to reverse the La Liga losses. Or the home defeat to Juventus in the semi-final of the Champions and causing some ridicule in the news hungry sports daily’s

But Barnett seemed oblivious: “We’ve been vindicated by these statistics and it’s what we’ve been saying all along,” he told Telegraph Sport at the time. “It proves that people don’t know what they’re talking about when they criticise Gareth, they are not looking at it properly.

“Real [Madrid] have to work with Gareth and pass the ball to him more. Give him more of the ball and let him show everybody what he’s good at. He’s going to be the best player at Real Madrid when his team-mates work with him and help him. Hopefully Real will come to terms with this.

Then hitting out at ITV Sports pundits Roy Keane and Lee Dixon Barnett went on: “I’m very upset that professional pundits don’t realise these facts. Instead of criticising, they should look at it more closely because it’s plain to see when you watch the games.”

“Most people would have been broken by this but he is determined,” he said. “He could have screamed and shouted or knocked on the manager’s office door but he doesn’t want to upset anyone. I spoke to him on Thursday and while he’s obviously p------ off things aren’t going well he is desperate to get out there again.”

But then Barnett is no alien to a bit of controversy.

His other client being Jack Grealish of Aston Villa who has been embroiled for months in a to-and-fro between England and the Republic of Ireland. Where, no doubt, the argument has been about the bigger sponsorship deals possible within the England set-up as nationality seems to matter little in Barnett’s bag of tricks.

Thankfully tonight in Madrid Gareth Bale continues his day job and lines out for Real in their home tie against Skahktar Donetsk in the Champions League first round matches. With all the scrutiny over the world record signing leaving Benitez a bit puzzled, insisting that the Welshman remains a "great" player.

"He is a fast player, with a good shot and he's good in the air," Rafa said. "I don't understand the criticism. Gareth is a great player, we have many good players and we have to fix them in a good starting XI. To have many players of this kind is not a problem, it's a blessing."

Last weekend Real Madrid demolished Espanyol 6-0 with Bale setting up two of Cristiano Ronaldo's five goals and then winning a penalty which Ronaldo also converted. The Welshman now admitting he feels more involved under Benitez than he did last season under Carlo Ancelotti.

Also admitting that the national team success playing its role in his improved wellbeing: 'We have worked so hard with Wales over the last six to eight years and that shows in our ranking. Over the last four years we have gone from 117th to tenth.” Bale explained.

“We have got a style of play and a plan in place and we are keeping to that out on the pitch.'

Funny. No mention of lost sponsorship deals Jonathan?


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Wales Manager Ready to Remain

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Chris Coleman says he is ready to discuss a new contract now Euro 2016 qualification is secured as the current deal ends next summer. To date he has refused to negotiate an extension with the Football Association of Wales [FAW] during the qualifying campaign.

The 45-year-old believes reaching an agreement will be a formality but wants to ensure the correct "structure" is in place to ensure further improvement.

"Hopefully we can agree on that," he said.

"And it won't be about my contract, it will be about the structure and how we can take that forward.

"We've got to keep pushing these lads and that's the only way. It's not about resting now we've got to France.

"We've got think about how we replicate this campaign after we've been to France. We've got to qualify for the [2018] World Cup."

Coleman's contract would have expired after Tuesday's final group game against Andorra.

But FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said Coleman's contract had been automatically extended until the end of next summer's finals.

"There's automatic clauses for Chris and I'm very confident, knowing Chris very well, that you don't just qualify and then leave," Ford told BBC Radio Wales

"You'll want to take the team and give them the very best chance in France.

"You factor those into the discussions when you start those contract discussions and it's quite common to have extending clauses based on qualification."

Wales' remarkable transformation under Coleman reached its pinnacle in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday when their place at the Euro 2016 finals was assured despite a 2-0 defeat.

Before the game, Coleman revealed he had seriously considered walking away from the job a little over three years ago after a 6-1 humiliation in Serbia.

The former Fulham manager, who won 32 caps before injury accelerated his retirement, was not a universally popular choice when he was appointed in 2012 following the death of Gary Speed.

A faltering start promoted Coleman to admit his future was on the line a year-and-half into his tenure, but results began to improve and he has now been lauded for his meticulous planning and tactics that have seen Wales rise to eighth in the Fifa world rankings.

The preparation now begins for the 24-team finals in France next summer, and Coleman has urged his players to build on the success that eluded so many of their predecessors.

"I'll never forget the feeling sitting in the dressing room when we lost to Romania in 1993," said Coleman of the 2-1 defeat in Cardiff when Wales needed a win to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.

"I remember the look on Terry Yorath's face, our manager. Terry was an incredibly brave man because he'd had tragedy losing his son Daniel and he carried on [with the job].

"He led us brilliantly and we lost to a better team in Romania and we missed out. And then under Mark Hughes as manager, I was injured so I missed most of the campaign, we got to the play-offs and missed out.

"You never lose that feeling of disappointment. So having the chance to put it right... and it's not about being the first one to do it - it's about now having the chance to compete on the big stage against the best teams; our team testing themselves against the best players."
What awaits Wales at the Euros?

The draw for the finals will take place on 12 December in Paris, where the 24 teams to qualify will be split into six groups of four.

Despite their lofty world ranking, Wales are likely to be among the bottom seeds because the draw will be based on the Uefa coefficient raking. They were ranked 25th when those rankings were last released in June.

Coleman, though, is confident his side will be a match for anyone having lost just once in their last 11 competitive matches.

"It's going to be an amazing tournament and that's something for us to enjoy and excel," he said. "It's pointless getting there and not doing the business.

"We'll go there and make sure we stamp our authority on it. We've got a good team to do that. It's going to be an enjoyable experience."


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Sunday, 11 October 2015

Coleman Celebrates Wales Win

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Wales manager Chris Coleman said his side have fulfilled a dream by qualifying for Euro 2016.

A 2-0 defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday proved immaterial as Israel's loss to Cyprus confirmed Wales' place in France next summer.

"It means everything. We've all dreamed about this," Coleman told Sky Sports.

"We've had a lot of disappointments and we've nearly got there but haven't delivered. They've delivered, they deserve it."

Coleman walked onto the pitch at the final whistle in Zenica unaware he had created history by becoming the first manager since Jimmy Murphy in 1958 to lead Wales to the finals of a major tournament.

His side's unbeaten record in Group B had been ended by second-half goals from Milan Duric and Vedad Ibisevic.

But jubilant celebrations soon followed as Cyprus' unexpected victory confirmed Wales would finish in the top two places in the group with one game remaining, against Andorra in Cardiff on Tuesday.

"I was disappointed not to get anything from the game," Coleman added.

"We were gutted coming off because we didn't know what the Israel result was but now we do. And wow, I can't explain how it feels.

"It's an absolute dream. It was the first time we got a bit flustered defensively, but under the circumstances you can understand that.

"But over the campaign, to concede four goals in nine games and two in one game... as a unit, we've been fantastic."

'It doesn't stop here'

Gareth Bale, whose six goals in the nine qualifiers propelled Wales towards France, said the aim now is to prove they can compete against Europe's elite next summer.

"That was the best defeat of my life," said the Real Madrid forward as his team-mates celebrated in front of the Wales fans.

Aaron Ramsey, Wayne Hennessey, Gareth Bale and Joe Ledley have helped Wales qualify with a game to spare

"This is right up there in my career. It was a dream from when I was a small child to play in a major tournament. It doesn't stop here. We have business to do in France.

"We can breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the occasion. We are like brothers on the pitch. If we lose the ball we fight for it back.

"We can now test ourselves against the best."


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Wednesday, 16 September 2015

Bale Injury Worries Wales


Gareth Bale limped off during Real Madrid's win over Shakhtar Donetsk last night with a suspected calf injury sparking fears he could miss Wales' crucial Euro 2016 qualifiers next month.

The 26-year-old forward was replaced by Mateo Kovacic after just 32 minutes having gone down holding his calf a couple of minutes earlier.

Bale was one of three Madrid players to suffer injuries in the Champions League clash at the Bernabeu with defenders Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane also picking up knocks as Madrid kicked off with a comfortable win.

However, manager Rafa Benitez admitted it is the injury to Bale that is most concerning.

"Obviously we have to wait," he said of the injured trio. "Two of them are kicks or knocks so we have to wait a little bit.

"Gareth is the only one I am a little bit more negative about in terms of the time so we have to wait, see the doctor and see what happens."

The injury casts doubt over whether the former Spurs man will be available for selection for Chris Coleman's Wales squad as they attempt to qualify for a first major tournament since 1958.

Wales need just one more point to reach Euro 2016 and face Bosnia-Herzegovina on October 10 before hosting Andorra three days later.

Bale himself is keeping his fingers crossed that he will not face a spell out of action, taking to social media to post on Twitter: "Great win at home to kick off our #UCL campaign, gutted to go off but hopefully nothing too serious."


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