{"id":36058,"date":"2019-03-22T12:45:52","date_gmt":"2019-03-22T12:45:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=36058"},"modified":"2019-03-22T12:45:52","modified_gmt":"2019-03-22T12:45:52","slug":"wales-face-slovakia-in-crunch-euro-2020-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2019\/03\/22\/wales-face-slovakia-in-crunch-euro-2020-opener\/","title":{"rendered":"Wales face Slovakia in crunch EURO 2020 opener"},"content":{"rendered":"

WALES begin their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign\u00a0<\/span>with a crunch game against Slovakia on Sunday.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nMemories of Wales\u2019 2-1 triumph against the Slovaks in Euro 2016<\/a> won’t be far away as 30,000 fans crowd into the Cardiff City Stadium.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nYet the three years since Hal Robson-Kanu\u00a0made grown men cry with a late winner has seen Wales struggle to assert themselves.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\"\"

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

Must-win for Wales?<\/h3>\n

However, Mr Jones, 52, doesn\u2019t feel it\u2019s a must-win.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u201c<\/span>A win would certainly give us an advantage, but from experience, there can be quite a few twists and turns in a qualifying group<\/span>,\u201d he said<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u201c<\/span>If we failed to claim all three points on Sunday, it would put us under increased pressure with two away games to follow in June.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u201c<\/span>If things don\u2019t go as we\u2019d like, we could be\u00a0<\/span>six<\/span>\u00a0points or more off the pace after the first three games.\u00a0<\/span>So<\/span>\u00a0a win on Sunday would certainly settle the nerves<\/span>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nIn reality, Slovakia<\/span>\u00a0are Wales\u2019 biggest obstacle to securing second spot \u2013 the top two teams\u00a0<\/span>in the group\u00a0<\/span>will go through.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nWorld Cup finalists Croatia have more experience and, crucially in international football, know their game-plan.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nWales<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>were taught an important lesson when street-wise Denmark turned them over twice in the Nations League. The difference? The Danes<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>under\u00a0<\/span>\u00c5ge<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Hareide<\/span>, had a clear philosophy and executed it at Wales\u2019 expense.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A clear identity<\/h3>\n

Mr Jones, from Porth, thinks\u00a0<\/span>Giggs<\/span>\u2019 ideology should start to make itself plain this campaign.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u201c<\/span>He’s had 11 games to sort his team, and we have, what is arguably the most exciting squad of players for decades<\/span>,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u201cWe have w<\/span>orld class players in Bale and Ramsey, experienced players like Ashley Williams and Joe Allen and then a whole host of talented younger players bursting with flair<\/span>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nThis is a defining time for\u00a0<\/span>Giggs<\/span>, explains Mr Jones.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u201cTo the majority of fans, it would really be a failure if we don\u2019t finish in the top two,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u201cPersonally, I really hope\u00a0<\/span>Giggs<\/span>\u00a0is successful because that would mean my country is successful.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u201cLose on Sunday and I think you\u2019ll start to hear some fans voicing their\u00a0<\/span>disapproval<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u201cThe pressure will be on.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nWin and Wales already have the upper-hand. In a group of just five \u2013 one of only two groups to not have six teams in European qualification\u00a0\u2013 small margins have significant impact.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nGames like these are often settled by a sprinkle of stardust.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Expected line-up and selection dilemmas\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Wayne Hennessey is likely to start between the sticks, despite the Crystal Palace man making just four appearances for his club since early December.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nCaptain Ashley Williams will be paired with Bournemouth\u2019s Chris\u00a0<\/span>Mepham<\/span>. Welsh legend Chris Gunter \u2013 the most-capped player ever \u2013 will make way for Swansea City\u2019s exuberant Connor Roberts and Tottenham’s Ben Davies will play at left-back.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nWith Chelsea\u2019s Ethan\u00a0<\/span>Ampadu<\/span>\u00a0missing through injury,\u00a0<\/span>Giggs<\/span>\u00a0will call on Manchester City\u2019s Matt Smith, currently on loan at FC Twente. The 19-year-old has been an ever-present for the Dutch club and his performance away against The Republic of Ireland in the Nations League belied his tender age.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nSmith will slot alongside stalwart Joe Allen in at the base of a midfield triangle. Spearheading the triangle will be Juventus-bound Aaron Ramsey.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nGiggs<\/span>\u2019 biggest selection headache is on the wings.\u00a0<\/span>Wales\u2019 tradition of producing beguiling wingers lives on<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nLeicester City\u2019s George Thomas was lively and promising against Trinidad and Tobago but is unlikely to start.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nGiggs<\/span>\u00a0will have to choose between Dan James, Harry Wilson and David Brooks. Bournemouth\u2019s Brooks is a player in\u00a0<\/span>Giggs<\/span>\u2019 image; dinking runs and a sweet-left foot, the 21-year-old will likely take up a berth on the right.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nIt is then anyone\u2019s guess as to who\u00a0<\/span>Giggs<\/span>\u00a0chooses between James \u2013 who has attracted Premier League interest at Swansea \u2013 and Wilson, who has chipped in with 10 goals in Derby\u2019s promotion pish.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
\nGareth Bale, of course, will lead the line and look to shake off his Madrid nightmare.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meet the Caerphilly man leading the esports rise in South Wales<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n