Wales national football team

Association football team

The Wales national football team ( Welsh : Tîm pêl-droed cenedlaethol Cymru ) represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales ( FAW ), the governing torso for football in Wales and the third-oldest national football affiliation in the world, founded in 1876. The team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup once, in 1958, when they reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual champions Brazil. They then went 58 years before reaching their second major tournament, when – following a advance of 109 places from an all-time first gear of 117th to a peak of 8th in the FIFA World Rankings between August 2011 and October 2015 [ 5 ] [ 6 ] – they qualified for UEFA Euro 2016, where they reached the semi-finals before again losing to the eventual champions, Portugal. A second consecutive UEFA European Championship followed when Wales reached the cycle of 16 of UEFA Euro 2020. They besides progressed through UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying to the quarter-finals, though this was played on a two-legged, home-and-away footing and is not considered separate of the finals tournament.

Reading: Wales national football team

historically, the Welsh team has featured a numeral of players from Wales ‘ top baseball club teams, Cardiff City and Swansea City. These two Welsh clubs play in the English league system aboard colleague Welsh clubs Newport County, Wrexham and Merthyr Town. however, the majority of Welsh football clubs play in the Welsh football league system. Wales, as a state of the United Kingdom, is not a member of the International Olympic Committee and consequently the national team does not compete in the Olympic Games .

history [edit ]

The early years [edit ]

The Cardiff Times about Wales’ first competitive match against Scotland in 1876. Report ofabout Wales ‘ first competitive match against Scotland in 1876 . The Wales side of 1887–88 Wales played its first gear competitive match on 25 March 1876 against Scotland in Glasgow, making it the third-oldest international football team in the world. Although the Scots won the first fastness 4–0, a fall match was planned in Wales the follow class, and so it was that the first external football match on Welsh dirt took rate at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, on 5 March 1877. Scotland took the spoils winning 2–0. Wales ‘ first couple against England came in 1879, a 2–1 defeat at the Kennington Oval, London, and in 1882, Wales faced Ireland for the first time, winning 7–1 in Wrexham. The associations of the four Home Nations met at the International Football Conference in Manchester on 6 December 1882 to set down a rig of cosmopolitan rules. This meet saw the establishment of the International Football Association Board ( IFAB ) to approve changes to the rules, a task the four associations however perform to this day. The 1883–84 season saw the formation of the british Home Championship, a tournament which was played annually between England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, until 1983–84. [ 7 ] Wales were champions on 12 occasions, winning outright seven times whilst sharing the title five times. The FAW became members of FIFA, populace football ‘s governing body, in 1910, but the relationship between FIFA and the british associations was fraught and the british nations withdrew from FIFA in 1928 in a dispute over payments to amateur players. As a result, Wales did not enter the first three FIFA World Cups. In 1932, Wales played host to the Republic of Ireland, the foremost time they played against a side from outside the four home nations. One year later, Wales played a catch outside the United Kingdom for the first base clock when they travelled to Paris to play France national football team in a match guide 1–1. After World War II, Wales, along with the other three home nations, rejoined FIFA in 1946 and took part in the stipulate rounds for the 1950 World Cup, the 1949–50 Home Championships being designated as a qualifying group. The top two teams were to qualify for the finals in Brazil, but Wales finished bottom of the group .

1958 World Cup [edit ]

The 1950s were a golden age for Welsh football with stars such as Ivor Allchurch, Cliff Jones, Alf Sherwood, Jack Kelsey, Trevor Ford, Ronnie Burgess, Terry Medwin and John Charles. Wales made its only World Cup finals tournament appearance in the 1958 edition in Sweden. however, their path to qualification was strange. Having finished moment to Czechoslovakia in qualifying Group 4, the gold coevals of Welsh football managed by Jimmy Murphy seemed to have missed out on reservation, but the politics of the Middle East subsequently intervened. In the Asian/African qualifying zone, Egypt and Sudan had refused to play against Israel following the Suez crisis, while Indonesia had insisted on meeting Israel on inert ground. As a leave, FIFA proclaimed Israel winners of their group. however, FIFA did not want a team to qualify for the World Cup finals without actually playing a match, and so lots were drawn of all the second-placed teams in UEFA. Belgium were drawn out first but refused to participate, and so then Wales was drawn out and awarded a two-legged play-off match against Israel with a topographic point in Sweden for the winners. [ 8 ] Having defeated Israel 2–0 at the Ramat Gan Stadium and 2–0 at Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales went through to a World Cup finals tournament for the first time. The hard Welsh police squad made their set in Sweden, drawing all the matches in their group against Hungary, Mexico and Sweden before defeating Hungary in a play-off equal to reach the quarter-finals against Brazil. however, Wales ‘ chances of victory against Brazil were hampered by an injury to John Charles that ruled him out of the match. Wales lost 1–0 with 17-year-old Pelé scoring his first external goal. The goal made Pelé the youngest World Cup goalscorer and Brazil went on to win the tournament. Wales ‘ remarkable campaign in Sweden was the subject of the best-selling book When Pele Broke Our Hearts: Wales and the 1958 World Cup ( by Mario Risoli, St David ‘s Press ) which was published on the fortieth anniversary of the World Cup and was besides the inspiration for a Bafta Cymru-nominated objective .

1970s [edit ]

Wales failed to qualify for the first base four finals tournaments of the UEFA European Championship from its origin in 1960 ; in 1976, the team – managed by Mike Smith – reached the quarter-finals of the competition, having finished top of qualifying Group 2 ahead of Hungary, Austria and Luxembourg, but this was not considered separate of the finals. Prior to 1980, lone four countries qualified for the finals tournament, and Wales were drawn to play against the winners of Group 3 – Yugoslavia – in a two-legged, home-and-away link. Wales lost the first leg 2–0 in Zagreb and were eliminated from the rival following a 1–1 guide in a crabbed return stage at Cardiff ‘s Ninian Park, which was marred by crowd trouble. This initially led to Wales being banned from the 1980 tournament, but this was reduced on attract to a four-year ban on qualifying matches being played within 100 miles of Cardiff. Yugoslavia went on to finish fourthly in the 1976 tournament. The following class, Wales defeated England on English soil for the first base time in 42 years and secured their only victory to date at Wembley Stadium thanks to a Leighton James penalty. Another celebrated accomplishment came in the 1980 British Home Championship, as Wales comprehensively defeated England at the Racecourse Ground. Goals from Mickey Thomas, Ian Walsh, Leighton James and an own finish by Phil Thompson saw Wales frustration England 4–1 fair four days after England had defeated the then-world champions, Argentina .

1980s [edit ]

In the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Wales team – managed by Mike England – came extremely close to reservation ; a 3–0 get the better of against the Soviet Union in their final examination match think of they missed out on goal deviation, but the real damage had been done by their failure to beat Iceland in their death home pit, the match finally finishing 2–2 after several hold-ups ascribable to floodlight failures. Mark Hughes marked his debut for Wales by scoring the lone goal of the match as England were defeated once again in 1984. The following season, Hughes was again on aim, scoring a wonder goal as Wales thrashed Spain 3–0 at the Racecourse during reservation for the 1986 World Cup. however, despite defeating Scotland 1–0 at Hampden Park, it was again Iceland that wrecked Welsh hopes by defeating Wales 1–0 in Reykjavík, and for the second gear World Cup in a row, Wales missed out on goal difference. Wales had to win their stopping point match at home to Scotland to be guaranteed at least a play-off, but were held to a 1–1 attract in a match marred by the death of Scotland director Jock Stein, who collapsed from a kernel attack at the end of the meet .

1990s [edit ]

Under Terry Yorath, Wales attained what was then their highest position in the FIFA World Rankings on 27 August 1993. Again Wales came close to qualifying for a major championship when they came within a bewhisker of reaching the 1994 World Cup. Needing to win the final match of the group at home to Romania, Paul Bodin missed a penalty when the scores were level 1–1 ; the miss was immediately followed by Romania taking the lead and going on to win 2–1. [ 9 ] Following the bankruptcy to qualify, Yorath ‘s contract as director of the national side was not renewed by the FAW, and Real Sociedad coach John Toshack was appointed on a half-time basis. however, Toshack resigned after barely one couple ( a 3–1 kill to Norway ) citing problems with the FAW as his reason for leaving, although he was sure to have been shocked at being booed off the peddle at Ninian Park by the Welsh fans still reeling from the dismissal of Yorath. [ 10 ] Mike Smith took the director character for the second prison term at the startle of the Euro 1996 qualifiers, but Wales slipped to embarrassing defeats against Moldova and Georgia before Bobby Gould was appointed in June 1995. Gould ‘s time in charge of Wales is seen as a dark period by Welsh football fans. His questionable tactics and public fallings-out with players Nathan Blake, [ 11 ] Robbie Savage [ 12 ] and Mark Hughes, [ citation needed ] coupled with embarrassing defeats to club side Leyton Orient and a 7–1 convulse by the Netherlands in 1996 did not make him a democratic figure within Wales. Gould finally resigned following a 4–0 get the better of to Italy in 1999, and the FAW turned to two legends of the national team, Neville Southall and Mark Hughes, to take temp commission of the equal against Denmark four days by and by, with Hughes subsequently being appointed on a permanent basis .

2000s [edit ]

Under Mark Hughes, Wales came close to qualifying for a place at Euro 2004 in Portugal, being narrowly defeated by Russia in the play-offs. however, the frustration was not without its controversy, as russian midfielder Yegor Titov tested positive for the use of a banned message after the first modify leg, [ 13 ] a scoreless draw in Moscow. Notwithstanding, FIFA opted not to take carry through against the Football Union of Russia other than instructing them not to plain Titov again, and the Russian team went on to defeat Wales 1–0 in Cardiff to qualify for the final tournament. Following a disappoint start to 2006 FIFA World Cup reservation – UEFA Group 6, Hughes left his function with the national team to take over as director of English Premier League outfit Blackburn Rovers. On 12 November 2004, John Toshack was appointed director for the second fourth dimension. In Euro 2008 passing, Wales were drawn in Group D aboard Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Republic of Ireland, Cyprus and San Marino. The team ‘s performance was disappoint, finishing fifth in the group with expected get the better of at home to Germany so far an unexpected draw aside, a loss away and a scoreless pull at base to the Czech Republic, a loss away and 2–2 draw at home to the Republic of Ireland, a 3–0 home winnings and uninspiring 2–1 away win against minnows San Marino, a 3–1 dwelling winnings and 3–1 away get the better of against Cyprus, and a spectacularly shuffle performance against Slovakia, losing 5–1 at home and winning 5–2 away. however, better performances towards the end of the rival by a team containing – of necessity because of injuries and suspensions of senior players – five players who were eligible for choice for the under-21 squad was viewed as a bright sign of future progress for the team. In 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4, Wales made a promise begin, winning 1–0 and 2–0 against Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein, respectively. however, they lost their future match against Russia in Moscow, 2–1, after Joe Ledley had briefly drawn them flat. The qualifying political campaign showed signs of promise when the team managed to prevent Germany from scoring for 74 minutes of their match in Mönchengladbach, although Wales ultimately lost 1–0. Two 2–0 dwelling defeats by Finland and Germany in Spring 2009 efficaciously put paid to Wales ‘ hopes of qualification. Wales were drawn in UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group G with Montenegro, Bulgaria, Switzerland and close rivals England. Wales lost 1–0 away to Montenegro in their opening match and, on 9 September 2010, John Toshack stood down as director after being disappointed at previous results in 2010 against Croatia and the open Euro 2012 modifier. [ 14 ] Wales under-21 coach Brian Flynn took over from Toshack as caretaker coach with a view to a possible permanent wave appointment, but a 1–0 home kill to Bulgaria and 4–1 away loss to Switzerland prompted the FAW to pass over Flynn .

2010s [edit ]

Gary Speed was appointed as permanent wave director on 14 December 2010. speed ‘s beginning match as director was 8 February 2011 in the inaugural address Nations Cup, which the Republic of Ireland won 3–0. [ 15 ] Speed ‘s first base competitive meet was the Euro 2012 qualifier at home to England on 26 March 2011, and Speed appointed 20-year-old Aaron Ramsey captain, making him the youngest Wales captain. Wales lost to England 2–0 and in August 2011 Wales attained their lowest FIFA rate of 117th. This was followed by a 2–1 home winnings against Montenegro, a 1–0 away loss to England, a 2–0 home win against Switzerland and a 1–0 away win against Bulgaria. consequently, in October 2011, Wales had quickly risen to 45th in the FIFA rankings. A 4–1 home succeed in a friendly match against Norway on 12 November 2011 proved to be Speed ‘s final match in commit of Wales. The peer was a climax of Speed ‘s efforts which led Wales to receive the unofficial award for biggest mover of 2011 in the FIFA rankings. [ 16 ] His tenure as coach ended in tragic circumstances two weeks late when he was found dead at his home on 27 November, having obviously committed suicide. [ 17 ] due to London ‘s successful offer for the 2012 Summer Olympics, a Great Britain team would qualify as of correct of being the host nation. however, the FAW stressed it was strongly against the proposal. [ 18 ] Despite this, Welsh players Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale expressed their matter to in representing the Great Britain Olympic football team. [ 19 ] Bale controversially withdrew ascribable to injury, [ 20 ] but Ramsey was joined by four other Welshmen in Stuart Pearce ‘s 18-man police squad : Swansea City ‘s Joe Allen and Neil Taylor, while Manchester United ‘s Ryan Giggs and Liverpool ‘s Craig Bellamy were included as over-age players, with Giggs being made captain. [ 21 ] Chris Coleman was appointed Wales team coach on 19 January 2012. [ 22 ] For 2014 World Cup reservation, Wales were drawn in Group A with Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Scotland and Macedonia. They lost their first match 2–0, against Belgium. Their second couple, against Serbia, was even worse, finishing 6–1, Wales ‘s worst kill since the 7–1 transposition to the Netherlands in 1996. [ 23 ] In October 2012, Ashley Williams was appointed captain of Wales by Coleman, replacing Aaron Ramsey. [ 24 ] Wales won at home against Scotland 2–1, lost aside to Croatia 2–0 and won away against Scotland 2–1, but a 2–1 personnel casualty at home to Croatia ended Wales hopes of qualifying. [ 25 ] Wales were placed in Group B for qualifying for Euro 2016 alongside Andorra, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus and Israel. In July 2015, following four wins and two draws, Wales topped the group. In July 2015, having attained their then highest FIFA ranking of one-tenth, [ 26 ] Wales were placed among the top seeds for the 2018 FIFA World Cup reservation draw. Wales were drawn in Group D with Austria, Serbia, the Republic of Ireland, Moldova and Georgia. [ 27 ] In September 2015, England dropped to tenth in the FIFA rankings, making Wales – in one-ninth situation – the highest-ranked british team for the beginning time in its history. [ 28 ] In October 2015, Wales attained their highest ever FIFA rank of one-eighth. On 10 October 2015, Wales lose 2–0 to Bosnia and Herzegovina. however, Wales ‘ reservation for Euro 2016 was confirmed after Cyprus defeated Israel that same even. [ 29 ]

euro 2016 [edit ]

Wales qualified for Euro 2016 in France, their first european Championship tournament, and were drawn into Group B with Slovakia, Russia and England. On their Euro introduction, on 11 June against Slovakia at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Gareth Bale scored lead from a free-kick to give Wales a 1–0 lead, and Hal Robson-Kanu scored the winner in a 2–1 victory that put them crown of the group. [ 30 ] In their second match, against England in Lens, Wales led 1–0 at half-time through another Bale free-kick, but lost 2–1. [ 31 ] Against Russia at the Stadium Municipal in Toulouse, Aaron Ramsey, Neil Taylor and Bale scored in a 3–0 acquire that made them win the group. [ 32 ] In their round of 16 match at the Parc des Princes in Paris, Wales played Northern Ireland and won 1–0 after Bale ‘s cross was put in as an own goal by Gareth McAuley. [ 33 ] In the quarter-final against Belgium, Wales went behind to a long-range feat from Radja Nainggolan, but captain Ashley Williams headed an equalizer before Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Vokes confirmed a 3–1 victory for Wales. This victory advanced Wales to their first major tournament semi-final and besides made them the foremost british state to advance to the semi-finals of a major tournament since England did then at Euro 1996 as hosts. [ 34 ] The first half of the semi-final against Portugal in Lyon went scoreless, but goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani early in the second half saw Portugal claim a 2–0 winnings. [ 35 ] Wales were welcomed back home on 8 July with an open-top bus parade around Cardiff, starting at Cardiff Castle and going past the Millennium Stadium before finishing at the Cardiff City Stadium. [ 36 ]

In September 2016, Wales opened their 2018 World Cup qualification campaign with a comfortable 4–0 home win against Moldova. [ 37 ] however, they followed this with a run of five consecutive draw away to Austria, at dwelling to Georgia, both home plate and away against Serbia and away to the Republic of Ireland. That run came to an end with a 1–0 home victory over Austria on 2 September 2017, followed by a 2–0 away victory against Moldova on 5 September and a 1–0 away win over Georgia on 6 October. Wales finished third gear in their group due to a 1–0 passing to the Republic of Ireland on 9 October and failed to qualify for the finals in Russia. Chris Coleman resigned as Wales team coach on 17 November 2017 and was appointed team coach at Sunderland. [ 38 ] After closely two months of managerial vacancy, former Wales national player Ryan Giggs was named Wales ‘ new director. Giggs, who signed a four-year condense, led Wales for the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League political campaign and Euro 2020 qualification. [ 39 ] Despite losing two of the first three qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2020, Wales went unbeaten in the second one-half of 2019 and ultimately qualified in second invest following a 2–0 win over Hungary in their final examination match on 19 November. [ 40 ] euro 2020 was delayed until 2021 by the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, which meant Wales ‘ adjacent games came in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League. They kept five consecutive clean sheets on the way to an unbeaten record in the rival, winning five games and drawing one, despite Giggs not being available for the last two games due to legal troubles. [ 41 ] With Rob Page in interim charge, the team beat Finland 3–1 in their concluding match to finish exceed of the group and gain forwarding to League A for the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League. [ 42 ] UEFA Euro 2020 was played in June/July 2021 with matches spread across 11 host countries throughout Europe for the foremost time, rather than hosted by a single nation. consequently, the Wales Group A matches against Switzerland and Turkey were held in Baku, Azerbaijan and then against Italy in Rome. Under Rob Page as interim director, Wales progressed from the group stage after finishing second in the group to Italy, the eventual tournament winners. In the last 16 attack Wales lost to Denmark in Amsterdam, Netherlands. [ 43 ] For 2022 World Cup qualification Wales were drawn in Group E with Belgium, Czech Republic, Belarus and Estonia with Rob Page again acting as interim coach for the matches in 2021. Wales finished second in Group E and progressed to the qualification play-off stage. [ 44 ]

team image [edit ]

Media coverage [edit ]

be television receiver air rights are held by S4C ( Welsh lyric comment ) and Sky Sports ( english terminology comment ) until 2022 .

Colours and logo [edit ]

The elementary kit has hanker been all-red. The crest of the Football Association of Wales features a rampant Welsh Dragon on a white carapace. From 1920, the shield was surrounded by a crimson border, and the letters ‘FAW ‘ were added in 1926. The badge was redesigned in 1951, adding a k molding with 11 daffodils, arsenic well as the Welsh-language motto Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae ( “ The best free rein is team act ” ). The motto was concisely removed in 1984, but the badge stayed largely the lapp until 2010, when the shield was changed to feature polish sides and the motto banner was changed from white to loss and fleeceable. The draco besides changed from rampant to rampant regardant. The motto was removed again in 2019, following another major redesign of the badge, which saw the lead of the shield flattened and the sides changed not to curve outwards ; the green border was besides thinned and the daffodils removed. [ 45 ]

Kit supplier [edit ]

Kit provider

Period

Admiral

1976–1980

Adidas

1980–1987

Hummel

1987–1990

Umbro

1990–1996

Lotto

1996–2000

Kappa

2000–2008

Champion

2008–2010

Umbro

2010–2013

Adidas

2013–

home stadium [edit ]

From 2000 to 2009, Wales played most of their home matches at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. The stadium was built in 1999 on the locate of the old National Stadium, known as Cardiff Arms Park, as the Welsh Rugby Union ( WRU ) had been chosen to host the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Prior to 1989, Wales played their home games at the grounds of Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham, but then came to an agreement with the WRU to use Cardiff Arms Park and, subsequently, the Millennium Stadium. Wales ‘ beginning football match at the Millennium Stadium was against Finland on 29 March 2000. The Finns won the match 2–1, with Jari Litmanen becoming the first player to score a finish at the stadium. Ryan Giggs scored Wales ‘ goal in the match, becoming the foremost Welshman to score at the stadium .
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff Liberty Stadium, Swansea With the opening of the Cardiff City Stadium in 2009, the FAW chose to stage most home plate friendlies there, with other friendly matches played at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea and the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham. Qualifying matches continued to be played at the 74,500-capacity Millennium Stadium until the end of 2009, which was typically only about 20–40 % full amid inadequate team results. This led to calls from fans and players for international matches to be held at smaller stadiums. For the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, the FAW decided Wales would play all of their base matches at either the Cardiff City Stadium or the Liberty Stadium, with the exception of the home tie against England, which was played at the Millennium Stadium. The 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign saw four home matches at the Cardiff City Stadium and one at the Liberty Stadium. Cardiff City Stadium ‘s capacity was increased to 33,000 in 2014 and all home matches for Euro 2016 qualifying were scheduled at the stadium and Wales subsequently qualified for the finals tournament in France. All five home plate qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup were held at the stadium vitamin a good as both of the team ‘s home 2018–19 UEFA Nations League games. All home games in the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign besides took place there. A friendly against Spain was played at the Millennium Stadium on 11 October 2018, which was Wales ‘ beginning match at the stadium in barely over seven-and-a-half years, finishing in a 4–1 frustration. On 20 March 2019, Wales played a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago at the Racecourse Ground, their first base match there since 2008 .

current competitions [edit ]

2022 FIFA World Cup reservation [edit ]

UEFA
Rules for classification: source : FIFA Rules for classification : Tiebreakers

Results and fixtures [edit ]

Win Draw Loss

2021 [edit ]

2022 [edit ]

current coach staff [edit ]

Coaching history [edit ]

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

anterior to 1954 the Welsh team was chosen by a gore of selectors with the team captain fulfilling the function of passenger car .
Notes

a b c[1][2] page has acted as director since 3 November 2020, after Giggs was arrested and subsequently charged with attack. Giggs remains the official director .

Players [edit ]

current police squad [edit ]

The follow players were called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Belarus on 13 November 2021 and Belgium on 16 November 2021.
On 8 November 2021, Dylan Levitt and Ben Cabango withdrew from the team due to injury and personal reasons respectively.
Caps and goals are correct as of 16 November 2021 after the match against Belgium.