EPaper

Youthful Wales face wily Swiss

Simon Evans Baku

Wales were the surprise packages of the 2016 European Championship but they kick off their Group A campaign against Switzerland in Baku on Saturday with a very different team.

Five years ago, under Chris Coleman, the Welsh, playing in their first major tournament in 58 years, reached the semifinals before losing to eventual winners Portugal.

Only eight players survive from a campaign that led Welsh football to believe it could compete with bigger nations. Coleman has long since gone, replaced by former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs.

Giggs’s assistant Robert Page will take charge of the side during this tournament in the absence of Giggs, who faces charges of assaulting two women and has pleaded not guilty. Much is still expected of the star of 2016, Gareth Bale, despite his disappointments at club level with Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur, but it is the younger faces who are generating most of the optimism.

Winger Daniel James of Manchester United has outstanding speed, Liverpool midfielder Nico Williams has gained Premier League experience under Juergen Klopp, and Ethan Ampadu of Chelsea spent last season on loan at Sheffield United. Harry Wilson and David Brooks are two other talents, both with technical skills, who could make an impact for Wales. “It is crucial, it’s the first game and you want to get off to a good start,” said Page, who has a strong link with his younger players, having worked with the age-group teams.

“They’re great characters, first and foremost. I’ve worked with them through under-19s and under-21s so I know them as people, as characters. I know they’ve got ability. And they’ve made that transition and step-up really smoothly.

“They’ve just got to be themselves. Yes, you’re playing against the best teams in Europe, but we’ve proven in recent months … that we can compete against the best,” he said.

But the Swiss reached the last 16 in the World Cup in Russia in 2018 and in France two years earlier and are a solid side who will fancy their chances of progressing from Group A, which also includes Italy and Turkey.

Vladimir Petkovic’s team lost just one game in qualifying and in Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka and Liverpool playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri he has experienced players comfortable at this level.

SPORT DAY

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2021-06-11T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-11T07:00:00.0000000Z

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