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FT: WALES 1 - 1 SWITZERLAND.
Gareth Bale says captaining Wales in their opening match of Euro 2020 against Switzerland on Saturday will be a career highlight.
A four-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, the 31-year-old forward played a key role as Wales reached the Euro 2016 semi-finals.
Bale then succeeded Ashley Williams as permanent skipper when the defender retired earlier this year.
"It's going to be a massive honour to wear the captain's armband," said Bale.
"It's a huge honour anyway but to be leading your country out into a major tournament is going to be one of the highlights of my career."
Bale is Wales' all-time leading goal scorer with 33 from 92 appearances and he struck in all three of their Euro 2016 group games.
Although the former Tottenham player has gone 11 matches without scoring for Wales, he feels fit and in fine form after a strong end to the season on loan with Spurs.
"Like I've always said from when I started and when I was scoring loads of goals, it doesn't matter who scores - it matters about the result," said Bale.
"I haven't scored for a while but I've made maybe six or seven assists in that time. So I'm still contributing in terms of goals.
"I'm not worried. I know where the back of a net is and hopefully if a chance arises I'll be able to take it."
Wales and Switzerland have been drawn alongside Italy and Turkey in Group A. Italy beat Turkey 3-0 in Friday's opening game.
Whereas Wales exceeded all expectations by reach their first major semi-final at Euro 2016, Switzerland have failed to live up to their billing as their nation's golden generation.
After winning the 2009 Under-17 World Cup and finishing as runners-up at the 2011 Under-21 European Championship, Switzerland had hoped to be flourishing in senior tournaments by now.
Current captain and Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka featured in both those teams, while Liverpool playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri and Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Yan Sommer are among the many members of this Euro 2020 squad who played for the Under-21s in 2011.
But despite qualifying for seven of the past eight senior finals - one as co-hosts of Euro 2008 - Switzerland have failed to go beyond the second round.
"I have a good feeling. We have had good preparations and of course expectations are high," said Xhaka.
"We have high expectations of ourselves and also from the outside, the public expect a lot from us.
"We don't want to talk, we want to achieve."
Team news
Wales have a fully fit squad of 26 players to choose from to face Switzerland.
Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey missed training on Thursday but said that was planned and has declared himself available.
Wales interim manager Robert Page said: "To get to the eve of the competition with a full squad of 26, credit must go to the backroom staff and medical team.
"I spoke to Aaron a month ago and we had a great conversation about what he needed.
"That's the way football is going - it's about what we need collectively and then, individually, sometimes it's about a bespoke plan and we've done that with Aaron, and we've done it with Gareth [Bale] in the past. It's worked."
Wales' team selection has been a big talking point in recent weeks, with supporters and pundits questioning why striker Kieffer Moore has not featured more regularly.
Moore scored 20 goals for Cardiff City in the Championship this season and played an important role in Wales' qualification for Euro 2020, but has started only two of their past eight matches.
Page has preferred to play without a conventional striker recently, instead opting for a false nine in a 3-4-3 formation.
"No need for debates. I've been set in my starting XI for some weeks now," said Page.
"Before every friendly, don't read anything into formations or personnel. It's always been about the team against Switzerland, which I already know, and playing the personnel for us to achieve that."
Match facts
- This is the first meeting between Wales and Switzerland at a major tournament. In all competitions including friendlies, Switzerland have won five of their seven encounters, with Wales winning the other two, including their most recent meeting in 2011.
- At Euro 2016, Wales became the first debutant to reach the semi-finals of the tournament since Sweden in 1992.
- Switzerland are taking part in their fifth European Championship. They have reached the knockout stages only once previously, in 2016.
- Switzerland have scored more than one goal in only one of their 13 games at the UEFA European Championships, a 2-0 win on home soil against Portugal in the 2008 group stages.
- Wales scored 1.25 goals per game in Euro 2020 qualifying (10 goals in eight games), the joint-lowest of any of the 24 sides to qualify for the tournament alongside North Macedonia.
- Wales' Gareth Bale has scored in each of his two previous appearances against Switzerland.
- Aaron Ramsey was directly involved in 50% of Wales' goals in their last major tournament at Euro 2016, scoring one and assisting four.
- Xherdan Shaqiri has scored or assisted 47% of Switzerland's goals at major tournaments since 2014, netting five and setting up two of his side's 15 goals in that time.
- Vladimir Petkovic - in charge since August 2014 - is only the second manager to lead Switzerland at three consecutive major tournaments, after Kobi Kuhn (Euro 2004, World Cup 2006, Euro 2008).
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Play Kieffer from the start. That's all I'm asking.
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Nervous for this one, 2016 I had no nerves at all because there was zero expectation.
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Shute
Play Kieffer from the start. That's all I'm asking.
When is the team announced?
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
OurManFlint II
When is the team announced?
Hour before KO
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Colwill not in the matchday squad.
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
LeningradCowboy
That's the team I hoped for
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
OurManFlint II
That's the team I hoped for
You hoped for Morrell starting?
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Pleased Moore starts but would have preferred Ampadu to Morrell. I’m not convinced Ampadu is fully fit. Roberts over Neco is a borderline call and obviously Mepham is a worry.
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pearcey3
Pleased Moore starts but would have preferred Ampadu to Morrell. I’m not convinced Ampadu is fully fit. Roberts over Neco is a borderline call and obviously Mepham is a worry.
I share your concerns about Mepham
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
WJ99mobile
You hoped for Morrell starting?
1st name on the team sheet!
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
I feel very nervous right now!
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
We have nothing in midfield.
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
This is not good. We're getting battered. I hope we can hold out for half time.
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Harry Paget Flashman
We have nothing in midfield.
Getting completely overrun, never a good sign when Ramsey is this anonymous
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
caerkid
Getting completely overrun, never a good sign when Ramsey is this anonymous
Of the three he's been the most industrious. Morrell and Allen have offered nothing.
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Clearly 2nd best.
Midfield is hopeless.
Maybe Allen is over the hill. But can anyone explain why Morrell is playing?
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Plying for a point :shrug:
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
I think we need to switch to 3-4-3 and match up with them in midfield.
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Trigger
Plying for a point :shrug:
Wood be nice.
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Very lucky with that penalty shout.
Defended well, but need to keep the ball much better.
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
We have to change things because our midfield is being outgunned. Ampadu on for Morrell. Do we change the formation with Allen and Ampadu in front of the cb’s and Ramsay in a cam role?
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pearcey3
We have to change things because our midfield is being outgunned. Ampadu on for Morrell. Do we change the formation with Allen and Ampadu in front of the cb’s and Ramsay in a cam role?
I think that would be our best move right now
Maybe Neco in midfield instead of Ampadu who didn’t look fit of sharp last week.
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
caerkid
Getting completely overrun, never a good sign when Ramsey is this anonymous
Ramsey, Bale and Allen. Apart from Bale's free kick I haven't heard either of their names mentioned.
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Allen and Morrell look hopeless.
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Now we have to come out and play
0 - 1
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Garbage defending by Roberts
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Lots that can be done to make a better showing in the 2nd half, test for Page, now.
Swiss right back is a liability, already on a card and needs to be targeted
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Wtf was Roberts doing there
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
In fairness Roberts is smaller than Embolo. We are playing very poorly. Page make some ****ing changes
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Harry Paget Flashman
Garbage defending by Roberts
Awful.
Getting overrun in midfield, need to switch it up
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Where were our centre halfs ????????
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Completely outclassed at the moment.
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pearcey3
We have to change things because our midfield is being outgunned. Ampadu on for Morrell. Do we change the formation with Allen and Ampadu in front of the cb’s and Ramsay in a cam role?
Connor F’king Roberts again!!
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Re: WALES v SWITZERLAND. Sat June 12th, ko 2pm
Ref favouring the Swiss with throw in and corner /goal kick decisions