Y CLWB PELDROED The selection headaches facing Ryan Giggs ahead of Euro 2020 Nearly four years after reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2016, Wales are gearing up to compete in the 2020 instalment in what feels like a golden-era for football in the country With an array of players staking a strong claim to be on the plane, we take a look at who could feature in Ryan Giggs’ 23man squad. Goalkeepers Not only the first name on the list of 23, but also the first on the teamsheet is Wayne Hennessey. Having earned 89 caps for Wales, Hennessey is just three caps away from Neville Southall’s record of 92 appearances. The Crystal Palace stopper was dependable in qualifying, most notably making a crucial double save in the 2-0 win over Hungary on the night that secured qualification. A deputy to Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel, Danny Ward is likely to be included as a backup to Hennessey in Giggs’ 23-man squad. Ward has struggled for appearances since his 2018 move to the Foxes from Liverpool – featuring just nine times – but he remains a safe bet to be selected for the Championships. The final spot is expected to be taken by Stoke City’s Adam Davies, who played 184 times for Barnsley over the course of five seasons, before making the move to the Potters in 2019. Other contenders include Newport’s Tom King, who was called up for the final two
games of qualification back in November, and former Preston, Fleetwood and Wrexham man Chris Maxwell, who recently signed for Blackpool until the end of the season.
Much like Davies, Roberts’ place in the squad is in little doubt.
Wales’ most capped player of all time with 96 caps, Reading’s Chris Gunter was a star at Euro 2016, memorably crossing for Full-backs Sam Vokes to head home A regular in the Tottenham against Belgium to send Wales Hotspur team – especially now into the semi-finals. However, that Danny Rose is on loan at sentiment cannot influence Newcastle United – left-back selection for the upcoming Ben Davies is a fans’ favourite in Championships, with Liverpool the Wales ranks. teenager Neco Williams also Arguably, Wales would not have staking a claim. had such success in Euro 2016 Williams’ swift rise in the last had it not been for his heroic few months could result in clearance off the line in the Giggs including him in his 23opening stages against man squad, as he is no Slovakia. An ever-present in the stranger to giving young Euro 2020 qualifiers, Davies can players a chance on the be sure of his place on the international stage. plane. Another experienced head in Connor Roberts, the Swansea contention for a call-up is City full-back, was a key Aston Villa’s Neil Taylor, who component in Wales’ was a goalscorer in the 2016 qualification campaign and campaign, netting the second has featured regularly for Steve goal in a 3-0 group stage win Cooper’s side in the over Russia. Having featured in Championship this season. It is just one game in the qualifying clear that Giggs favours campaign, Taylor’s case of Roberts at right-back, having uncertainty is similar to that of selected the Swans man in Gunter and Williams. seven of Wales’ eight qualifiers.
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