' LATEST NEWS ' WALES V RUSSIA ' MATCH THREAD

WALES v RUSSIA
Euro 2016 Group Stages
Monday 20th June 8pm
Stadium Municipal



' UPDATED DAILY '


Oleg Shatov, who has started both of Russia's Group B fixtures so far, is struggling with a groin problem and is a doubt for the match against Wales.


Wales will qualify from Euro 2016 Group B with victory over Russia on Monday night at the Stadium Municipal in Toulouse.

Despite losing 2-1 to England in stoppage time in Lens on Thursday, Chris Coleman's men will be guaranteed of progression if they seal a win over Leonid Slutsky's side, who are currently bottom of the group.

Even a point will be enough to secure second spot if Slovakia fail to beat England in Saint-Etienne on the same evening, while Wales will top the group if they win and Roy Hodgson's side fail to.

Latest News




Match Preview

Wales play Russia in their final Euro 2016 Group B game looking to bounce back from the disappointment of defeat to England.
Chris Coleman’s team could still make the second round if they lose to the Russians, but will want to take some momentum into the knockout stages with at least a draw.
Russia have been pretty woeful so far but can still progress with a win so they will be going all out for the three points.


Likely Lineups

Wales

1 Hennessey
5 Chester
6 Williams
4 Davies
2 Gunter
16 Ledley
7 Allen
3 Taylor
10 Ramsey
9 Robson-Kanu
11 Bale


Russia

1 Akinfeev
3 Smolnikov
14 Berezutski
4 Ignashevich
21 Schennikov
13 Golovin
5 Neustädter
9 Kokorin
17 Shatov
10 Smolov
22 Dzyuba


The table as it stands




Russia



Best result: winners 1960 (as Soviet Union)
Coach: Leonid Slutski
Leading scorers: all-time – Oleh Blokhin (42 for Soviet Union); current – Aleksandr Kerzhakov (30)
Most appearances: all-time – Sergei Ignashevich (114); current – Sergei Ignashevich (114)
Association formed: 1912
Nickname: None
Where they play: Various

Since the break-up of the Soviet Union – the inaugural winners of the UEFA European Championship, in 1960, and runners-up in 1964, 1972 and 1988 – Russia have been regular qualifiers for the four-yearly continental gathering, but only once have they made it through the group stage. That was in 2008, when Dutchman Guus Hiddink's attractive side reached the semi-finals. In post-Soviet days they qualified for the FIFA World Cups of 1994 and 2002, and again for Brazil 2014. UEFA EURO 2016 qualification was achieved as Group G runners-up after new coach Leonid Slutski, a mid-campaign replacement for Fabio Capello, oversaw wins in each of the team's last four matches.


Previous Meetings

Russia and Wales have only faced each other on four previous occasions, and the Russians have not lost a single one of these encounters. Their first two meetings were in the Euro 2004 play-offs, when a Welsh squad that included Ryan Giggs, John Hartson, Gary Speed, and Robbie Savage were agonisingly eliminated. Having drawn 0-0 in Moscow, the two sides met four days later in Cardiff, where 73,000 fans saw the Russians win 1-0. Mark Hughes’ side had several clear chances to level the scoring as the game wore on, but it was not to be for this talented generation; the memory of that day still lingers, and thus Wales fans will be desperate for revenge in June.
 
Their only other meetings came in World Cup 2010 qualifying group four, when Russia won 2-1 in Moscow and 3-1 in Cardiff. Gareth Bale was only 19 years old at the time and the Wales squad was significantly weaker than it is today; Wales amassed just 12 points in that campaign, finishing six points behind Finland in fourth. Therefore, these games don’t give any clues as to what to look for in the Russia vs Wales betting.


Form - Previous group games

Wales Euro 2016 Results




Russia Euro 2016 Results




Match Odds

Russia – 7/5
Wales – 19/10
Draw – 12/5


Where can I watch it?

ITV4 are showing the match with coverage starting at 19.15.


Guess the score

Post your predictions below

IMG_20160617_152150.jpg

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I will go for a 2-1 Welsh win

2.0 Wales!

3-1 Wales

1-1

1-0 wales

Got a bad feeling for this one. 2-0 Russia.

' ASHLEY WILLIAMS '

Saturday 16th June 2016


Ashley Williams has revealed the words he used in an emotional post-game huddle in Lens that reminded Wales they've come too far to let the Euro dream go.

Wales' skipper rallied his team-mates in the immediate aftermath of injury-time defeat to England to tell them their Three Lions anguish is nothing compared to what they've gone through to get to France.

Wales boss Chris Coleman admitted his players were on the floor after old rivals England came from behind to stun a Welsh nation in the closing seconds of Thursday's Battle of Britain.

But Willimas gathered the players around him to urge the men who made history by qualifying for the tournament to forget about the pain of defeat and focus on what is needed to continue their Euro adventure with a win against Russia on Monday.



With the side having gone through some hurtful lows in the past, most notably the loss of Gary Speed, Williams told his team-mates they have already demonstrated resilience.

“What we have gone through in the past can help us,” said Williams.

“You can feel there were a lot of guys down, but a few people were speaking who understand this group, how tight-knit it is and the great atmosphere in camp and it is important we keep that.

"We are still in a good position it is not the end of the world.

“The message in the huddle was not to be too down and let it affect us. We spoke before the tournament kicked-off about how we had to respond if we had a disappointment and this is what we have to do next.


“After we beat Slovakia we knew it was not the time to get too high because we had not accomplished anything yet, and this is not the time to be getting down on ourselves.

“The work we put in means we should not be too hard on ourselves. This is football and these things happen. We have done so well to get here.

"We have done well in this tournament in a tough group. So let’s stick together and move on. That was the message; as much as it hurt we cannot get down about it.”

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1-0 to Wales

Wales will qualify from Euro 2016 Group B with victory over Russia on Monday night at the Stadium Municipal in Toulouse.

Despite losing 2-1 to England in stoppage time in Lens on Thursday, Chris Coleman's men will be guaranteed of progression if they seal a win over Leonid Slutsky's side, who are currently bottom of the group.

Even a point will be enough to secure second spot if Slovakia fail to beat England in Saint-Etienne on the same evening, while Wales will top the group if they win and Roy Hodgson's side fail to.

Euro 2016: Last 16 means everything to Wales, says Gareth Bale

By Dafydd Pritchard

BBC

Saturday 18th June 2016

Gareth Bale relishes Wales v Russia at Euro 2016

Gareth Bale says it would "mean everything" for Wales to qualify for the second round at Euro 2016.

The 26-year-old Real Madrid forward insists Chris Coleman's side are feeling no ill-effects following their dramatic defeat by England on Thursday.

Victory over Russia on Monday would guarantee Wales' place in the last 16, while a draw would probably be enough.

"It would mean everything to us. The first goal is to get out of the group and it's in our hands," said Bale.

"We still have the chance to do that and hopefully we can grab it with both hands."

'What England game?'

Wales made a winning start to their first major tournament finals since the 1958 World Cup, as a Bale free-kick helped them beat Slovakia 2-1.

Against England, he scored again to give his country a half-time lead, but they lost 2-1 as Daniel Sturridge scored in injury time.

When Bale was asked how long it took for Wales to recover from the disappointment, he laughed and said: "What England game?"

He added: "Obviously after the game we were very disappointed, especially to lose in that manner. But we had a chat straight away. Now we have to forget about it. It's over.

"Our fate is in our own hands. If you'd given us this at the start of the tournament, we would have taken it. We have it all to play for and we're still very excited."


Wales' match against Russia will have added significance, given their Euro 2004 play-off defeat against the same opposition.

Having hung on for a goalless draw in the first leg in Moscow, Wales lost the return fixture 1-0 in Cardiff.

A 14-year-old Bale was in the Millennium Stadium crowd on that night in November 2003, though he does not think the current crop will be affected by previous Welsh failures.

"I was actually at the game with my dad and a few of my friends," he said. "I was very young but I still remember it.

"But that was the past and this is now. No-one's even thinking of that experience. We want to go in with a fresh mind. We want to play like we've been doing and hopefully get the win."

Oleg Shatov, who has started both of Russia's Group B fixtures so far, is struggling with a groin problem and is a doubt for the match against Wales.

I've got the last few games wrong, so hopefully I'll get this one wrong too.

4-0 Russia

Main concern is they are due good game and knowing how things go with us that game will be on Monday!

Got a bad feeling for this one. 2-0 Russia.

Glass half full then I take it

Gareth Bale has revealed how he got over defeat to England....thanks to burger and chips.

Bale opened up on how Chris Coleman's Wales squad decided to pick up the mood in camp after Thursday's late sickener against the Three Lions by going for a team lunch in their base town of Dinard.

And after tucking into a quarter-pounder, Bale says he's now ready to serve up a Welsh win over Russia after declaring himself hungry to show his best form.

Relishing the chance to get stuck into the Russians in Toulouse after Daniel Sturridge's 92nd minuter winner denied Wales a draw in Lens, Bale said: “Obviously we were disappointed after the England game, especially losing it the way we did.

“But we all had a chat about it straight away about not being down about it. We're such a close group, we can have a laugh together and we wanted to keep the atmosphere the same.

The Welsh team and manager went out for lunchThe Welsh team and management went out for lunch
“After the game we decided that we'd go out as a group for lunch the next day. We went into the centre of Dinard, all the players and staff, and had a nice meal to get away from the hotel for a bit and have a change of scenery – and the burger and chips definitely helped!

“You need that bit of downtime and things to pick you up. We're eating well at the hotel and have quite a strict menu, but it was a nice change and it lightened everyone's mood.”

Got a bad feeling for this one. 2-0 Russia.

Me too

Got a bad feeling for this one. 2-0 Russia.

Glass half full then I take it

Realistic. Unless Bale can perform miracles. Only so many times at this level you can defend for 90 minutes and hope to snatch a goal on the counter attack.

I'm going for Bale 1st goal 1-1 and England to do us a favour and win 2-0

' UPDATE ON TOULOUSE '
Link
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=174154
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=174154

Wales 2 - 0 Russia

Currently in second place in Euro 2016 group B with three points, Wales could finish either top or bottom of their section, depending on their own result against Russia in Toulouse and England's against Slovakia.

If Wales beat Russian, who have only one point, and neighbours England fail to win, Chris Coleman's side would be proud group winners, qualifying for a round of 16 match in the Parc des Princes next Saturday against a third-placed team.

At the other extreme, defeat, and at least a point for Slovakia, would leave them fourth.

A modicum of pride would undoubtedly remain, but such an outcome would be a real anti-climax after the excitement of beating the Slovaks 2-1 in the opening game and then holding England until the final minute in a 2-1 defeat.

Currently in second place in Euro 2016 group B with three points, Wales could finish either top or bottom of their section, depending on their own result against Russia in Toulouse and England's against Slovakia.

If Wales beat Russian, who have only one point, and neighbours England fail to win, Chris Coleman's side would be proud group winners, qualifying for a round of 16 match in the Parc des Princes next Saturday against a third-placed team.

At the other extreme, defeat, and at least a point for Slovakia, would leave them fourth.

A modicum of pride would undoubtedly remain, but such an outcome would be a real anti-climax after the excitement of beating the Slovaks 2-1 in the opening game and then holding England until the final minute in a 2-1 defeat.

Thanks, Tony

Good luck to the Welsh team

Got a bad feeling for this one. 2-0 Russia.

Glass half full then I take it

Realistic. Unless Bale can perform miracles. Only so many times at this level you can defend for 90 minutes and hope to snatch a goal on the counter attack.

Jesus.that was only 1 effin game.While I expect the Russians to dominate possession(that is down to the way Wales are set-up by the way)I think we'll have enough of the ball to score from set pieces.Remember Russia can't play for a draw and I expect we'll catch 'em on the counter at least once.

Fingers crossed 2-0

1-0

2-0

Vokes misses a sitter!

HT - WALES 2=0

We were due to dish out a hammering.
They deserve one too.