SM
Barcelona vs. Valencia: 15 hrs 46 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
WN
Friendlies 1
Jun 5, 2021 at 5pm UK
Millennium Stadium
AN

Wales
0 - 0
Albania


Brooks (37'), Norrington-Davies (58'), Mepham (83')
FT

Ismajli (28'), Manaj (37'), Abrashi (83'), Laci (83')

Wales 0-0 Albania: Dragons held ahead of Euro 2020

:Headline: Wales 0-0 Albania: Dragons held ahead of Euro 2020:
The Dragons start their European Championship campaign in Baku on June 12.
Sports Mole

Wales failed to get a winning Euro 2020 send-off as Albania held them to a goalless draw in Cardiff.

This was Wales' final game before the Dragons start their European Championship campaign against Switzerland in Baku on June 12.

For the most part, it was a frustrating exercise for interim manager Robert Page as Wales created few chances and Albania had an easy ride.

But the entrance of Kieffer Moore and Gareth Bale from the substitutes' bench breathed life into the contest and Wales had late openings to avenge their 2018 friendly defeat to Albania and give returning supporters some cheer.

Wales welcomed back supporters for the first time since November 2019, when a 2-0 win over Hungary sealed qualification for this summer's delayed Euros.

The easing of Covid-19 restrictions had allowed 6,500 fans into the Cardiff City Stadium to provide a send-off for Page's squad.

Page had spoken of his players' desire to keep taking the knee before kick-off to demonstrate their opposition to racism.

There were loud boos among England supporters at Middlesbrough on Wednesday when players took the knee before kick-off but Wales fans were singing loudly as both sets of players took the knee and there was no apparent dissent.

The players take the knee prior to kick-off (Nick Potts/PA)

Page made eight changes from the side which had lost 3-0 to France on Wednesday, with Neco Williams, Chris Mepham and Joe Allen the only players to survive from that starting line-up.

Williams had been cleared to play just hours before the game after UEFA decided the Liverpool defender did not have to serve a suspension for his controversial red card in Nice.

Ben Davies – who took over the captaincy from Bale – Aaron Ramsey and Ethan Ampadu were among those to return, while goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey won his 96th cap.

Ramsey was deployed in a false nine role with David Brooks and Tyler Roberts wide of him, but Albania stopped home attacks at source and were comfortable.

Albania, ranked 66 in the world and 49 places below Wales, had the best opening of a flat first period after 17 minutes.

Rey Menej shrugged off Mepham too easily for the Bournemouth defender's liking but his rising effort did not test Hennessey.

Wales breathed a sigh of relief when Ampadu rose to his feet after a crunching collision and an altercation between Menej and David Brooks saw both players booked.

The clash did not always live up to its billing as a friendly (Nick Potts/PA)

The crowd finally had something to get excited about six minutes before the break.

Tyler Roberts led a quick counter-attack break from an Albania corner and found Brooks on the left.

Brooks' cross was just behind Ramsey and the Juventus player was unable to keep down his manufactured volley at the near post.

Page changed the system at half-time with Moore replacing Ampadu, and the introduction of the 6ft 5in Cardiff striker caused Albania more problems.

Moore won a header inside the first few seconds and Wales began to play the game in Albania territory, with Williams driving over from distance.

Rhys Norrington-Davies was booked for shoving Manaj into Albania manager Edoardo Reja, the 75-year-old veteran taking a touchline tumble to raise one of the biggest cheers of the day.

Harry Wilson scuffed wide and Bale was sent on for the final 19 minutes as Wales sensed a winner.

Wales fans react as Neco Williams has a shot at goal (Nick Potts/PA)

Bale's arrival instantly produced panic in the Albania penalty area for Williams to sting the palms of goalkeeper Gentian Selmani with the game's first goalbound attempt.

Moments later Moore tested Selmani again after being picked out by a delicious Bale cross, but Albania held firm in the closing stages before the Wales squad conducted a lap of honour for the fans.

body check tags ::

amp_article__450347 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-06-05 18:42:34:
html db last update - 2021-06-05 18:10:09 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Saturday's international friendly predictions including Wales vs. Albania
Champions Man City continue title charge with win at Forest
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs33186967521560
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
9Chelsea33139116359448
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

This weekend's permutations: Who can be crowned champions, win promotion or suffer relegation?

1

TW

Premier League Team of the Week - Havertz, Gallagher, Robertson

2

PL

Bournemouth's Semenyo suffers "bad" injury in Brighton win

3

BS

Man City's Ederson set to miss rest of season?

4

MC

Mikel Arteta hails "sensational" Arsenal star after derby victory

5

MA

Birmingham join Sheffield United in race for Leeds defender?

6

BJ

Preview: Bayern vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PB

Sunday's Premier League predictions including Tottenham vs. Arsenal

8

SP

Sunday's Bundesliga predictions including Monchengladbach vs. Union Berlin

9

SB

Sunday's Primeira Liga predictions including Porto vs. Sporting Lisbon

10

SP


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .