SM
Liverpool vs. Wolves: 6 hrs 10 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
FN
Friendlies 1
Jun 2, 2021 at 8.05pm UK
Allianz Riviera
WN

France
3 - 0
Wales

Mbappe (35'), Griezmann (48'), Dembele (79')
Varane (76')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Moore (90+2')
Williams (26')

Wales decision to agree with France VAR wish backfires

:Headline: Wales decision to agree with France VAR wish backfires:
It was the first time VAR had ever been used at a Wales game.
Sports Mole

Neco Williams is set to miss Wales' final Euro 2020 warm-up game after the Dragons' decision to agree with French wishes for VAR to be used in their Nice friendly backfired.

Williams was sent off for handball after just 25 minutes of France's 3-0 victory on Wednesday following a VAR check – the first time the system had ever been used at a Wales game.

The Liverpool defender is now suspended for Saturday's friendly with Albania in Cardiff, although interim manager Robert Page says Wales will try to get the red card overturned for Williams to build up match fitness ahead of their European Championship opener against Switzerland on June 12.

Wales captain Gareth Bale, third left, leads the protests in Nice after Neco Williams is sent off following a VAR check (Daniel Cole/AP)

On the unexpected use of VAR in Nice, a Football Association of Wales statement said: "The French Federation made us aware of their plans to use it and we had no objections."

VAR will be used at Euro 2020, but it is up to national federations to decide whether it is operated in friendlies and then they inform FIFA accordingly.

Any Wales appeal against Williams' red card will be considered by FIFA.

France wanted VAR to be used at the Allianz Riviera, while it was not in operation for England's game with Austria in Middlesbrough or other friendlies played around Europe.

“The French Federation made us aware of their plans to use it (VAR) and we had no objections”
- Football Association of Wales

The PA news agency understands there are large costs involved in setting up VAR, and there was no major desire from the England set-up for it to be installed for Euro 2020 warm-up games.

England boss Gareth Southgate was no doubt grateful VAR was not at the Riverside as Tyrone Mings went unpunished for what looked like a foul in the first half.

Mings appeared to drive his arm straight into Austria striker Sasa Kalajdzic in the area, flattening him in an incident that was missed by Belgian referee Lawrence Visser.

But Williams was not so fortunate in the south of France as his block on Karim Benzema's shot was picked up by the cameras.

England's Tyrone Mings escaped apparent foul play against Austria with no VAR in operation (Lindsey Parnaby/PA)

Williams was only a few feet away from Benzema but both his arms were away from his body and he diverted the goalbound shot around a post.

Portuguese referee Luis Godinho was asked to check the incident by the VAR official, studying the footage for some time before awarding France a penalty and sending Williams off.

Former Wales defender Danny Gabbidon told Sky Sports: "I was initially surprised there was actually VAR in a friendly game.

"But once it went to VAR you kind of know what's coming.

"It wasn't deliberate. It's acceptable to give the penalty, but to give the red card as well was very harsh."

The game was goalless at the time of Williams' dismissal, but France eventually won 3-0 through goals from Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele.

Wales were, however, boosted by the return from injury of Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies and Joe Allen.

Ramsey and Davies both came on as second-half substitutes, while Allen, who had not played for over two months after calf and hamstring problems, started and managed nearly an hour.

Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey impressed after coming on as a substitute for Wales in Nice (Daniel Cole/AP)

"He looked bright when he came on," Page said of Juventus playmaker Ramsey.

"One pass in particular to get through to the (second-half) chance that we had, was just like Aaron.

"It's building him back up with minutes on the pitch to get the best Aaron Ramsey that we can possibly have.

"That was a box ticked for him. The plan was to come for 30 minutes and he ended up playing nearer 40, so that was a definite positive.

"It will be the same on Saturday, getting players on the pitch to have minutes to be ready for Switzerland."

body check tags ::

amp_article__450120 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-06-03 15:45:01:
html db last update - 2021-06-03 15:45:01 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!

Click here for more stories about Neco Williams

Click here for more stories about Wales

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
Robert Page throws support behind Neco Williams
"Nightmare for Liverpool": Can Reds improve against Wolves after Toffees draw?
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool24176158233557
2Arsenal25158251222953
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest25145641291247
4Manchester CityMan City25135752351744
5Bournemouth25127644291543
6Chelsea25127647341343
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2512584233941
8Fulham2510963833539
9Aston Villa2510873538-338
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2591063838037
11Brentford25104114342134
12Crystal Palace257992932-330
13Everton257992731-430
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2576122947-1827
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Ipswich TownIpswich2538142350-2717
19Leicester CityLeicester2545162555-3017
20Southampton2523201957-389
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

Preview: Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PB

"Can you imagine?" - Should Arsenal bury Costa hatchet to strike free agent deal?

2

&Y

Sunday's Transfer Talk Update: Williams, Antony, Costa

NEW

3

ST

Sunday's Turkish Super Lig predictions including Fenerbahce vs. Kasimpasa

NEW

4

ST

Goalkeepers with the most assists in Premier League history

5

GW

How bad will it get for Amorim and United after Diallo injury news confirmed?

6

HB

Price revealed? Reds' demands for selling in summer as Slot prepares for summer

7

PR

Man City vs. Newcastle confirmed XIs: Gonzalez, Khusanov, Gordon decisions made

8

MC

Chelsea 'make contact' over '£83m move' for Barcelona star

9

C'

Barca-linked Williams 'reveals transfer preference' after Arsenal, Liverpool 'contact'

10

BW


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