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Nations League | League Phase
Nov 16, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
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Williams: Wales better for Nations League campaign

:Headline: Williams: Wales better for Nations League campaign: ID:341781: from db_amp
Ryan Giggs' side were beaten 2-1 by Denmark in Cardiff on Friday night.

Ashley Williams feels Wales have laid a solid base for their forthcoming European Championship campaign despite missing out on Nations League promotion.

Wales' hopes of joining the elite of European football were ended by streetwise Denmark opponents, who won 2-1 in Cardiff on Friday night.

Ryan Giggs' side had to settle for second place in the group and will be in League B again when the competition resumes in 2020, while Denmark also guaranteed themselves a Euros play-off spot if they do not qualify through the conventional process.

Ashley Williams has seen plenty of positives (David Davies/PA)

But skipper Williams, looking ahead to the start of European Championship qualification in March, said: "These competitive games have been good.

"No-one really knew what was going on when the Nations League was brought in.

"But it's been worthwhile for us because we're in a bit of a transition with all the new players.

"The last few camps we've got to know each other really well, on and off the pitch, and you can see the way the boys are progressing.

"It stands us in good stead to go into the (Euro 2020) qualifiers. We want to keep as much momentum as we can and try and qualify through that now."

Gareth Bale scored Wales' goal (Mike Egerton/PA)

Wales head to Albania next with manager Giggs expected to make changes for Tuesday's friendly in Elbasan.

Giggs confirmed after the Denmark defeat that Chris Gunter will become Wales' most capped player by making his 93rd appearance in Albania and breaking Neville Southall's record.

But several of Giggs' exciting batch of young players are set to feature and gain more experience ahead of the European Championship campaign.

"I don't know if there will be changes, but it's a chance to extend this camp," Stoke defender Williams said.

"At international level you're not playing week-in week-out with everyone.

"But we'll spend more time with each other now and play against a very good team.

Ryan Giggs is expected to make changes for Wales's next fixture (Mike Egerton/PA)

"Losing to Denmark is nothing to get down about, they are one of the toughest teams I've played against for a while at international level.

"They've played together a long time and they don't lose. They've got one world-class player (Christian Eriksen) and a lot of other good players as well.

"It's not like we didn't play well, but we'll learn a lot from them too."

Williams added his criticism to the late Kasper Dolberg challenge that sent substitute Ethan Ampadu crashing into the advertising hoardings.

The incident sparked an ugly melee and Giggs, who voiced his feelings to Denmark boss Age Hareide in no uncertain terms, later described it as "a cheap shot" on the Chelsea teenager.

Hareide defended Ajax striker Dolberg by saying he "wouldn't harm a fly" and blamed Ampadu's potentially dangerous fall on the boards being too close to the pitch.

But Williams claimed: "I think he (Ampadu) got assassinated there. You can't shove someone into the barrier like that."

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