How should Wales line-up against Ireland in the UEFA Nations League this afternoon?
Dan James of Wales celebrates scoing his sides first goal against Belarus with Jonny Williams and Joe Morrell. Wales v Belarus International Challenge Match at the Cardiff City Stadium. Lewis Mitchell/YCPD.
Wales head to Dublin Sunday looking to build on their perfect start to the Nations League campaign with a win over Ireland.
In the 2018 itineration of the competition, Wales did the double over Ireland and Ryan Giggs will be looking for more of the same.
But how will Wales line up?
I’m a big fan of the Nations League format. Promotion to League A would all but guarantee Wales at least a play off spot for the next Euros (as the majority of the teams at this level will qualify outright and their berths will be granted to teams lower down the pecking order.
Not to say Wales won’t be one of those automatically qualifying, again) as well as a playoff for the World Cup.
Ryan Giggs favours a 4-2-3-1 formation and I see no reason why he would change a winning formula.
Goalkeeper – Wayne Hennessey.
Do you even need to ask?
I’ve heard some rumblings that Adam Davies should get the nod given that he has started all four of Stoke’s Championship games this season, whereas Wayne Hennessey has struggled to hold down a starting position at Crystal Palace for a couple of years now.
But I really don’t see anything other than Wayne overtaking Neville Southall and winning his 93rd cap.
Defence – Ben Davies, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon and Connor Roberts.
Like the goalkeeper position, Wales’ back four has picked itself when fully fit. Tom Lockyer is missing so in steps Swansea’s potentially Spurs bound, Joe Rodon.
This is the same back four that started against England, with Rodon making way for this team mate Ben Cabango at the break.
I agonised of which of these to start as they’re part of the Swansea defence that has only conceded one all season, but I felt Joe has the edge over Ben in terms of experience.
Of course, Wales are sweating on the fitness of Chris Mephem after Thursday night and Giggs has said he’ll leave it late before making a final decision.
Should he not be able to play, I’d draft Ethan Ampadu in at centre back, a role he played against Finland earlier in the competition.
Defensive Midfield – Dylan Levitt and Joe Morrell
Again, so far the same line up as faced England on Thursday. In an ideal world, we’d have Joe Allen in the place of Morrell but the Stoke man is still recovering from a ruptured achilles.
If the previously mentioned scenario of Ampadu deputising at centre back comes to pass, I’d slot Dylan Levitt in his place here.
Midfield – Dan James, Aaron Ramsey and Rabbi Matondo.
Rambo is available again so it’s a no brainer that he goes into the squad. Although he’s not getting much action for United, Dan James’ devastating pace on the left is a vital weapon for Wales.
The main question is who replaces Gareth Bale on the right hand side?
Tyler Williams started here on Thursday, before being pushed up front when Kieffer More hobbled off. He looked pretty good, but something about Rabbi’s pace edges it for me.
He had a decent first half against England and showed great potential. It would be nice for him to get a run of games under his belt.
Forward – Kieffer Moore
There’s a big question mark over his fitness after the England game, but if he can play, he must. His absence in the second half pretty much removed Wales’ goal threat, though James and Ramsey will add a potency which was missing Thursday night.
With Robson-Kanu out with a broken arm and no Sam Vokes in the squad, should Moore not be able to play, I’d hand the responsibility to Tyler Williams.
He didn’t threaten the goal much against England, but he’ll have a much stronger midfield behind him providing service.
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)
