EURO 2020: How did Wales’ opponents fair in World Cup qualifying?

After a positive international window, Wales fans will be excited about the possibilities of this summer’s European Championships.

However, this international set of fixtures has also proved that Wales’s competition this summer is likely to prove very difficult.

With Group A looking to be one of the most hotly contested groups of this summers Euro’s, we take a look at how the competition got on over these last seven days and talk about the strengths and weaknesses, Wales will have to cope with.

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Switzerland 🇨🇭

First up for Wales at this summers tournament is a Switzerland team full of attacking swagger.

Only twelve minutes into this international break and Switzerland had managed to find the back of the net three times.

Playing in a system somewhat similar to Wales, Shaqiri found himself playing in a free role akin to that of Harry Wilson and was instrumental in all three goals.

For the first, Shaqiri dropped deep and linked up with Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka before the ball was moved out left, where Rodríguez, an overlapping centre back, had all the time in the world to drop a perfect cross onto the head of Breel Embolo, who confidently finished.

For the second Shaqiri and Embolo swapped roles, the Borussia Monchengladbach attacker freed up the space for Shaqiri who ran in behind the Bulgaria back-five before squaring the ball into the feet of striker Seferović who slotted home calmly.

The only thing lacking from Shaqiri’s performance was a goal, and he was desperately close to getting on the scoresheet himself. Intricate passing between the Liverpool man and Remo Freuler led to Shaqiri finding himself in acres of space on the right-hand side of the Bulgaria box.

A cheeky effort, to squeeze the ball in at the near post was saved by the goalkeeper but whilst the ball stood still on the goal line attacking wing-back, Zuber, zipped in to fire the third home.

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The threat of Shaqiri is an obvious one but Wales will have to pay close attention to the Swiss wing-backs. Both pushed on deep into the opposition’s box and it caused the Bulgarian back-five a lot of trouble. It might be “high risk, high reward” for Wales to go toe to toe with Switzerland out wide.

Connor Roberts and Neco Williams have both shown their attacking qualities in a Wales shirt these last seven days and could pin back the Swiss wing-backs and alleviate some pressure from out wide.

A confident trio at the back, Rodríguez, Elvedi and Akanji had very little to do defensively this game. However after a high press forced midfielder Freuler to play a loose pass, Bulgaria managed to pull one back, Despedov, striking the ball first time from the edge of the area to beat Yan Sommer

Perhaps an option for Wales to consider, Daniel James and Harry Wilson pressed tirelessly against Belgium. This time it was Freuler who made the mistake but anyone watching the Premier League has seen Xhaka make several errors following an intimidating press.

Switzerland, themselves, utilised a high press at the start of their second qualifying match. After just 90 seconds Shaqiri got the goal he deserved three days before. Lithuania panicked when Xhaka and Freuler pounced on the unsuspecting midfielder, his poor pass was picked off by Embolo who thread the ball through to Shaqiri who sealed the victory there and then.

Wales could feel buoyed by this though. Rodon and Mepham have shown how good their distribution is from the back and if Wales can beat the press the back three are totally exposed. The prospect of a returning Aaron Ramsey for this game should excite Wales if they can get that ball through to him.

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It was the only goal scored that game but it wasn’t for a lack of trying by Switzerland. They took aim at the Lithuania goal 21 times, Akanji and Zuber both hitting the woodwork. Substitute Denis Zakaria though had the best chance, the talented centre midfielder pulled the strings for the half-hour he was on the pitch and he should’ve capped his performance with a goal at the end but his rebounded effort hit the side netting.

Attack wise Switzerland has “no chill”.

They throw bodies forward throughout the 90 minutes and press high up.

If Wales can soak up the pressure defensively and attack with confidence the game is there to be won.

This looks like a very exciting match up to start the summer’s proceedings.

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Turkey 🇹🇷

Wales might feel like the odd ones out going into this summers tournament. Wales have only managed to score more than one goal just once in their previous ten matches. 

The others in the group seem to be scoring comfortably and Turkey are in a rich run of form infront of the opposition’s goal. 

Three qualifiers played and ten goals scored is a record to strike fear in any defence but are these results all as they seem?

Turkeys international window started with a huge slice of luck. 

Defending a corner against the Netherlands, the ball seemed to hit the hand of midfielder Yokuşlu,  however with an absence of VAR and the referee not in the right place to make the call, nothing was given. 

So instead of the ball being placed on the penalty spot, it travelled up the pitch quickly before Yılmaz struck with an unorthodox effort with his toe that deflected cruelly away from Netherlands goalkeeper, Tim Krul. 

There was nothing fortunate bout their other three goals though. A penalty confidently put away from Yılmaz, after a poor “strikers challenge” in the box by Malen. A beauty from Çalhanoğlu, just after the restart and a free-kick perfectly struck into the top corner completed a hat-trick for Yılmaz. 

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Defensively all was not well though.

The Netherlands had 20 shots on the Turkey goal and they were perhaps once again fortunate that there was no technology available to aide the referee. 

After the early handball decision went their way, Netherlands defender, de Ligt, rose above everyone in the box and headed the ball onto the post and possibly over the line just before half-time. 

Both decisions may have defined the shape of the game as the Netherlands offered more of a threat in the second half scoring two and missing a penalty in the final moments of the game. 

High scoring Turkey, it seems, can be got at defensively. 

A few days later and once again the Turkish defence rode their luck. 

In a very even game, good finishes by Tufan and Söyüncü were the difference as Turkey ran out three-nil winners in Málaga.

This match was all about taking your chances, Norway were unlucky in front of goal, Sørloth, Haaland and Ødegaard all were unfortunate not to see their efforts hit the back of the net before being reduced to ten men. 

On another day the result could’ve gone the other way.

Luck however is not infinite, and against the most unexpected of opposition, Turkey were found out at the back. 

Despite a wonderful volley from Çalhanoğlu in the first half and a repeat of the same penalty they scored against the Netherlands, Turkey threw away their lead against Latvia after a very poor defensive performance.

Despite a reputation of being full of potential Turkey conceded five goals in the two matches Ozan Kabak started in defence and disappointingly for the new Liverpool centre-back, all three goals in this game came from his defensive errors. 

Just after Turkey scored their second and seemed to be on their way to securing a maximum of nine points out of nine, Kabak found himself being beaten in the air, out of position near to the touchline. 

After losing the initial ball Kabak found himself in a race with Latvian full-back, Jurkovskis, who ran away from the defender and teed up the shot for incoming winger Savaļnieks to get Latvia back into the game. 

Things then went from bad to worse for Kabak who failed to clear the ball for Latvia’s second and with only ten minutes left of the game struggled to keep up with the defensive line playing three Latvia attackers onside, one of which, Ikaunieks, managed to control the looping ball back into the box before slotting home the equaliser.

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If Turkey continues to defend the way have this week, Wales should be able to make the most of it. The variety of attacking play Wales have showcased the last seven days will cause a young Turkish centre-back pairing all sorts of problems. 

I’m certain Kabak and Söyüncü aren’t relishing the opportunity of being pulled into no man’s land by Harry Wilson, racing Daniel James down the wing or contesting aerially with Keiffer Moore. 

Wales will have to be on fine form against Turkeys attacking threats but if their poor defensive performances continue, Wales should hopefully be scoring more than one.

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Italy 🇮🇹

Wales final match of the group is against potential dark horses to win this summers tournament. 

Roberto Mancini has transformed an Italian side that failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. 

Since his takeover, just under three years ago, Mancini and Italy boast a healthy record. Winning 70% of all matches, the Azzuri last lost a game in the 2018 Nations League against eventual winners Portugal. 

Incredibly consistent they have won each of their last five games two-nil. Even when refreshing their starting XI by making several changes the result is still the same. Dominant possession stats, plenty of shots and rarely – if ever, troubled defensively. 

Starting this set of fixtures against Northern Ireland, Mancini selected a front-three of Insigne, Berardi and Immobile; the latter two scoring to seal a comfortable win. 

Like Switzerland, Italy will pose Wales huge problems in the wide areas of the pitch. 

For Italy’s first, Sassuolo’s Berardi hugged the touchline before quickly darting in behind his marker, he collected the fine through ball from right-back Florenzi and fired into the roof of the net. 

Berardi continued to make life difficult for Northern Ireland. Time and time again he was found on the touchline before cutting back inside onto his stronger left foot and delivering quality crosses to striker Immobile and attacking left-back, Emerson. 

Wales will have to strong defensively out wide. Berardi is a danger man for Italy, midfielders like Ampadu, Allen or Morrell will have to be quick to help out the Welsh left-back.

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Again, like Switzerland though, Italy’s biggest defensive scare came from their own complacency and struggling with the oppositions press. Unlike Switzerland though, the intimidating figure of Donnarumma fills the Italian goal and he made two very important saves to keep a clean sheet.

Even if you breach the experienced Italian defence, it’s a seismic task to beat the Italian number one.

Wales will have to be at their best if an opportunity comes their way. 

The most difficult problem posed by Italy though will be what starting XI they choose and what system Mancini elects to tackle Wales. 

In their final two games of this window, Italy looked unrecognisable from the match against Northern Ireland. 

Belotti, Chiesa, Sensi and Barella all came into the side for the matchup against Bulgaria.  

Belotti, a different type of striker to Immobile netted in the first half from the penalty spot after being bundled over in the box. 

In the second half, he nearly wrapped the game up with a terrific lobbed effort that came off the foot of the post. A handful for defenders – Rodon likely to relish the chance playing against either striker, the same way he tackled Lukaku. 

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Flexibility at the other end of the pitch also makes it difficult for Wales to know what to expect defensively. Experienced defenders Bonucci and Chiellini are battle-hardened and ready for the aerial battle Kieffer Moore will bring.

In the final match, Italy switched to a back-three. Bastoni, Inters promising left-footed centre-back, started alongside Gianluca Mancini and Rafael Tolói. A change in defensive shape meant that Donnarumma only faced two shots on target against Lithuania whilst also giving freedom to attacking wing-backs Emerson, and Juventus regular Federico Bernardeschi. 

Likely to be the trickiest side we face at this summers tournament, Italy look like they could go all the way. 

If the match is to be played in Rome at the Stadio Olimpico, Wales fans will hopefully be treated to quite the footballing spectacle. Especially as the Italians will be wearing their stunning Renaissance kits. 

A fantastic group to be a part of at this summers tournament, Wales will be hoping to get through the group stages and create another dreamlike summer, like 2016. 

Even if Wales fail to make it through Group A, the football on show should still make it a tournament to remember. 

(Featured Image: Biser Todorov)