Wales will kick off their Euro 2020 campaign against Switzerland in Baku on Saturday June 12th. Rob Page’s side will want to get off to a good start like the side did in 2016. At France Wales started with a 2-1 win over Slovakia.
The last meeting of the two nations came in October 2011 at The Liberty Stadium, Swansea with Gary Speed’s team running out 2-0 winners in a European Championship Qualifier. Second half goals from Aaron Ramsey from a penalty and Gareth Bale securing the win. Neither side would qualify from the group with Switzerland finishing third and Wales in fourth.
Here’s a look at what happened to that line.
Wayne Hennessey
Hennessey has very much been Wales’ number one since this game. While he has found cementing the number one spot at current club Crystal Palace difficult he has long been number one for his county. After he picked up an injury in October 2020 in a Nations League match Danny Ward came in to the side.
Hennessey will be in the Welsh squad for Euro 2020 but with Danny Ward’s strong performances in recent matches he will have a fight for his place.
Chris Gunter
Wales’s most capped male player will head to Euro 2020 looking to add to his 101 caps. After 280 appearances for Reading Gunter left to join Charlton at the start of the season.
Another who was almost certain of starting every game at one time now see his game time limited. The emergence of Connor Roberts has seen Gunter become more of a squad player.
Even if he does not start he will a vital member of the Wales squad for the Euros having been part of the side that made the semi-finals in France.
Ashley Williams
Wales heroic captain from Euro 2016 retired from playing in January 2021. Retiring at the age of 36 having played for Stockport County, Swansea City, Everton, Stoke City and Bristol City. Gaining 86 Wales caps and two goals, most notably the equaliser in Wales’ famous victory over Belgium.
At Swansea he helped take them to the Premier League and lifted the League Cup in 2013.
Since finishing playing he has been working in the media as a pundit for Sky Sports.
Darcy Blake
The then Cardiff City defender made 14 appearances for Wales. After leaving Cardiff he joined Crystal Palace but only made 10 first team appearances before leaving for Newport County. Making just appearances at Newport he went to played both amateur football and rugby.
In 2015 he was player coach for Aberbargoed Buds.
Neil Taylor
Another star of Wales’ Euro 2016 run playing every game and scoring in the win over Russia. Taylor at the time at Swansea City after staring his playing career at Wrexham. In 2017 he left Swansea for Aston Villa and helped the midlands club back into the Premier League in 2019.
Since Villa’s return to the Premier League his game time has dropped and he will leave as a free agent as his contact has expired. Rumours of a move to Stoke, QPR or Turkey were reported by the Sun last month.
Gareth Bale
Bale will captain Wales at this years Euro’s after being a star player in 2016. Playing for Tottenham Hotspur at the time of this game he made the move to Real Madrid in 2013. While in Spain he has won two La Liga Titles, a Copa Del Ray, four Champions league’s and two UEFA Super Cups.
After being out of favour with Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane Bale has spent the last season on loan at Tottenham netting 11 Premier League goals.
Bale returns to Madrid after the Euros but rumours of a move away from Spain but with Carlo Ancelotti returning as Madrid manager Bale’s time in Spain may not be over.
Joe Allen
Joe Allen was a mainstay of Wales’ midfield until a achilles tendon injury in 2020. The injury would have seen him miss Euro 2020 until the tournament was postponed for a year.
Playing for Swansea at the time Allen moved to Liverpool in 2012 before moving to Stoke City in 2016. The midfieder earned the nickname the Welsh Pirlo.
A star player for Wales in Euro 2016 being named in the Team of the Tournament. Another who will be a vital part of Wales’ squad for Euro 2020.
Andrew Crofts
Crofts picked up 29 caps across his Wales career. He was playing for Norwich City in the Premier League at the time of the game having spent nine seasons with Gillingham and a year at Brighton.
In 2012 he returned to Brighton before spells at Charlton, Scunthorpe, Newport and Yeovil. he was a player coach at Yeovil before leaving to re-join Brighton again as a player coach for their under 23 side.
Aaron Ramsey
Another who would go on to star in Euro 2016 and also be in the squad for Euro 2020. The Arsenal midfielder was captain for Wales as Gary Speed looked to build his new generation of players.
Staying at Arsenal until 2019 Ramsey made 369 appearances scoring 64 goals and winning three FA Cups. He joined Juventus in 2019 following fellow Welsh internationals Ian Rush and Jon Charles to Turin.
During his time in Italy he has won a Serie A title and a Coppa Italia. Injuries have limited his Wales appearances over the last two years but he will be vital for Euro 2020.
Ramsey also played for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics.
Craig Bellamy
One of Wales’ most talented players of this period Bellamy was at Liverpool at the time of this game. He won the League Cup with Liverpool before returning to Cardiff City in 2012.
He spent his final two playing years at Cardiff City helping them to their first ever promotion to the Premier League. Bellamy was unable to stop Cardiff being relegated and made his final appearance in a loss to Chelsea.
After finishing playing Bellamy started coaching at Cardiff’s academy. He left Cardiff after claims of bullying a youth team player. In 2019 he joined Anderlecht as a coach for their under 21 side.
Steve Morison
Best known for his spells with Millwall Steve Morison played eight times for England “C” before making his Wales debut. A much travel forward who had spells with Leeds, Norwich and Shrewsbury.
In his 655 appearances he got 248 goals across the top six tiers of English football.
After finishing playing he took up a coaching role at former club Northampton Town. He is now manager for Cardiff City’s Under 23 side having been brought in by former Cardiff manager Neil Harris.
Sub; David Vaughan
A late sub in this game Vaughan finished playing in 2019 at Notts County. In September 20220 he joined Crewe as an academy coach.
Sub; Simon Church
Another late sub Church would retire from playing in 2018 after playing for amongst others Reading, Charlton Aberdeen, Roda JC and Plymouth.
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