Wales v Slovakia 5 PM BBC One and RTE TWO

Harry Palmr

Can the "Land of Our Fathers" in their first Euros and only second major international tournament be anything other than a side show within group B?

Wales have a solid mix of talents from front to back Williams, Allen, Ramsey, Bale but they are so reliant on the Madrid man, neither of their strikers actually scored during the campaign though Sam Vokes was in good form for Burnley.

Today they face another side that has benefited from the expanded qualification process with quite an impressive campaign finishing second to Spain (who they beat once) beating Ukraine away and holding them at home. Top scorer Hamšík is the star player with name recognition for Liverpool stalwart Martin Skrtel. The defender has been shocking for his club but he seems to raise himself for the internationals with a notable game against Spain at home.

In betting terms this is a BTTS and double chance for Slovakia I think.

BoJack Horseman

with ing-guur-land playing Ivan later I think both teams will go for a win as best they can. Could be frantic.

Predicting an open game & a score draw... 2-2
.

Juan8

2-1 Wales, Bale with both goals

klose

Kick off is 5 mick

Ol' Donie

OP, please use his correct title:
Sam "That's All" Vokes (copyright Ken Early)

Today will be a great day, this game in particular. Would love to see Wales do well.

mikeym

Bale will need to be at his best if Wales are to win.

Mec27

mikeym wrote: »

Bale will need to be at his best if Wales are to win.

Hamsik will have to be at his best for Slovakia to win, much of a muchness in terms of quality between both teams.

monkey9

I hope Wales lose along with England and Northern Ireland. There, i said it.

adox

monkey9 wrote: »

I hope Wales lose along with England and Northern Ireland. There, i said it.

How come?

Mec27

adox wrote: »

How come?

Why? Wales, they aren't a rival lol.

monkey9

adox wrote: »

How come?

I don't know really. I don't mind Wales too much in fairness, but i can never really find myself cheering for the British nations.

Paully D

Wayne Hennessey being out injured is great news for Wales. How he plays so many games at Premier League level is beyond me. Such a poor goalkeeper.

SEPT 23 1989

Duff is doing very well

Mr.Nice Guy

Wales:

Ward; Gunter, Chester, A Williams, Davies, Taylor; Allen, Edwards, Ramsey; J Williams, Bale

Slovakia:

Kozacik; Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Svento; Kucka, Hrosovsky, Hamsik; Mak, Duris, Weiss


22 year old Liverpool reserve keeper Danny Ward is preferred to Wayne Hennessey in goal who is said to be suffering with back issues.

I'm not a big fan of Hennessy but is this young keeper going to handle the occasion? I'd say Slovakia are pretty pleased about this.

Kirby

"How much of is a setback is it missing Wayne Hennessey?"
"I dont think much of one at all!"

Duffer saying how it is.

Mars Bar

Paully D wrote: »

Wayne Hennessey being out injured is great news for Wales. How he plays so many games at Premier League level is beyond me. Such a poor goalkeeper.

4 clean sheets in 10 qualifying matches though

Kirby

Clean sheets is and always has been a terrible metric to judge a keeper. You can get a clean sheet and not make a single save the entire game. Just ask Victor Valdez.

PeterTheEighth

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Duff is doing very well

He's excellent. I think it's the first insight that we have in to a contemporary, top level, premiership dressing room. Instead of how Bobby Charlton did things back before TV was invented, Duffer is able to talk about Mourinho and Makalele.

duffman13

monkey9 wrote: »

I don't know really. I don't mind Wales too much in fairness, but i can never really find myself cheering for the British nations.

Wales have the most arrogant rugby fans so for some reason they rubbed me the wrong way. Having met a few Welsh fans during the nation's cup I've changed my opinion. Decent fans.

This might be a decent game, I think Wales draw no bet would be a decent punt. They have a solid spine and Bale can get a goal from nowhere.

duffman13

Kirby wrote: »

"How much of is a setback is it missing Wayne Hennessey?"
"I dont think much of one at all!"

Duffer saying how it is.

From Wards games with Aberdeen this season he's a very good keeper and a better shout than Hennessy. Hopefully the occasion doesn't get to him

citytillidie

Mec27 wrote: »

Why? Wales, they aren't a rival lol.

They will be for the next World Cup

The Backwards Man

They should roll out Neville Southall.

Anyone see him lately, not much getting past him these days.

That_Guy

The dragon is in.

SantryRed

The Welsh national anthem being sung should be something special.

Ol' Donie

The Slovak national anthem sounds like movie music in a scene where several muders are being carried out in different places at the same time.

A Primal Nut

Giles comparing team spirit on the pitch vs off the pitch was a good laugh.

Toobz

Some support there for the welsh!

murpho999

SantryRed wrote: »

The Welsh national anthem being sung should be something special.

Why?

Mr.Nice Guy

That's how you belt out an anthem.

mansize

Give me hope Joe Allen

That_Guy

murpho999 wrote: »

Why?

First major tournament in a million years.

RobertKK

Good luck to our Welsh neighbours.

mansize

murpho999 wrote: »

Why?

It's glorious

Kenjataimu

Ol' Donie wrote: »

The Slovak national anthem sounds like movie music in a scene where several muders are being carried out in different places at the same time.

I was thinking the same thing :pac:

Mr.Nice Guy

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

That's how you belt out an anthem.

Great atmosphere

Mars Bar

I really like Bale. There's a lot of pressure on him to perform in this tournament and I really hope he lives up to that pressure.

mansize

Come on Wales!!!!

caviardreams

Mars Bar wrote: »

I really like Bale. There's a lot of pressure on him to perform in this tournament and I really hope he lives up to that pressure.

And man bun on fleek.

monkey9

Where the hell is WelshMegaMan?

Mars Bar

caviardreams wrote: »

And man bun on fleek.

Bloody hate that man bun. His hair when he was trying to copy Ronaldo was far better.

monkey9

mansize wrote: »

Give me hope Joe Allen

A magnificent human being.

Kenjataimu

Great interception!!

Mars Bar

Holy crap what a block

BoJack Horseman

Chance!

Amazing dribbling... incredible defending.

Amazing clearance

That_Guy

Lucky block but three of them got sucked into the ball very easily.

Johner

That was far too easy, Wales are going to get pumped defending like that. Great goal line clearance though.

ctrl-alt-delete

Brilliant run and saving block there, not so brilliant from Ramsey.

Kenjataimu

Bales fault for losing the ball though.

Mars Bar

This has been a feisty start

mansize

Sister lives in the principality always had great welcome any time I've been there, all be it for rugby, but
Cymru am byth