Dafydd Pritchard
@DafPritchard
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“This is for him.”. Craig Bellamy has spent most of his life outside Wales but felt a gravitational pull to return. Now as head coach, he helps carry the memory of his friend Gary Speed - as well as the hopes of a nation. This is Bellamy’s calling:
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Gareth Bale on Wales' game against Belarus being moved to Kazan in Russia:. “I was disappointed the neutral venue wasn’t Wembley – everything else seems to be there!”.
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The whole ‘Mancini compares Wales to Stoke’ stuff is disingenuous. Mancini actually praised Wales for their technicality as well as their physicality so, tongue-in-cheek, a reporter asked if Wales reminded him of Stoke. This is what he said:
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I’m fascinated by multi-sport athletes. For Gerwyn Price to give up a career as a rugby player to take up darts professionally in 2014 and then to become world champion in 2021 is a brilliant story.
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As much as I cherished the chance to watch Antoine Dupont play live for the second time in the space of three months, we all witnessed greatness in the form of Taulupe Faletau tonight.
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Harry Wilson is the first Welshman to score in three successive games for his country since Gareth Bale at Euro 2016. Decent company.
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Craig Bellamy was in Swansea today to watch their win over Preston. Notable because, unlike his predecessors as Wales boss, Page and Giggs, Bellamy lives in Wales so he'll be at more games involving Welsh clubs and is already a more regular presence at the FAW's base.
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Wales have been the paper over the cracks of Welsh professional rugby for too long. That paper is now on fire.
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Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham and Newport back in Europe?. They’re in talks with FAW about entering Welsh League Cup to qualify for Europe. Clubs would stay in EFL but sacrifice right to qualify via English comps. Uefa, FA aware. Could be huge. Exclusive:
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That's the best Wales performance in a long time. Probably their finest display and result since Euro 2016. On to Rome!.
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Exclusive: Wales manager Rob Page is set to leave his role today. Breaking story:
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Quade Cooper, Morne Steyn… Wales, do the right thing.
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Wales fans watching Argentina win at Twickenham and then remembering they’re at the Principality Stadium next weekend
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The sadness of Marco Silva’s eyes. Pure desolation. Hard not to feel for him.
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These Wales performances have been coming for a while. When was the last time they really played well? Against a naive Turkey at Euro 2020?. Shame it finally caught up with them at their first World Cup for 64 years but Page looked out of his depth and some players looked gone.
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Looking forward to Craig Bellamy’s first interview as Wales manager. “Craig, congratulations on y-”. “What are you trying to get at, mate?”.
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Tomorrow marks 10 years since Gary Speed’s death. In this special long-form @Shorthand piece, Speed’s team-mates, colleagues and friends relive that tragic day and reflect on his legacy.
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Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
Sunderland manager Chris Coleman has left the club following their relegation to League One. More:
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Alun Wyn Jones unveiled as Lions captain just as he would have wished: in hologram form, like Tupac at Coachella 2012.
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Wales fans cheered the players after the final whistle. Page initially waited behind his squad and then when he offered his applause to the supporters, they booed him. In case there was any doubt, Wales' fans have turned on Page.
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Daniel James has told Swansea’s owners he wants to leave. His move to Leeds would initially be on loan, then permanent if Leeds are promoted. Loan fee of around £2m, then a permanent transfer potentially worth more than £10m with add-ons.
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Manchester City fall nine short of The New Saints’ 27-game winning run in the Welsh Premier League. Guardiola’s nearly men.
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Bristol City manager Lee Johnson on the loss to Cardiff: “It was a horrible game, let’s be honest. I got in for free and I still want my money back.".
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Nice moment in the mixed zone earlier when Graham Rowntree, former England and Lions player and coach now working with Georgia, stopped Wales prop Wyn Jones to congratulate him on his performance today. Rowntree told him he’ll have a long and successful Test career.
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"In transition," Wales' fans are chanting ironically after watching their side go 3-0 down to Slovakia.
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Classic Gatland when asked about North: “It was great that he scored two tries but I’m more disappointed with France’s second try, when he should have stuck with his man.”.
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Excellent from Wales. This Nations League campaign is helping normalise these matches against top-tier opposition, not just for the senior players but the youngsters and those on the fringes. Valuable experience in preparing for a World Cup.
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Wales’ 3-2 win over Belarus today was the first time they had come from behind to win a game since beating Belgium 3-1 at Euro 2016.
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The new date for Wales’ World Cup play-off final is expected to be announced tomorrow.
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Needing to beat Hungary to qualify for Euro 2020, Wales did so with a dominant 2-0 win. Needing a draw to win their Nations League group (and virtually guarantee a World Cup play-off), they beat Finland 3-1. This team is different, unburdened by Welsh football’s painful past.
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I sometimes wonder if Chris Gayle is straying towards Zlatan’s tedious brand of self-mythologising - but then I see him bowl in these sunglasses and think, nah, he’s still fun.
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Eddie Jones is credited with coining the phrase "finishers" for replacements so there's a certain symmetry to see his team ruthlessly finished off thanks in no small part to one of Wales' replacements, Dan Biggar.
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As creaky as Wales were in the second half, those final five minutes or so were a prime example of what Warren Gatland meant when he said this side have “forgotten how to lose”.
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Aston Villa have brought what looks like the biggest away following I've seen at Cardiff City Stadium.
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Touching moment as Cardiff fans sing to their manager: "Omer Riza, this one's for your dad.". Riza announced on Thursday night that his father had died. He shows his appreciation with a wave and applause for the fans.
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I’m obviously biased but Match of the Day Wales coverage tonight was great, as it has been for years, charting Wales’ rise from obscurity to this crowning glory. Also pleased how involved Sophie Ingle was during this camp considering her huge contribution to Welsh football.
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Irish, Welsh and Scottish fans point out to France that their victory means England win the Six Nations.
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Gareth Bale: "I'd rather this happen now and we address it than it happen at the World Cup.". Therein lies some of the value of this Nations League campaign to Wales. Once the exhaustion has passed, Wales can reflect on some useful lessons learned in these four NL matches.
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Just watching Scotland’s fans enjoying themselves in Munich. I’m pleased for them. I really am.
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Would be good if the Welsh Rugby Union went back to an a capella anthem, as the Football Association of Wales have done.
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Wales go into tomorrow night's World Cup play-off semi-final against Austria on the longest unbeaten home run in their history. Wales are unbeaten in their last 16 home games (11 wins, 5 draws), conceding only 5 goals in the process. Timing.
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Is there any way Uefa can ensure Wales and Republic of Ireland never play against each other again?. Like those countries forbidden from playing each other because of wars or political tensions. but crimes against football in this case.
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Millwall fans boo players taking the knee but they're drowned out by applause from Cardiff fans.
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*Selects drop-down menu*. *Selects ‘quit game without saving’*. *Restarts Football Manager*
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Real Madrid's Gareth Bale crosses for Wigan Athletic's Kieffer Moore, whose header is saved. I do enjoy the club diversity of this Wales side.
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Cardiff City are set to sign Ajax midfielder Sivert Mannsverk on loan until the end of the season. Medical done, personal terms agreed. Story here:
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Get your chicken and Xavi memes ready. Joe Allen's return to Swansea City should be confirmed later today.
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Roque Mesa (signed for £11m) joins Borja Baston (£15.5m), Jordi Amat (£2.5m) and Jefferson Montero (around £4m) in the list of Swansea players out on loan. For a club its size, that's a waste indicative of poor recruitment.
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The bus to take us to the airport to fly from Baku to Rome is at 4:30am local time. Chances of sleep currently look remote.
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Bellamy lives every moment so wholeheartedly. Even his chats with players he's just substituted are like those earnest 3am chats in the smoking area of a nightclub.
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Portugal v Czech Republic feels like the most quintessentially Euro 2004 fixture without having actually been a Euro 2004 fixture. Expecting Maniche to feature at some point tonight.
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A moment to savour for Welsh football, even if the full-backs are wearing 10 and 7.
Here’s the team Craig Harrison picks for tonight’s UEFA Conference League game against Fiorentina. #UECL
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Lest we forget Brendan Rodgers wore Velcro shoes for what was then the biggest day of his career.
📆 #OnThisDay | 2⃣0⃣1⃣1⃣ 🔙 . One of the biggest days in the #Swans' history! 🏆. 📺 To celebrate, you can watch the full 9⃣0⃣ minutes as live once more from 3pm today on our Facebook page.
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At the Vale Resort for Wales’ pre-match presser for tomorrow night’s huge Euro 2020 qualifier against Hungary, and Gareth Bale has made himself available for interview again. He loves it. Wales. Golf. Media. Madrid. In that order.
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League Two would benefit from the return of Wrexham and Stockport and their crowds next season. Seems dated that only one can be promoted automatically.
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Italy failing to qualify for two World Cups either side of winning Euro 2020 is very Wales rugby behaviour. Did their win in Cardiff last weekend involve some deal with the devil?.
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Wales have only led for a total of 15 minutes over the course of their four matches in this Nations League - but they have won three and drawn one. Considering the players missing (Bale, Ramsey, Allen, Brooks, Moore, Robson-Kanu, Morrell. ) that's another good win.
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Shearer and Bullard a wonderfully awkward pair in the studio. The military dad with his daughter's eccentric older boyfriend.
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Toby Booth is doing an even better job than we first thought.
Ospreys return from extinction in England and Wales
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That is going to be so hard to take for Wales, for squandering that winning position as much as Dickson’s unfathomable decision. Don’t like dwelling on referee chat but Wales don’t lose that match if the decision is correct and they stay 17-12 up against 14 men.
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WALES WIN 29-25!. CAN WE ALL JUST GO AND SIT IN A DARKENED ROOM NOW PLEASE?.
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While Lawes and Biggar are the first club team-mates to captain England and Wales in the same game, the only other a time a Wales captain has played for the same club as the opposition skipper was when Gareth Thomas faced Toulouse colleague Fabien Pelous in 2005.
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Fresh from completing his Uefa Pro Licence with the FAW. .
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Won the first Test of the series but lost the second? Warren Gatland has been here before. Only one thing for it in the decider…. Select 10 Welshmen, like he did in 2013.
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Aaron Ramsey will captain Wales against the Czech Republic tomorrow, Rob Page has just confirmed.
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Wales will be guaranteed at least a place in the World Cup play-offs if Spain avoid defeat in Greece tonight. Wales winning their Nations League group made 99% sure but Spain's result would seal it, regardless of where Wales finish in their World Cup qualifying group.
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Magnificent from Scarlets. To beat Leinster and Munster in Dublin is the toughest way to win the Pro12, and they did it in spectacular style.
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This just isn’t true, is it? Given the draw, regardless of pre-tournament form, England would have expected to get to a semi-final. Teams often concoct these narratives to create a siege mentality, though. Wales have done it under Gatland. Say it enough and they’ll believe it.
'We were told we weren't getting out of the group, we weren't going to beat Fiji. but we're here now.' 🗣️. Freddie Steward on England's critics 🏴. Watch the full feature with Steward on our build-up later tonight 📺
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Rob Page's contract runs until 2026, in case you were wondering.
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Cardiff sacked Neil Harris after six successive defeats in January. Mick McCarthy has just lost his sixth successive game. Joyless football for a club without direction. Managerial change needed again but cycle will just keep repeating itself until there is change at the top.
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Thierry Henry is one of the names being considered to succeed Rob Page as Wales manager. Still early days in the search but Henry, currently in charge of France's U21s and Olympic team, would be the kind of big name favoured by some at the FAW. Story:
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The worst I’ve seen the All Blacks play for a decade or more (and yes I did watch their thrashing by Australia this summer) but this might be the best I’ve seen England play since. 2003?.
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Five games in a fortnight at the end of a long season, qualification for a first World Cup since 1958. I would say Wales' players have earned themselves a nice sitdown.
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‘Seattle doesn’t settle.’ Neither did Jess Fishlock until the nomadic midfielder made this vibrant city her home. Here’s my piece from a day spent around Seattle with @JessFishlock, who discussed coffee, football and her future:
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Pleased for Page, who has handled a difficult period with dignity and always been a pleasure to deal with. Like many others, I had my doubts about his ability to manage Wales but tonight’s performance against Croatia felt transformative. Wales were superb, Page nailed it.
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If they're going to perform 'Three Lions' live with Harry Kane on the shortlist, it's only fair they do the same with 'Titw Tomos' for @GeraintThomas86.
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Just having a look at who Wales play next… oh yes, good, it’s Croatia.
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Short shrift from France coach Jacques Brunel to my question about Wales' prospects for the rest of the World Cup: "I’m not interested in what happens to them.".
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The rugby v football debate is so passé. Taekwondo is the national sport of Wales.
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With immense frustration, @PontypoolRFC can confirm the club's 2021-2022 season has ended. The club is calling for @BeddauRFC to be expelled from the National Championship and for the @WelshRugbyUnion's Community Game Board to resign. Club statement ➞
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Cymru wedi addurno eu stadiwm ymarfer yn Baku gyda geiriau Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. Wales have adorned their training stadium in Baku with lyrics from the national anthem.
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I can confirm I am not the leader of a new political party in Wales, contrary to how it may have appeared on this afternoon’s Wales Today Coronavirus Update.
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Phil Bennett wore his greatness lightly, generous with his time with fans, journalists and just about anyone he ever met. A tribute to the legendary Wales and Lions captain and fly-half, who elevated rugby union to an art form:
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I'm only gauging this on the crowd at the Principality Stadium and a few conversations, but have Wales regressed under Wayne Pivac to the extent that a lot of people are not even angry but just resigned, even apathetic?. The win in South Africa feels increasingly like an outlier.
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Robert Page yn dweud bod Ben Davies wedi dyfynnu Yma o Hyd fel rhan o'i araith ar ol y gem. Robert Page said Ben Davies quoted from Yma o Hyd during his rousing speech in the post-match huddle.
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I grew up thinking of Welsh Grand Slams as exotic curiosities of a distant past. Now I've seen 4 in 14 years. Which is nice.
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Brennan Johnson has taken his Nottingham Forest form into this game. Brimming with confidence, running with purpose and at pace. Quality.
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The atmosphere is properly crackling here. Poland's fans were chanting loudly as Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau started, got drowned out and seemingly awestruck by the a capella din and started applauding.
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Chris Mepham's move from Brentford to Bournemouth could be completed within the next 48 hours. Including add-ons, the fee could exceed £15m.
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The real bleakness lies off the field in the way rugby has been run in Wales over the years. As many have warned, this was always going to be the result. Welsh rugby is at its lowest ebb of the professional era.
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FT Wales 4-1 Iceland . Wales win their group and secure promotion to the Nations League top tier as Craig Bellamy finishes his first campaign unbeaten. With no NL play-off, World Cup qualifying could start as early as March next year.
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I'd love either player to do something to make this look stupid but it's sad to see Ramsey and Bale this way. They're so badly off the pace, not helped by a system which does nothing to accentuate the strengths they still have, or compensate for their weaknesses.
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Williams, Navidi, Anscombe, Faletau, Hill, Jenkins. it’s beginning to feel more and more like the 2015 World Cup for Wales, who were knocked out similarly depleted in the knockout stages by. South Africa.
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