Live Match Hub: Belarus vs Cymru
International
6 October 2019

Live Match Hub: Belarus vs Cymru

HOW IT STANDS IN GROUP C

08 October 20197:12pm

Here's the updated Group C table in UEFA Women's EURO 2021 qualifying following a 1-0 win for Cymru in Belarus and a convincing 13-0 win for leaders Norway in the Faroe Islands earlier today.

The qualifiers continue next month when Norway and Jayne Ludlow's Cymru take on Northern Ireland in the next round of fixtures.

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RETURNING ROWE THE HERO FOR CYMRU

08 October 20197:03pm

Rachel Rowe returned to Cymru colours in spectacular style on Tuesday night as she scored the only goal in what could prove to be a crucial 1-0 win over Belarus in EURO 2021 qualifying.

The midfielder returned from long-term injury to score the only goal of the game Barysaw after 82 minutes. Jayne Ludlow's side have now claimed seven points from the opening three games of the campaign and remain undefeated.

It was becoming an increasingly frustrating night for Cymru after a strong penalty claim was waved away in the opening half, but the side remained patient and earned their reward in the final minutes.

THE TEAMS ARE IN

08 October 20193:47pm

Jayne Ludlow has named her starting line-up for the UEFA Women's EURO 2021 qualifier against Belarus and has handed Anna Filbey her first international start.

Natasha Harding will captain the side in the Group C match with Sophie Ingle unavailable through injury. You can watch the match live on the BBC website hereYou can also follow live Twitter updates at @Cymru.

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IT'S MATCHDAY!

08 October 20199:12am

Jayne Ludlow's Cymru squad will be hoping to take another step towards EURO 2021 later this afternoon as they take on Belarus in Barysaw (5pm).

England automatically qualify as the host nation, and they will be joined by 15 of the 47 nations that have entered the qualification stage.

Norway are the current Group C leaders, and while Cymru will be aiming for top spot and automatic qualification, the three best group runners-up will also qualify for the finals. The remaining runners-up from the nine groups will then enter a play-off for the remaining three places.

Undefeated after two fixtures, the action continues next month when Cymru head to Belfast for the return match against Northern Ireland after the two teams played out a 2-2 draw at Rodney Parade last month.

The qualifier against Belarus will be streamed live on the BBC Sport Wales platform and you can follow live Twitter updates at @Cymru.

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IT'S A COLD ONE IN MINSK!

07 October 20196:17pm

Freezing temperatures may have welcomed Cymru to Belarus, but Jayne Ludlow's side trained through the cold in Minsk today ahead of Tuesday's EURO 2021 Group C qualifier.

The match takes place in neighbouring Barysaw, with temperatures set to be a little kinder to Cymru ahead of kick-off. However, the squad were all smiles earlier today as they took to the training ground for their final preparations.

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TASH TAKES THE ARMBAND

07 October 20196:00pm

Natasha Harding will captain Cymru against Belarus on Tuesday evening in place of the injured Sophie Ingle.

Harding scored a hat-trick the last time the side played in Belarus back in June 2014, and will be desperate to repeat that feat as Jayne Ludlow's side look to continue their undefeated start to EURO 2021 qualifying. 

Of course, Harding has already claimed one match ball in the current campaign, having added to her goal return with a hat-trick against the Faroe Islands in the opening match (below).

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LUDLOW REFLECTS ON FIVE YEARS OF PROGRESS

06 October 20196:53pm

Manager Jayne Ludlow recently sat down with FAW.cymru to evaluate her time in charge of the national team, and assess what progress has been made since taking over five years ago this week.

"I'm constantly acknowledging and evaluating the environment and the players that we have with our seniors and youth," Ludlow explained. "The benefits of looking after the U17 team and the U19 team over the last few years means we know the strength of our player pool below the seniors. So there's always realism to our expectations in that sense, because we do lack a large player pool to select from.

"Was I hoping as a senior group to have a steady squad that would be growing and developing in certain areas? Yes. Am I happy that we are? Yes. If I'm honest it's never been results based, it's performance based. Are we doing the right things on the pitch? Are we adding something in each camp when we come together to grow? If we were in a club environment, we could have done this in six months, but we don't get that time together. So I'm really happy with the progress.

"I guess externally five years seems a hell of a long time, but when you think that we access these players 30 days of the year on the pitch, that's the reality of it. But if you look at it, where we've been great, it's a results based business and when you look at the last campaign then for us it's about maintaining that level, and not even going beyond that, and that's trying to finish second in this group again."

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DOING THE DOUBLE OVER BELARUS

06 October 20197:03pm

It was during the qualifying campaign for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup that Cymru last came up against Belarus, and completed the double over their opponents without conceding a goal.

The campaign began for Cymru against Belarus at the Cardiff City Stadium in September 2013, and a solitary goal from Helen Ward in the 81st minute separated the two sides. The return match in Minsk took place in June 2014, with a hat-trick from Natasha Harding earning a 3-0 win.

Jarmo Matikainen was the manager at the time, but despite a positive campaign, the team missed out on a place in the finals and finished third in the group behind England and Ukraine.

BEING JESS FISHLOCK

06 October 20196:37pm

Influential midfielder Jess Fishlock will miss the next EURO 2021 qualifiers as she continues her recovery from a serious injury, but the Cymru star recently spoke to WalesOnline's Katie Sands about a range of topics in her personal and professional life.

"My biggest drive to get back is to put on the Welsh jersey again," said Fishlock. "I think if we were able to qualify for Euro 2021, I think it would change the nation. It would change the dynamic, completely, and ultimately that's what we want to try to do. If we don't qualify then we can really deem it as failure because we have a good enough squad, we have a good enough group to be qualifying for a major tournament."

Click here for the full interview

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GROUP C SITUATION

06 October 20192:03pm

Despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Northern Ireland last time out, Jayne Ludlow's Cymru remain undefeated in Group C, but it's Norway that now top the table following their 7-1 victory against Belarus on Friday.

It is another important week in the group, as in addition to Cymru heading to Belarus, Norway travel to the Faroe Islands on Tuesday. 

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SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT AND UPDATE

06 October 20191:58pm

Here's a reminder of the 20 players selected by Jayne Ludlow for the UEFA Women's EURO 2021 qualifier against Belarus on Tuesday evening.

"It will be a tough game," explained Ludlow. "As any national team game is when you travel away from home. They're a developing team. We've analysed them really well, they're a hard-working team who have certain strengths that we have to be aware of."

Since the squad was announced, captain Sophie Ingle has had to withdraw through injury and has been replaced by Grace Horrell.

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Follow the latest updates as Jayne Ludlow and her Cymru squad prepare for their third Euro qualifier against Belarus in Barysaw on Tuesday (8 October). 

Keep checking this page for the very latest information.