Live Match Hub: Cymru vs Switzerland
International
12 June 2021

Live Match Hub: Cymru vs Switzerland

THE TEAMS ARE IN

12 June 202111:27am

Cymru manager Rob Page has named his starting line-up as his side start their EURO 2020 campaign against Switzerland in Baku this afternoon.

Gareth Bale captains the side while Joe Morrell and Kieffer Moore are both named in the starting XI in what appears to be a 4-2-3-1 formation. Danny Ward is preferred to Wayne Hennessey in goal, while Ethan Ampadu and Neco Williams are both named on the bench.

Follow @Cymru for live updates and check back here later for the post-match reaction.

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IT'S MATCHDAY

12 June 20219:08am

The day has finally arrived as Cymru open their EURO 2020 campaign against Switzerland in Baku this afternoon (2pm).

Group A rivals Italy made a strong statement with a resounding 3-0 win over Turkey to kick-off the tournament in Rome on Friday night as Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne added to an own goal from Merih Demiral to hand manager Roberto Mancini a dream start to the tournament.

Cymru manager Rob Page has a fully-fit squad available and there has been plenty of debate amongst the Red Wall over his tactics and team selection for this opening match. "Of course we're looking for a positive result," said Page yesterday. "There's been a lot of work and preparation that's gone into the build-up for this first game."

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NO DISTRACTIONS FOR BALE

11 June 202112:09pm

The Cymru squad trained at the Olympic Stadium in Baku on Friday as Rob Page's side prepare to take on Switzerland in their opening match of EURO 2020.

Meanwhile, captain Gareth Bale spoke to the media and revealed how the squad are paying little attention to what has been said about Cymru's chances at the tournament after reaching the semi-finals at EURO 2016.

"People have their opinions," said Bale. "All we are worried about is what we do on the pitch, what we can affect. We will just be concentrating on our performance and hopefully that is good enough on the day. We want to win, we want to get off to a good start. I don't think it's a case of we can't lose the game.

"But we are going in with the mentality of wanting to win, get off to a good start and put ourselves in a great position. In our minds, we have a game plan, we want to win and that's what we will be going onto the pitch to do."

Here are a few images from the final training session on Friday.

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PAPER ROUND

11 June 20219:15am

Rob Page's Cymru side have been making headlines across Wales this morning as preparations continue ahead of the EURO 2020 opener against Switzerland on Saturday.

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PREVIOUS VICTORIES - CYMRU v SWITZERLAND

11 June 20218:53am

There have been seven previous meetings between Cymru and Switzerland with the first fixture taking place back in May 1949 as the Swiss claimed a 4-0 win in Berne.

However, Cymru have won two of the subsequent six games, and claimed the most recent victory when the two nations last played each other in October 2011. Here's a look back at those two Cymru wins over Switzerland.

Cymru 3-2 Switzerland - 16 May 1951 - Friendly, Wrexham

Trevor Ford scored twice for Cymru to avenge the 4-0 defeat when the two teams met for a second time. This international friendly took place at the Racecourse in Wrexham, with Ron Burgess scoring the third goal for the home side. Charles Antenen and Robert Ballaman were on target for Switzerland.

Cymru 2-0 Switzerland - 7 October 2011 - EURO qualifier, Swansea

Over 60 years since the only other victory over Switzerland, Cymru (below) claimed a 2-0 win at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea as captain Aaron Ramsey opened the scoring from the penalty spot on the hour mark, before Gareth Bale added a second on 71 minutes as Gary Speed's side registered their second win of the campaign. 

Wales in Outstanding Win over Swiss

ALLEN IMPRESSED BY NEW GENERATION

11 June 20217:29am

Midfielder Joe Allen is one of eight players in the 26-man Cymru squad who were part of EURO 2016, and spoke to BBC Sport Wales this week about the new generation that have emerged since that time.

"They want to make their mark and show what they can do and showcase their talent," Allen explained. "That is one of the great strengths they have. They are fearless. They are hungry and ambitious to do well and they are really, really keen to show that, and I am confident they are going to do just that as well.

"I think technically throughout the whole squad I think there is a bit more flair, a bit more creativity and a few more attacking dimensions. I think we have players with pace, we have players who can find a pass and can create things out of nothing. We have different traits this time around and I think everyone is looking forward to showing what we can do in maybe a different way."

Click here for the full interview

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RAMSEY HUNGRY FOR EURO SUCCESS

10 June 20215:22pm

Aaron Ramsey spoke to the media from the team base in Baku on Thursday to discuss the opening match of the tournament against Switzerland on Saturday as well as the expectations on the side from EURO 2016.

"What we did last time, nobody ever expected us to do that," said Ramsey. "Some people might be expecting a similar sort of thing again. We know that we've got a lot of players who haven't experienced this before. There's a new setup but we have expectations on ourselves. We will take it game by game and see if we can create something similar.

"We've tried to keep the same spirit from what we had at the last Euros. We're a tight group and we're all in it together. We're a real team and these are the values that we have. Of course, we go into every game wanting to win the game. It's up to us to do the talking on the pitch. We have players who can hurt teams.

"We have a good mixture and we're hungry for success again. It's going to be difficult, we're under no illusions that we have a tough group and a tough game against the Swiss to start. We have to be right on our A-game and hit the ground running for an important first match."

The Juventus midfielder didn't train with the rest of the squad, but alleviated any concern regarding his fitness and clarified that his omission was all part of his individual training plan. "It was a light session for the boys but it was planned that I would stay off my feet, so it's all good," he added.

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WILSON READY TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE

10 June 20214:22pm

Harry Wilson was making headlines this morning as he spoke to Tom Collomosse of the Daily Mail about his ambitions for the tournament.

"We have a good balance of youth and experience," said Wilson. "Some of us have played together for years. I have come through the ranks with Dan James and Joe Morrell so we know each other's games. Then to have a manager like Rob Page, who has know us from the age of 18 helps too. He knows us as people as well as players, how we think and feel."

Despite making his senior Cymru debut at the age of 16 back in October 2013, Wilson was amongst the red wall in Bordeaux back in the summer of 2016 to witness the famous 2-1 victory over Slovakia in the opening match.

"I remember saying to my mum and dad watching that Slovakia game that the next time the Euros cam around, I wanted to be part of the squad. I was only able to get to one game but I still remember the buzz around the city. As a player, you don't usually get to see that."

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LEVITT INSPIRED BY EURO 2016 SUCCESS

10 June 20214:00pm

Dylan Levitt may be one of the youngest players in the 26-man Cymru squad, but the 20-year old has happy memories of watching the side reach the semi-finals of EURO 2016.

"It still intrigues me to this day," said Levitt from the team base in Baku earlier this week. "Growing up watching that team, watching the games in the school hall. If I wasn't in school I'd be watching it with my mates and my family. I don't get bored with it really, I just want to remake it. Watching those games gave me more hunger to be in the next tournament."

Levitt has an advantage over his Cymru team mates when it comes to acclimatising to the heat in Azerbaijan having spent the second part of last season on-loan in Croatia with NK Istra 1961 from parent club Manchester United. "I got an offer from Croatia to go out there for four or five and months and I took it. It was beneficial for me as a player and individual, getting game time, and I've come back more confident. I feel I can adapt to most countries."

The midfielder has made eight appearances for Cymru since making his debut against Finland in the UEFA Nations League last September, and is now targeting an opportunity to make an impression at the EURO finals. "It's an unbelievable honour to be in the squad," he added. "If I can get on that pitch in a major tournament for Wales that would be one of the proudest moments of my life."

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The wait for UEFA EURO 2020 is nearly over as Cymru kick off against Switzerland in Baku on Saturday, 12 June at 2:00pm.

This Live Match Hub will bring you all the latest information in the build-up to the match from across media websites, social media and the team camp.

Make sure you check this page regularly for the very latest.