The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Wales

  • Giggs: Wales had to get off to a good start

    Wales manager Ryan Giggs admitted the pressure was on his side to get their European Qualifiers campaign off to a winning start against Slovakia last night.

    The home team overcame Slovakia 1-0 thanks to Daniel James’s fifth-minute strike at the Cardiff City Stadium to move level on points with their opponents, and Croatia, in the Group E standings.

    However, with both Croatia and Slovakia having won their opening games in the section, Giggs knew Wales also needed to get all three points in the Principality.

    “It’s not easy,” he told Sky Sports. “I had to play it down beforehand when all the other teams have got points on the board and you do feel the pressure, and you feel that you’ve got to get off to a good start and win and that’s what we got,” Giggs told Sky Sports.

    “I am proud in the performances and at the end, just digging in and keeping that clean sheet.”

    Giggs caused a few raised eyebrows by selecting a youthful line-up in the Welsh capital, making 11 changes from Wednesday’s 1-0 friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago, but it paid off.

    “Especially in the first half, they showed really good composure,” Giggs added. “In the second we rode our luck a little bit.

    “I felt we could have scored a couple more goals [in the] first half with the right decision-making in the final third. Some of the play was fantastic, paired with a lot of grit and determination at the end.”

  • Aftermath of Divorce: Giggs set to sell £3.5 million mansion

     

    Wales’s manager and former Manchester United ace Ryan Giggs appears ready to step away from the past for good after putting his £3.5 million mansion on the market.

    He bought the Manchester property during his relationship with ex-wife Stacey in 2004.

    And following their divorce,G iggs plans to move on from the relationship with PR girl Kate Greville, 34.

    The 45-year-old is moving out of his modern mansion in Worsley, which is complete with a grand entrance and winding staircase, indoor swimming pool and lavish gardens.

    When Ryan purchased the land 15 years ago he immediately demolished the property owned by the previous occupier and built the brick build which currently stands in the grounds.

    As soon as the new buyer walks into the home, they are met by an eye-catching entrance which centres around a sprawling staircase and boasts mood lighting and a table centerpiece.

    The lavish property features an indoor swimming pool, which is rectangular in shape and includes a Jacuzzi at one end of the light and airy room, as well as a seating area for those who just want to recline.

    Ryan’s kitchen is equally sleek and modern; the glossy black cupboards surround a stylish island which encases a hob and breakfast bar, while looking out onto the perfectly manicured gardens.

    Unsurprisingly in Ryan’s garden stand a set of goalposts, as well as a flag stoned patio area for BBQs and a quaint summer house which is situated on the lawn.

    The Wales football manager’s ten-year marriage to Stacey was dissolved in 43 seconds in August 2017. They have two children together.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Giggs bags Wales job promises better future

    Giggs bags Wales job promises better future

     

    Former England and Manchester United ace Ryan Gigss has promised to professionalism with a “a little bit of fun along the way” in the course of coaching the Wales national team.  He made the promise during his unveiling as the new helmsman for the Wales National team following the sacking of former coach.

    The 44-year-old former Manchester United winger was on Monday announced as Chris Coleman’s successor as manager of the Welsh national team.

    Speaking at his official unveiling at Hensol Castle, he told a press conference broadcast on Sky Sports News HQ: “I’m tremendously proud and excited to be the next Wales manager and I can’t wait to get going. It’s a great opportunity and I’m excited.

    “I played 64 times for my country. I’d like to think I’ll be the same kind of manager as I was a player, with professionalism but also a little bit of fun along the way.”

    Giggs has been out of football for 18 months since leaving the coaching staff at Old Trafford when Jose Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal in 2016.

    He revealed he had sought counsel from another former United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, after being interviewed for the Wales job last week.

    “I’ve spoken to him over the last 24 hours and I’ll speak to him in more depth but obviously I want to be my own manager,” he said.

    “I was itching to get back into football, that’s where I belong.”

    Giggs understands his status as one of Wales’ greatest ever players is no guarantee he will succeed as the national team’s boss.

    He added: “It opens doors but so many times it’s been said having a good career as a player doesn’t make you a good manager.

    “I’ve got a great group of players to work with who have been so successful over the last four or five years. Who can forget watching us at the Euros? I want to get us back there.

    “I think there’s a good balance. There are experienced players and good young players coming through and I can’t wait to work with them.”

    The FAW was keen to make the appointment before the UEFA Nations League draw, which takes place in Switzerland on January 24.

    Giggs, who won 64 Wales caps between 1991 and 2007, has been out of football for 18 months since leaving the coaching staff at Manchester United.

    Coleman spent nearly six years as Wales manager before leaving to take over Sunderland in November.

    He became the most successful manager in Welsh football history when he guided the country to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 Wales’ first major tournament for 58 years. But Coleman’s departure came on the back of Wales failing to qualify for this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

  • Bale ruled out of 2018 World Cup qualifiers

    Bale ruled out of 2018 World Cup qualifiers

    Wales forward Gareth Bale has been ruled out of their crucial last two 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Ireland due to a calf injury.

    Bale, who missed Real Madrid’s weekend league game against Espanyol, had arrived with the rest of the Wales squad on Sunday and attended an awards dinner in Cardiff.

    “But following dialogue with Real Madrid, Bale was sent for a scan and results confirmed that he wouldn’t be fit to feature,” the Football Association of Wales ( FAW ) said on Tuesday in a statement.

    “Barnsley striker Tom Bradshaw will now join up with the rest of the squad later today.”

    Bale is the most high-profile player in the Welsh side and the country’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Russia are still hanging in the balance.

    Chris Coleman’s team are second in Group D, four points behind leaders Serbia and one clear of Ireland in third.

    They take on hosts Georgia on Friday and host Ireland the following Monday in their final qualifier.

    Wales need to top the group to secure an automatic place in Russia but will go through to the playoffs if they finish second.

    Bale had been doubtful after Real manager Zinedine Zidane reported the player was suffering a small calf strain.

    The 28-year-old has scored 26 goals in 68 appearances for his country and was instrumental in their run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

    NAN

  • FIFA investigates Wales defender’s leg-breaking challenge

    FIFA investigates Wales defender’s leg-breaking challenge

    FIFA has opened proceedings against Wales full-back Neil Taylor after his leg-breaking challenge on Republic of Ireland’s Seamus Coleman.

    The Everton defender was taken off on a stretcher after the tackle which saw Taylor sent off during last Friday’s World Cup qualifier in Dublin.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 28-year-old Coleman was taken to hospital and required surgery on a double break.

    Taylor will be suspended for the qualifier in Serbia in June, but could have his one-game ban extended by FIFA.

    Wales captain Ashley Williams recently revealed that Taylor wanted to visit Coleman in hospital, and sent him a text message from the Aviva Stadium.

    “Neil was gutted. He was sitting on the floor virtually in tears,” he told the Everton FC website.

    “Even people who don’t know Seamus like I do were gutted.

    “He asked me to check if it would be OK to go to see Seamus in hospital. He got his number off me and sent him a text straight away.

    “When I found out it was a broken leg it made me feel sick inside because it’s someone who I like so much and is one of my mates.”

    Taylor began his professional career at Wrexham before moving to Swansea in 2010, helping the club win promotion to the Premier League in 2011.

    NAN reports that the left-back moved to Championship club Aston Villa in January.

     

  • Wales boss defends Bale

    Wales boss defends Bale

    Wales manager Chris Coleman has backed under-fire Gareth Bale to cope with the criticism being levelled against him at Real Madrid.

    Bale has been accused of acting selfishly during matches by not passing to team-mates, with Cristiano Ronaldo clearly displeased with the former Tottenham player for not playing in Karim Benzema against Espanyol in January.

    The critical attention on Bale intensified as a result of Real’s 4-0 drubbing at the hands of city rivals Atletico in Saturday’s Madrid derby, with leading newspaper AS calling him “irrelevant” and refusing to give him a player rating in their match report.

    But Coleman believes the £85.3m signing has the mental fortitude to not be adversely affected by the criticism currently being levelled at him.

    “He’s the most expensive player in the world and they’re on his case but he’ll be fine,” said Bale’s international manager.

    “If you’re going to go to the biggest club in the world for the biggest fee in the history of football you’ve either got the mentality to get on with it and not get caught up in it or let it engulf you and affect you.

    “I know which one applies to Gareth – but it’s just Madrid and the expectations there.

    “They’ve just lost heavily to Atletico and the press are getting on his back and a lot was made when he didn’t pass the ball because Ronaldo’s the man there.

    “People see Ronaldo waving his arms about at Gareth not passing the ball but I’ve seen Ronaldo in the same position and not pass it. But how many assists has Gareth made and how many important goals has he scored?

    “They won the Champions League last year and he was a huge part of that fantastic season and they’re still top of the league in his second.”

    Wales return to European Qualifiers action when they face Israel on March 28, with confidence high in the camp following victories over Cyprus and Andorra and draws against Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

    “I say to all my players whatever’s going at their clubs they can park that up,” added Coleman. “It’s an escape for them and Gareth is no different to any other player, he’s dedicated to the cause.

    “He wants to come and represent Wales and what’s going on in Madrid won’t bother him. He’s desperate to play on that world stage at a big championship and he knows he’s got a good chance in this current crop.”