Bellamy heads for Spain without Wales' Premier stars
Wales head coach Craig Bellamy will head to Spain next week for a warm-weather training camp without a number of high-profile Premier League players.With the final round of top flight games taking place on Sunday, 25 May, Bellamy will start preparations for June's World Cup qualifiers without the likes of Tottenham Hotspur's Ben Davies and Brennan Johnson and Fulham's Harry Wilson.Daniel James, Ethan Ampadu, Karl Darlow and Joe Rodon, all fresh off the back of winning the Championship with Leeds United, are included in a group of 29 players.The Football Association of Wales says the training camp will allow Bellamy and his staff to "view players that have been involved in the senior team, U21 and U19 squads across the 2024-25 season".The group, which includes Manchester United youngster Gabriele Biancheri and 17-year-old Cardiff City defender Ronan Kpakio, will train in Cardiff until Sunday, 18 May, before flying to Spain to spend four days in Alicante (19-23 May).
Wales are second in World Cup qualifying Group J after winning the opening game of their campaign 3-1 against Kazakhstan in March, before drawing 1-1 at group leaders North Macedonia.Bellamy's side face winless Liechtenstein at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday, 6 June before travelling to Brussels the following Monday to face top seeds Belgium, who are yet to start their campaign.Every game of Wales' 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign is televised live on BBC Cymru Wales.Belllamy will name his squad for the summer qualifiers on Wednesday, 28 May.
Wales training squad: Karl Darlow, David Harrington, Lewys Benjamin, Jay Dasilva, Rhys Thomas, Dylan Lawlor, Joe Rodon, Ben Cabango, Ronan Kpakio, Ethan Ampadu, Kai Andrews, Charlie Crew, Ollie Cooper, Jordan James, Liam Cullen, Luke Harris, Lewis Koumas, Rabbi Matondo, Sorba Thomas, Mark Harris, Daniel James, Elliot Myles, Cian Ashford, Joel Cotterill, Luey Giles, Sam Parker, Gabriele Biancheri, Josh Sheehan, Freddie Issaka.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
39 minutes ago
- Reuters
Djokovic is underrated and still up there with the best says beaten Zverev
PARIS, June 5 (Reuters) - Three-time French Open champion Novak Djokovic is underrated at the age of 38 despite continuing to deliver world class performances, said Germany's Alexander Zverev after his quarter-final loss to the Serbian on Wednesday. The 28-year-old, a finalist last year, was attempting to become only the fourth man in the Open era to reach the French Open semi-finals in five consecutive years, after Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Instead he bowed out of the tournament, having lost in four sets to Djokovic, who will play Italian world number one Jannik Sinner for a spot in Sunday's final. "I think it was very, very high level from him," Zverev told a press conference. "It was at some point difficult for me." "I, at some point, felt like I didn't know how to win a point from the baseline against him. I thought he was having solutions to a lot of things that I was doing." Djokovic unusually played 35 drop shots in the game, forcing Zverev constantly to the net and mixing up his game to stop the German from pounding him from the baseline. "I think at the moment he's a bit underrated, to be honest," Zverev said of the 38-year-old. "I think like a lot of people count him out already, but this year he's had wins over Carlos (Alcaraz) at the Australian Open, he has had a win over me at the French Open." "Forget the age. I think for any player, those are pretty good results. He is still beating the best of the best, so I think everybody needs to respect that." Former world number one Djokovic is just two matches away from becoming the first player, male or female, to win 25 Grand Slam singles trophies.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
How Novak Djokovic frustrated Alexander Zverev with a trick everyone could see coming
As Novak Djokovic looked to close out victory over Alexander Zverev in the French Open quarter-finals, he went back to the tactic he had deployed throughout the night session match on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Only this time Djokovic, playing against the increasing wind, brought it to another level. Even at 38, he could not remember a time where he had hit so many drop shots during a closing game. 'Just trying to mix it up,' Djokovic said. 'At one point, I felt like I couldn't go through him, so I tried to bring him to the net. I tried to risk it with the dropshot, serve and volley. It had to be done.' Djokovic finished the 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 win against the third seed with 35 drop shots in total, consistently catching Zverev behind the baseline across the three-hour match. Djokovic also used the drop shot on some of the biggest points, saving Zverev's only break point in the fourth set to end a 41-shot rally. When it wasn't the drop shot, Djokovic was running through his other patterns, landing wide serves and drop volleys. An exasperated Zverev never got to grips with it and was punished for his deep positioning. 'What do you want me to say? He's won 24 of these things,' Zverev said. 'Yes, I expected him to be able to play like this. I have not seen him play like this this year yet. I think it was very, very high level from him.' By the end, Djokovic and Zverev followed a similar script and produced the same result. As Djokovic avenged his retirement against Zverev after losing the first set of their Australian Open semi-final, he also proved to himself that he is reaching the levels required to compete for a 25th grand slam title. Djokovic is now the second-oldest player to reach a Roland Garros semi-final, where he will play World No 1 Jannik Sinner in a blockbuster on Friday. 'I think the win against [Carlos] Alcaraz in quarters of the Australian Open, in quarters against Zverev tonight proves to myself and others that I can still play on the highest level and I just thrive on these occasions,' Djokovic said. 'This is where I kind of lock in and really give my best. I just hope that I will be able to physically keep up, you know, with Sinner in a few days' time. It's a big challenge for me. It's only going to get tougher, but it's good. It is how it's supposed to be.' While Djokovic had improved his form by winning his 100th title in Geneva and carrying his winning run into Roland Garros, the Serbian had yet to be tested on his return to Paris. Zverev is a physical player who could have dragged Djokovic into a lengthy and attritional contest. Their previous meeting came in the Australian Open semi-finals, when Djokovic retired after an 82-minute opening set having suffered a leg injury in his previous win over Alcaraz. The first set came down to Zverev's opening break of serve. Djokovic appeared distracted as he paused between serves on 30-30 and then pushed the forehand long. The break followed and proved decisive, with Zverev saving the only break point he faced by winning a 30-shot rally on 4-3. The German served extremely well, but as the conditions cooled it began to lose its efficiency. Djokovic's level, though, was rising. With the first set behind him, he broke for the first time to lead 3-1 in the second, capitalising on a service game from the German that contained four groundstroke errors. The single break was enough for Djokovic to level the match, although he almost squandered three set points in the final game. Instead, he turned to the drop shot that landed delicately over the net. By then, everyone in Chatrier could see Djokovic's game-plan. But Zverev couldn't stop it and his efforts left him gesturing to his box. Djokovic broke to lead 3-2 in the third, beginning a run of six games in a row where the 38-year-old found another level, barely missing and directing Zverev around the court as if one string. 'I, at some point, felt like I didn't know how to win a point from the baseline against him,' Zverev said. By the time Zverev ended the run, Djokovic was a break up in the fourth, which would again be enough as he converted his fifth match point. A month ago, Djokovic contemplated facing a 'new reality' after falling to a third straight defeat and continuing his run of early exits at the Madrid Open. But going to Geneva to win his 100th title has helped his confidence and facing Sinner in the semi-finals is where he expects to be. 'Of course, semi-finals of a grand slam against the No 1 in the world. there is no bigger occasion for me,' Djokovic said. 'I'll try to do my best to step it up and perform as well as I did tonight.'
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Vinicius Jr's Brazil form crucial for Ancelotti in World Cup qualifiers
June 4 (Reuters) - Brazil must help striker Vinicius Jr rediscover the form he has displayed at Real Madrid, new national team coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Wednesday. Ancelotti, who guided the Spanish giants to several titles alongside the Brazilian forward, including two Champions League triumphs and two LaLiga crowns, said that his unique ability to unsettle opposing defences made him a vital asset. 'I don't know if he's been at his best here, but he has time to do what he does at Real Madrid,' Ancelotti told reporters ahead of Brazil's World Cup qualifying match against Ecuador on Thursday — his first match in charge of the national team. 'For us, he's a fundamental player. We have to work to ensure he performs at his best here,' the manager added. Vinicius made his World Cup debut in Qatar in 2022 and has been a regular during their qualifying campaign for the 2026 tournament. However, he has struggled for form with the national team, falling short of his usual standards at Real Madrid. Regarding his tactical approach, Ancelotti stated that he aims to field a compact, balanced team. "I don't want a team with a clear identity. We have to defend well, whether it's 4-3-3 or 4-4-2. We have to defend together and use creativity with the ball,' he said. "Individual quality is not enough today; you have to combine it with attitude, drive and commitment.' He didn't reveal his starting line-up for his debut as coach, but he did have words of praise for 18-year-old Estevao, who is leaving Palmeiras for Chelsea and has been tipped for a bright future with the national team. "He's got a special talent... he's got character, he's a good person, he's humble, and he seems fine to me, but with a young player we have to be patient and careful. He has the characteristics to be very important for the future of the national team," the coach said. Brazil are fourth in the standings for the South American World Cup qualifiers, while their opponents Ecuador are second, behind world champions Argentina. The top six qualify directly for the World Cup. They will host Paraguay in Sao Paulo next week and could secure an early spot at next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
