Latest news with #EthanAmpadu
The Independent
18 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Big players return and youth given chance
Wales resume their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign at home to group minnows Liechtenstein on Friday. Craig Bellamy's side took four points from their opening two games against Kazakhstan and North Macedonia in March. Here, the PA news agency looks at the main talking points surrounding the Cardiff City Stadium clash. Flaming June Summer fixtures have proved a major problem for Wales in recent years. Euro 2024 qualification hopes were seriously damaged by defeats to Armenia – then ranked 97th in the world – and Turkey two years ago, and manager Rob Page lost his job after an embarrassing goalless draw with Gibraltar and a 4-0 beating in Slovakia last June. Slipping up against Liechtenstein, who are 205th out of FIFA's 210 ranked nations, would top those disasters, and boss Bellamy will be keen to brush them aside ahead of Monday's challenging test with Belgium in Brussels. Big players are back Ethan Ampadu and Harry Wilson, arguably Wales' two most important players, are available again after missing the March qualifiers through injury. Leeds captain Ampadu has not played for his country since September due to knee issues, with Bellamy saying Wales do not possess another player with the midfielder's 'number six profile'. Fulham forward Wilson has been on fire since Bellamy took charge, scoring four times in six games as Wales won promotion to the top tier of the Nations League last autumn. No Allen farewell Wales great Joe Allen has retired since the last international camp, calling time on a 77-cap career which saw the former Swansea, Liverpool and Stoke midfielder play at a World Cup and two European Championships. Allen had previously retired from international football in February 2023 before Bellamy persuaded him to return to the Wales fold last autumn. There had been suggestions Allen would prolong his career to make one final Wales appearance in Cardiff, but Bellamy paid tribute to the 35-year-old saying: 'Joe has been one of our greatest players. All I could do was just thank him for this period.' New kids on the block At a time when Desire Doue and Lamine Yamal have proved on the biggest stage that if you are good enough, you are old enough, Wales are nurturing their own young talent. Full-back Ronan Kpakio has been promoted from the Under-19 squad after just six appearances and one league start for Cardiff, while Leeds midfielder Charlie Crew, also 18, is included as well. Whether the pair receive game-time against Liechtenstein remains to be seen, but Bellamy is keen to fast-track high-potential youngsters for them to have experience of the senior environment. Payback chance on Liechtenstein trolls Wales were at a low point last summer after Gibraltar's part-timers held them to a 0-0 friendly draw in Portugal. But that did not stop the official Liechtenstein X account poking fun at the Dragons with a spot of trolling online. 'Hello! Shall we schedule a friendly match?' proclaimed a nation without a competitive victory since 2020. The World Cup draw ensured there was no need for that – and now Wales have the perfect chance for revenge.
The Independent
28-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Craig Bellamy picks Ronan Kpakio for Wales after failing to buy him for Burnley
Craig Bellamy has revealed he tried to sign Ronan Kpakio at Burnley after naming the Cardiff teenager in his Wales squad. Full-back Kpakio, 18 last Sunday, was the surprise name in Bellamy's 27-strong squad on Wednesday for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium. Kpakio made his first league start for Cardiff on the final day of the season at Norwich after being capped by Wales at various age-grade levels. 'I've known Ronan since he was very, very young and I've kept an eye on him,' said Bellamy, who was Vincent Kompany's assistant at Turf Moor between 2022 and 2024. 'Even last year, I tried to buy him for Burnley, so I'm fully aware of him. 'You might see it (Kpakio leaving Cardiff) this year. I don't think it will just be them (interested). 'His progression has been outstanding. I think his potential can be ridiculously high. 'He's very athletic, very intelligent. If he wasn't injured, I would have had him here in March.' Fellow teenager Charlie Crew is also included after, like Kpakio, impressing during Wales' training camp for English Football League players in Cardiff and Spain last week. Leeds midfielder Crew, 18, spent the second half of last season on loan at Doncaster, where he picked up a League Two title winner's medal. Bellamy is grateful to call on midfielder Ethan Ampadu – 'a remarkable player for us and someone we don't have with his profile at this present moment' – and Harry Wilson. Fulham forward Wilson has scored four goals in six games under Bellamy but missed the opening two World Cup qualifiers in March – a 3-1 home victory over Kazakhstan and a 1-1 draw in North Macedonia – with a fractured foot. Ben Davies and Brennan Johnson will also report for international duty after helping Tottenham end their 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League. Bellamy said: 'Of course it's a positive. You'll have a moment where you can congratulate players, and I love them being on a high. 'But also I have to be responsible for players that perhaps haven't had the season they would have expected.' Entering camp on a low note will be Sheffield United striker Kieffer Moore, who could win his 50th cap against Belgium in Brussels. Moore's poor touch in the Championship play-off final proved costly for the Blades as Tommy Watson accepted the invitation to score Sunderland's Wembley winner. Bellamy said: 'He's fine (Moore). We all make errors, that's the game. The simple fact is as well as your egos, everything else is forgotten, it's not going to serve you here. 'Whether they're coming in on a trampoline or with a ball round their neck, off we go, in you go.' There is no place for Cardiff-born Manchester United striker Gabriele Biancheri, who attended Wales' training camp. Biancheri is also qualified to play for Canada through his mother and has accepted an invitation to join Jesse Marsch's Canucks squad this week as a 'training player'.
The Independent
28-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Wales hand 18-year-old Ronan Kpakio surprise call-up after just one league start
Cardiff City defender Ronan Kpakio has received a shock Wales call-up after making just one league start for the Bluebirds. The right-back – who only turned 18 on Sunday and has captained Wales several times at youth level – has been named in Craig Bellamy 's 27-strong squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium. Kpakio signed his first professional contract last July and made his Cardiff debut in the Carabao Cup a month later. His first Championship appearance came as a second-half substitute against Sheffield United in December, but he missed several months of the season after having leg surgery in January. He made his full league debut for Cardiff at Norwich on the final day of the campaign. Kpakio and Charlie Crew have both been included by boss Bellamy after featuring in last week's Wales training camp in Cardiff and Spain. Leeds midfielder Crew spent the second half of the season on loan at Doncaster and helped Rovers to League Two title success. The 18-year-old won his first cap in a friendly against Gibraltar last summer. Key pair Ethan Ampadu and Harry Wilson return to the international fold after missing Wales' opening two World Cup qualifiers in March through injury. Captain Aaron Ramsey remains unavailable after undergoing hamstring surgery in March. The recently-retired Joe Allen, Kai Andrews and Tom Lawrence are absent after being involved against Kazakhstan and North Macedonia two months ago. Wales currently sit second in Group J after beating Kazakhstan 3-1 at home and drawing 1-1 in North Macedonia. The Dragons host group minnows Liechtenstein on 6 June and play Belgium in Brussels three days later. Group favourites Belgium have yet to begin their campaign, having been involved in Nations League action in March. Wales squad: K Darlow (Leeds), D Ward (Leicester), A Davies (Sheff Utd), N Williams (Nottingham Forest), J Dasilva (Coventry), C Roberts (Burnley), R Kpakio (Cardiff), B Davies (Tottenham), C Mepham (Sunderland, on loan from Bournemouth), B Cabango (Swansea), J Rodon (Leeds), J Sheehan (Bolton), C Crew (Doncaster, on loan from Leeds), E Ampadu (Leeds), J James (Rennes), O Cooper (Swansea), H Wilson (Fulham), D Brooks (Bournemouth), S Thomas (Nantes, on loan from Huddersfield), L Cullen (Swansea), N Broadhead (Ipswich), L Koumas (Stoke, on loan from Liverpool), R Matondo (Hannover, on loan from Rangers), K Moore (Sheff Utd), M Harris (Oxford), B Johnson (Tottenham), D James (Leeds).
The Independent
28-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Cardiff's Ronan Kpakio, 18, earns surprise Wales call-up after one league start
Cardiff defender Ronan Kpakio has received a shock Wales call-up after making just one league start for the Bluebirds. The right-back – who only turned 18 on Sunday and has captained Wales several times at youth level – has been named in Craig Bellamy's 27-strong squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium. Kpakio signed his first professional contract last July and made his Cardiff debut in the Carabao Cup a month later. His first Sky Bet Championship appearance came as a second-half substitute against Sheffield United in December, but he missed several months of the season after having leg surgery in January. He made his full league debut for Cardiff at Norwich on the final day of the campaign. Kpakio and Charlie Crew have both been included by boss Bellamy after featuring in last week's Wales training camp in Cardiff and Spain. Leeds midfielder Crew spent the second half of the season on loan at Doncaster and helped Rovers to League Two title success. The 18-year-old won his first cap in a friendly against Gibraltar last summer. Key pair Ethan Ampadu and Harry Wilson return to the international fold after missing Wales' opening two World Cup qualifiers in March through injury. Captain Aaron Ramsey remains unavailable after undergoing hamstring surgery in March. The recently-retired Joe Allen, Kai Andrews and Tom Lawrence are absent after being involved against Kazakhstan and North Macedonia two months ago. Wales currently sit second in Group J after beating Kazakhstan 3-1 at home and drawing 1-1 in North Macedonia. The Dragons host group minnows Liechtenstein on June 6 and play Belgium in Brussels three days later. Group favourites Belgium have yet to begin their campaign, having been involved in Nations League action in March. Wales squad: K Darlow (Leeds), D Ward (Leicester), A Davies (Sheff Utd), N Williams (Nottingham Forest), J Dasilva (Coventry), C Roberts (Burnley), R Kpakio (Cardiff), B Davies (Tottenham), C Mepham (Sunderland, on loan from Bournemouth), B Cabango (Swansea), J Rodon (Leeds), J Sheehan (Bolton), C Crew (Doncaster, on loan from Leeds), E Ampadu (Leeds), J James (Rennes), O Cooper (Swansea), H Wilson (Fulham), D Brooks (Bournemouth), S Thomas (Nantes, on loan from Huddersfield), L Cullen (Swansea), N Broadhead (Ipswich), L Koumas (Stoke, on loan from Liverpool), R Matondo (Hannover, on loan from Rangers), K Moore (Sheff Utd), M Harris (Oxford), B Johnson (Tottenham), D James (Leeds).
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Teenager Kpakio in Wales squad for qualifiers
Wales head coach Craig Bellamy has named Cardiff City teenager Ronan Kpakio in his squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Kpakio, who turned 18 this week, is included for the first time having been part of Wales' training camp in Spain earlier this month. Cardiff academy product Kpakio has only six senior Bluebirds appearances to his name. He made his debut in the EFL Cup last August before his first league start came on the final day of the Championship welcomes Ethan Ampadu and Harry Wilson back to his squad for games against Liechtenstein at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday, 6 June and against Belgium in Brussels the following United captain Ampadu, 24, and Fulham attacking midfielder Wilson, 28, were injured for the opening games of the campaign in two of Bellamy's key men return, captain Aaron Ramsey is missing through injury and there is no Joe Allen after he announced his retirement earlier this month. Wales sit second in Group J after beginning their bid to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup with a 3-1 win against Kazakhstan and a 1-1 draw in North Macedonia. Several players will report for international duty after a successful end to the season at club Johnson scored the only goal as Tottenham - who also included Ben Davies in their squad - beat Manchester United in the Europa League final, while Connor Roberts, Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, Daniel James and Chris Mepham all secured promotion to the Premier League with their respective Macedonia currently top Group J ahead of Wales on goal difference, though top seeds Belgium are yet to start their group winners seal a place at the World Cup, while four remaining berths will be determined by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up and four teams from last year's Nations League are already well placed to secure a play-off place - should they need it - having topped their Nations League group. Wales squad Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow, Danny Ward, Adam DaviesDefenders: Neco Williams, Jay Dasilva, Connor Roberts, Ronan Kpakio, Ben Davies, Chris Mepham, Ben Cabango, Joe RodonMidfielders: Josh Sheehan, Charlie Crew, Ethan Ampadu, Jordan James, Ollie Cooper, Harry Wilson, David Brooks, Sorba ThomasForwards: Liam Cullen, Nathan Broadhead, Lewis Koumas, Rabbi Matondo, Kieffer Moore, Mark Harris, Brennan Johnson, Daniel James
