Wales Qualify For First Euro Championships

A 2-0 defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday proved immaterial as Israel’s loss to Cyprus confirmed Wales’ place in France next summer.

On that note, let’s take a look at what Sunday’s papers in the United Kingdom are reporting on the football side of things.

Group F: Surprisingly Northern Ireland are through to their first ever UEFA EURO and their first major tournament since the 1986 Federation Internationale de Football Association World Cup after topping a group containing Romania, Hungray and giant killers Grecce.

“I had doubts whether I was capable of doing the job after the Serbia game”, said Coleman, who had succeeded the late Gary Speed the previous January. Elsewhere Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp reveals how his “ruthless” father helped shape his career.

“We never risk players”.

He highlighted former Wales manager Gary Speed, who died in November 2011, in his post on Instagram.

While Belgium’s players were also elated after reaching the finals with a 4-1 win in Andorra and the Italians were beaming as they made sure of their spot with a 3-1 win in Azerbaijan, that was nothing compared to the Welsh celebrations in Zenica.

In an intimidating atmosphere in Bosnia, it was a tough game for Wales where they struggled to break down a Bosnia & Herzegovina side which includes Chelsea keeper Asmir Begovic and Roma star Miralem Pjanić.

“Now that we’ve qualified it might have seemed easy but nothing is easy”, said Italy coach Antonio Conte, who took over when Cesare Prandelli resigned after the Azzurri’s first-round elimination from last year’s World Cup. I’ve got a few minutes under my belt and I’m going to tell the gaffer that I want to play on Tuesday.

Wales can still qualify and have a game to spare if Belgium loses to Andorra on Saturday because they have a better head-to-head record against Belgium, which has their last match of the qualifiers against Israel, according to UEFA.

“We have been working hard for many years to be in this position”, said Bale.

While Bale’s fine form earns most headlines, dynamic displays by midfielder Aaron Ramsey make him the ideal foil for the Real Madrid forward.

Wales captain Ashley Williams added: “I said at the start of the campaign that qualifying would be my proudest moment and it definitely is”. Finally we’ve achieved that. I genuinely believe, fitness and availability willing, we can go there with a real optimism. “We can celebrate and hopefully we can win the game and have a nice night after it”.