England National Football Team Match No. 830

Wales 0 England 1  [0-0]

Saturday, 3 September 2005

Wales Pre-Match

Notes

Friday, 2 September 2005 - Simon Davies seems set to shake off a shin injury and take his place in the Wales midfield for the World Cup qualifier against England.  The Everton winger should play as part of a midfield also including Ryan Giggs, Carl Fletcher and Carl Robinson.  Gareth Roberts, however, might not be able to play because of a bug.  Robert Page, Danny Gabbidon, David Partridge, Richard Duffy and Sam Ricketts are tipped to play in defence.

Tuesday, 30 August 2005 - James Collins has surprisingly declared himself fit for Wales' World Cup double-header with England and Poland.  But the centre-back is very unlikely to feature, having been out with a calf injury since pre-season, and may be selected for the Under-21s on Friday.  Paul Parry, Mark Delaney, Danny Collins and Craig Bellamy are out injured.  Gareth Roberts (bug) and Simon Davies (shin) are expected to step up their training later in the week.

Sunday, 28 August 2005 - Paul Parry is expected to miss Wales' World Cup double-header with England and Poland next week.  The Cardiff winger will meet up with the squad on Monday, but Bluebirds boss Dave Jones says he is not fit to play.  "He's got a knee ligament problem and once the Wales medical team see that they will send him back," said Jones.

Friday, 26 August 2005 - John Toshack has ruled full-back Mark Delaney out of the 3 September World Cup qualifier with England.  The 33-cap man has not featured since injuring his knee in pre-season.  Delaney joins Craig Bellamy (thigh) and Sunderland defender Danny Collins (achilles) in missing out, while James Collins (calf) is rated very doubtful.  Toshack is also upset that defender Rob Edwards is being allowed to play for Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Tuesday.  The Football Association of Wales asked for Edwards to be withdrawn from the game, but their request was turned down by world football's governing body Fifa.  In better news for Wales, both Ryan Giggs and Simon Davies came through their midweek European exertions unscathed.

Monday, 22 August 2005 - Mark Delaney is almost certain to miss the 3 September World Cup qualifier with England in Cardiff.   Aston Villa are resigned to losing the 33-cap man for another three weeks after he injured his knee pre-season.  Wales are awaiting official confirmation on Delaney but expect him to miss out.
Danny Collins is back in training after injury, and Simon Davies and Ryan Giggs should play in Europe this week.  Veteran keeper Paul Jones is also expected to play his first game of the season this week following his fractured cheekbone.  James Collins faces a race against time to recover from his calf injury ahead of the Wales tie, though.

Friday, 19 August 2005 - Craig Bellamy and Mark Delaney have been named in Wales' squad for the World Cup qualifiers with England and Poland despite their fitness concerns.  Bellamy has been ruled out after picking up a thigh injury in Wales training this week, while Delaney has not played this season because of a knee problem.  Manager John Toshack has also included the seven other players who pulled out of this week's friendly with Slovenia.  Robbie Savage is again overlooked as Toshack continues his rebuilding work.  It is the first time Savage has been omitted from a Wales squad for a qualifying match since the 30-year-old declared his wish to end his self-imposed international retirement.  Ben Thatcher is included in the 25-man squad despite being suspended for the England game in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 3 September.  But his three-match suspension for stamping on a Polish player will have ended for him to be available for the trip to Warsaw four days later.  With no wins from their six games in Group Five, Wales have no hope of reaching the finals in Germany next year.  But a win against either of their next opponents would have a major impact on which side qualifies

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CG