Latest news last updated on 09-Sep-2004 08:37

Latest World Cup news after the game last night.

Click here for DragonSoccer World Cup news

Wales v Northern Ireland last updated on 08-Sep-2004 22:12

RESULT: Wales..2 Northern Ireland..2

Click here for BBC Wales online report

Wales v Nothern Ireland - Latest news last updated on 08-Sep-2004 09:04

Team news
Craig Bellamy, Mark Delaney and Ben Thatcher have all recovered from minor injuries and are available for selection.

Confirmation that Simon Davies is out of the World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland on Wednesday. Davies has now returned to his club for further treatment on his shin splints injury.

Ticket news
Game not a sell out, tickets will be on sale through the day on Wednesday to kick off time (8pm). Available at TicketLine - Westgate Street. 63,000 tickets sold so far.

Dragon Socccer : Wales probable

Jones, Delaney, Melville, Gabbidon, Thatcher, Koumas, Speed, Savage, Bellamy, Earnshaw, Hartson.

news updated 08.09.2004

Further updates when available - Click Refresh to update page


Northern Ireland news
Hibs defender Colin Murdock is poised to be called up to face Wales in Cardiff. Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez is expected to reshuffle his side after the defeat by Poland last Saturday. Aaron Hughes is expected to revert from right-back to centre half in a 3-5-2 formation.

news updated 07.09.2004

Call ups
Martyn Margetson (Cardiff City) joined the Wales squad as goalkeeping cover on Monday morning. Darren Ward also returns after missing the trip to Baku. Margetson replaces Danny Coyne who has returned to his club for further treatment. Andy Johnson is also out (family bereavement).

news updated 06.09.2004

Ben Thatcher has joined up with the squad on Sunday. "Ben is fit and ready for action, he has recovered from his problems and is available for selection."- FAW spokesman.

It looks unlikely that Simon Davies will return. Craig Bellamy and Mark Delaney currently receiving treatment for ankle injuries, Jason Koumas has picked up a hamstring strain.

Around 60,000 tickets so far sold.

news updated 05.09.2004

World Cup Result last updated on 04-Sep-2004 19:25

Azerbaijan 1 Wales 1

Click here for updates on the UEFA web site.

Latest squad news - Azerbaijan v Wales last updated on 03-Sep-2004 13:15

Ben Thatcher will not be joining the Wales squad in Azerbaijan, manager Mark Hughes will not require him to travel over to Baku, he will be kept fresh for next Wednesday’s match against Northern Ireland. In another twist it has become apparent that his passport is with Welsh team officials in Baku.

Wales Probable :-

Jones, Delaney, Melville, Page, Gabbidon, Koumas, Savage, Speed, Pembridge, Bellamy, Hartson.

news update - 03.09.04

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earlier

Ben Thatcher has recovered from a stomach illness and trained with his club Manchester City today, he has contacted the Welsh team doctor, and if required he will travel to Baku on Friday.


earlier
The following members of the Wales squad will not be travelling to Azerbaijan for the World Cup match on Saturday 4th September:

Danny Coyne, Darren Ward, Ben Thatcher, Rob Edwards, Simon Davies.

In all cases this is due to minor or residual injury issues and it is hoped that most will be able to rejoin the party on Sunday in preparation for the match with N.Ireland on Wednesday 8th September in Cardiff.

Thatcher would probably have started but is ruled out with a stomach illness.

news update - 02.09.04




Both Simon Davies (shin splints) and Rob Edwards (ankle) look set to miss out when the squad fly out to Baku on Thursday.

They are struggling to make the trip, it looks likes they will be asked to return to the team hotel on Sunday as the squad prepare for the match against Northern Ireland on Wednesday. The squad flies out Thursday lunchtime from Cardiff.

news update - 01.09.04


It looks like most players have reported in, as the squad had a training session at Treforest this morning.

Simon Davies, has also reported for duty after recovering from surgery on his shin, but he is expected not to take part in the match against Azerbaijan.

Confirmation - Mark Hughes has a fully fit squad and no withdrawals (apart from Oster and Robinson). The U-21s fly out today with a full compliment of players. The senior squad fly out from Cardiff on Thursday.

news update - 31.08.04


Several players were in action today for their clubs, both Danny Gabbidon and Robert Page played a full 90 mins for Cardiff, and Danny Coyne and Paul Jones came through their matches.

John Oster will join up on Wednesday, Carl Robinson will join the squad late on Tuesday. Both are in action for their club on Tuesday.

news update - 30.08.04

more news when available - Click Refresh for updates

Build up news last updated on 29-Aug-2004 17:39

Squad latest
No withdrawal yet from the squad, players are due to report to the team hotel tomorrow (30.08).

Build up
Both the full senior squad and the U-21’s will meet up next Monday (30.08) ahead of the matches in Baku and Cardiff. The U-21 team fly out to Baku on Tuesday (31.08). The senior squad will have two training sessions at Treforest on the Tuesday and Wednesday, before flying out on Thursday (02.09) to Baku. The squad will then return straight after the match to prepare for Northern ireland game, arriving in Cardiff early Sunday morning.

Going over
Around 500 fans are expected to make the trip to Baku.

Northern Ireland ticket sales
Around 50,000 tickets have been sold for the Northern Ireland game on the 8th Sept.

Azerbaijan v Wales - Ticket Collection last updated on 29-Aug-2004 17:39

All tickets are to be collected from the Best Eastern Absheron Hotel, Azadlyg Ave, Baku city centre on Friday or Saturday, 11am-6pm. An FAW representative will be in the lobby bar area. You will be asked for photo ID so please make sure you have it on you.
Anyone who is going to the match but has not yet booked a ticket may buy one in Baku from the FAW rep on Friday or Saturday at the Absheron Hotel.
For further details telephone the FAW office on 02920 372325 (please note the FAW is closed Bank Holiday Monday and Tuesday 31 Aug).

N.Ireland squad last updated on 25-Aug-2004 20:31

Northern Ireland squad to face Wales in Cardiff (Sept 8th)

Goalkeepers: Carroll (Manchester United), Taylor (Birmingham City)

Defenders: Baird (Southampton), McCartney (Sunderland), (Capaldi (Plymouth Argyle), Williams (MiltonKeynes Dons), Craigan (Motherwell), Murdock (Hibernian), Hughes (Newcastke United), Clyde (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Midfielders: Hughes (Crystal Palace), Johnson (Birmingham City), Gillespie (Leicester City), Sonner (Peterborough United), Whitley (Sunderland), Mulryne (Norwich City).

Forwards: Elliott (Hull City), Healy (Preston), Smith (Preston), Hamilton (Portadown), McVeigh (Norwich City), Jones (Crewe Alexandra), Quinn (Willem II).

Referees announced last updated on 24-Aug-2004 16:12

Edo Trivkoviv (Croatia) will be in charge for the match against Azerbaijan in Baku.

Domenico Messina (Italy) will be in charge for the match against Northern Ireland in Cardiff.

Carlo Bertolini (Switzerland) will be the man in the middle when the U-21's play against Azerbaijan (3rd Sept)

Azerbaijan squad: last updated on 24-Aug-2004 15:04

Azerbaijan squad to face Wales

Goalkeepers:
Dmitriy Kramarenko (Baltika, Russia), Jahangir Hasanzade (Neftchi) and Rauf Mehdiyev (Karabakh).

Defenders:
Rashad Sadikhov, Emin Guliyev (both Neftchi), Aslan Karimov, Samir Abbasov, Elman Sultanov (all Karabakh), Rafael Amirbekov (Baki), Aftandil Hajiyev (Turan), Emin Agayev (Baltika, Russia), Mahir Shukurov (Antalyaspor, Turkey).

Midfielders:
Mahmud Gurbanov, Zaur Tagizade (both Neftchi), Adil Mammadov, Ismayil Mammadov (both Karabakh), Vusal Huseynov (Shamkir), Rashad Abdullayev (Khazar-Lankaran), Anatoliy Ponomarev (unattached).

Forwards:
Gurban Gurbanov (Neftchi), Nadir Nabiyev (Turan), Samir Aliyev (Khazar-Lankaran), Ilgar Gurbanov (Fenerbahce, Turkey).