Wales v England – Preview, Prediction, TV Listings, and Betting Odds – Euro 2012 Qualifying – 26 March 2011
England can go top of Group G as they host last place Wales in UEFA Euro 2012 Qualifying. The match will take place at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on Saturday, March 26, 2011. Kickoff is scheduled for 15:00 GMT (UK time), 16:00 CET (Central Europe), and 11:00 EST (USA Eastern).
Wales v England TV Listings
It will be televised on ESPN2 (USA), Sky Sports 1 (UK), Sport TV1 (Portugal), C+ Sport (France), and on Al Jazeera Sport (Middle East).
Wales v England Preview
England manager Fabio Capello
“Something happened in my mind when I saw what happened in the second half in Copenhagen, when the captaincy went to several players,” he explained, before taking his team for a training session at the Millennium Stadium.
“I thought it was probably time for John Terry, after one year of punishment, to be a captain again.
“When Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard were not fit, I decided it was the moment, with such an important game like tomorrow, to have just one captain like John Terry.”
“I understand everything, but I need to make decisions. It could have been done better, but it’s the past,” he added.
“I tried to meet him (Ferdinand) when Manchester United played against Marseille, but we did not, and I prefer to speak personally and not by phone.
“I will be happy when I meet Rio in the future and I think that will happen in a short time.
“All of the players are happy, because John Terry is a very important leader on the pitch.”
“For me, it is most important to talk about the game because it’s a really important match,” he said.
“It will be a very tough game because Wales are playing at home and they will be very, very dangerous.
“I think that a derby is different to the other games that you play in. As a player, I have played in derbies in two cities and as a manager I have managed in derbies in four different cities and it’s not always the best team that wins.
“This is one really dangerous game that we will play, because the spirit of Wales will be fantastic.”
England player John Terry
“It’s a huge derby for us and for the travelling fans,” said the Chelsea defender.
“The players realise the importance of the game and we’re determined to get the result tomorrow.
“We’re playing for our country and we know that everybody is sitting there and watching us, believing in us and supporting us. We believe we have the qualities and I don’t think it’s a fear thing, but more of a fear of failure and that’s something that we don’t want to do. We don’t want to let our fans down and we don’t want to let our families down.
“It hurts when people say we don’t care. I see it first hand, in World Cups and European Championships after losing games at this level. You see the disappointment on people’s faces and you don’t get a word out of some players for four or five hours after games as they might go back to their rooms and console themselves.
“One thing is for sure, we will give it everything we can throughout the whole campaign to get to those Championships.”
“A win for us is a must,” he admitted. “We know they’re bottom of the group and they’ve not had the best of starts but we see them as a dangerous side. They have some really talented young players coming through who will be there for a long time. We realise it’s going to be a tough game and we must be up for it from the word go.
“Everyone is expecting us to win, but we’re certainly not feeling like that. They’ll be very difficult to break down and dangerous going forward with the likes of Bellamy, so we know it won’t be easy.
“Regardless of their ranking and our ranking, sometimes the best teams don’t always win but if we fight and show the same hunger as them, we have the quality to win and hopefully that prevails in the end.”
“We’ve got a good week’s training under our belts,” revealed Terry. “All the players are fit and we haven’t had any injuries or niggles so we go into the game fully fit.
“We’re all fighting for our places and there’s been a hunger in the training and a hunger in the dressing room. We’re a little bit on edge to see what side the Manager is going to pick but we will respect his decision and get on with it because it’s not about individuals, it’s about the team and winning the game tomorrow.”
“I played against him while he was on loan at Bolton and for someone so small, he’s strong, with the ability to glide past people and he has a great turn of pace with an amazing left foot,” he said.
“Game after game he’s turning into a very good player. He certainly has the qualities to deal with the pressure and has confidence in himself and certainly the quality.
“When you see him playing against some of the best midfielders in the world like Xavi and Iniesta, I’m excited as a fan of England to see that.”
Wales player Aaron Ramsey
“I’m thrilled and honoured to be captain of my country at such a young age. Ever since I was a boy I have always wanted to become a professional footballer and play for my country one day. Now this honour is a special moment for me, and I can only thank my mum and dad for the many miles and time the have put in to help me get where I am today.
“It was a bit of a surprise, a very nice one. I’m just happy that the boss has given me this opportunity and hopefully I can lead by example in the way that I play. I am not a screamer and shouter, but I hope that the way I play the game |I can lead by example.
“There are ten others on the pitch who could easily be captain, so that just underlines the honour and pride I feel. This is a very special game, one of the biggest we can be involved in so to lead the team out in front of a full house against England, is massive for me.”
“I have played at a high level very early in my career, over 50 first team games at Arsenal, so I think I can handle this.
“I think the way I play the game can help the team. But it is not just me, it is about all the other players. We must push on now together and bond as a team, and play as a team. Some people will disagree with the decision, but myself and Gary(Speed) felt it was the right decision.
“There is a lot of experience throughout the team, Craig Bellamy(the previous captain), James Collins and plenty more who won’t need telling what to do. I just hope to show in the way I play what is needed. I hope to be captain for many years to come.
“Craig and me get on well, we talk often so I don’t expect to be the one shouting at him! The boss told me in the morning what he was going to do, after asking me a few questions about what I would be letting myself in for. Then he told the players and they all accepted it well, congratulated me and wished me luck.
“As for the match, we as a team know what we are capable of doing, and we will go into the game believing we can get a positive result.
“Everyone knows their roles and what to do, there won’t be much I can add other than making sure everyone enjoys the occasion.”
“The leg break was a year ago, a really low occasion for me. And now this has happened and it is the best moment in my career so far. It is amazing how things can turn around.
“He will be a big loss, but we can cope. We have plenty of quality players, whoever takes his place will do more than a good job.
“We have quality, it is not just about one player. We have to come together as a team and win the game that way. People say England are strong favourites, but I don’t go into any game not thinking I can win, so this is no different and hopefully we can prove that.”
“It will be a big test. He has had a great season with Arsenal so far and we will both be up for the challenge.
“He wants to win the game, and I want to win the game. That’s the way it is and we will both be up for it.”
“He (Ryan Giggs) wished me luck, told me to take it all in my stride and enjoy the occasion of being captain of my country. It gave everyone a lift when he turned up to see us, he has done so much in the game, incredible.
“I hope his visit will give us all that extra lift for the match with England.”
Tables
| PO | TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Montenegro
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| 2 |
England
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| 3 |
Switzerland
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 |
Bulgaria
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 3 |
| 5 |
Wales
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 0 |
Next Matches
| Wales | England | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/26 | England | 3/26 | @Wales |
| 9/2 | Montenegro | 6/4 | Switzerland |
| 9/6 | @England | 9/2 | @Bulgaria |
| 10/7 | Switzerland | 9/6 | Wales |
| 10/11 | @Bulgaria | 10/7 | @Montenegro |
Wales v England Prediction
England wins 3-1
Wales v England Betting Odds
Wales win – 15/2
Draw – 100/30
England win – 2/5
