European Super Football

Which Welsh players performed well during their heartbreak defeat against Belgium? The result leaves them facing a potentially intense play-off campaign to qualify for the World Cup. Author | David Sampson Despite the defeat, there were promising performances from a number of players. Yet again, Wales caused a major nation problems, they just didn't have enough quality on the night. Karl Darlow | 5. 5 Had little chance with either of Kevin De Bruyne’s pinpoint penalties but could have done more to prevent the second goal. Neco Williams | 7 Strong defensively and lively going forward, showing a much-improved display from the Nottingham Forest full-back. Ben Cabango | 5 A tough evening for the Swansea defender, who should have reacted better for Belgium’s second goal. Wales defending Ben Davies | 6 Will be relieved to see the back of the electric Jeremy Doku. Despite being under pressure, Davies handled his defensive duties with composure. Joe Rodon | 7.5 Produced a key bloc...

Wales 2 - 4 Belgium  Wales’ hopes of automatic qualification for the World Cup were all but extinguished after a home defeat to Belgium. Author | Stephen Chad Stadium | Cardiff City Stadium The defeat leaves the play-offs as their only realistic path to next summer’s finals. Craig Bellamy’s side made a superb start, taking the lead in the seventh minute when Joe Rodon rose highest to head in from a corner. Their early momentum was halted when Kevin De Bruyne equalised from the penalty spot after a harsh handball decision against Ethan Ampadu, confirmed following a lengthy VAR check. Wales fought to get back in the game From that point, Belgium’s superiority began to show. Jeremy Doku, who has been in outstanding form for Manchester City this season, tormented Wales on the counterattack and set up Thomas Meunier to put the visitors in front. De Bruyne, Doku and Leandro Trossard all missed chances to extend the lead before another De Bruyne penalty, this time for a clear ha...

Wales v Belgium preview Wales’ World Cup qualifier against Belgium on Monday was always likely to feel significant. Now, it has the potential to be decisive. Author | Stephen Chad Stadium | Cardiff City Stadium Their fate is once again in their own hands after Belgium were held to a goalless draw by North Macedonia on Friday. If Craig Bellamy’s side win their final three matches, they will secure a place at next summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. That remains a sizeable challenge. The most daunting obstacle comes next. This may not be the same Belgium that finished third at the 2018 World Cup or topped the world rankings three years ago, but they still possess a wealth of talent, with Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku among their array of attacking options. Not that Wales are likely to be overawed, particularly under a head coach as determined and optimistic as Bellamy. The current state of the play in the group North Macedonia lead the group on 12 points, o...

It was a comfortable victory for England over Wales in their international friendly. The match was a great opportunity for Tuchel to see how his side cope without Harry Kane Author | Josh T Stadium |  Wembley Stadium How the match was won Morgan Rogers extended his fine form from the Serbia game by converting Marc Guehi’s cross after just four minutes. Club team-mate Ollie Watkins doubled England’s advantage from close range seven minutes later. Bukayo Saka then curled a left-foot shot high past Wales goalkeeper Karl Darlow to register his 13th international goal. How the players rated Jordan Pickford | A history-making night for the keeper as he broke the record he shared with Gordon Banks for consecutive clean sheets, now standing at eight. Made a smart save to deny David Brooks but was otherwise rarely troubled | 6.5 Ezri Konsa | The Aston Villa defender was moved to right-back as John Stones came into the centre, covering for the injured Reece James. Konsa looked solid as ...

England 3 - 0 Wales A fairly straightforward evening for England as they prepared for their upcoming qualifier against Latvia. Author | Lauren W Stadium | Wembley Stadium Head coach Thomas Tuchel kept faith with the squad that delivered his most emphatic victory, a 5-0 win over Serbia in Belgrade, and they produced another commanding performance. England overwhelmed Wales in the opening stages, taking a three-goal lead within 20 minutes. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers extended his fine form from the Serbia game by converting Marc Guehi’s cross after just four minutes. Club team-mate Ollie Watkins, deputising for the injured captain Harry Kane, doubled England’s advantage from close range seven minutes later. Bukayo Saka then became Arsenal’s highest England goalscorer with a brilliant strike, curling his left-foot shot high past Wales goalkeeper Karl Darlow to register his 13th international goal. Rogers also struck the woodwork after the break. Although Wales improved as England’s t...

England v Wales Preview Thomas Tuchel’s England side will pause their World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday to face Wales in a home friendly. Author | Josh T Stadium |  Wembley Stadium When England met Wales at 2022 World Cup The Three Lions have been flawless under their German head coach, winning all five matches in Group K without conceding a goal. Their most emphatic performance so far came last month, when they dismantled Serbia 5-0. Tuchel has largely stuck with a 4-2-3-1 formation during qualifying, with Anthony Gordon providing a lively outlet on the left flank. Who’s in the England squad? Bukayo Saka has been recalled for the friendly and the qualifier against Latvia, while Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish have been left out. Saka missed last month’s wins over Andorra and Serbia due to a hamstring problem but returned to action for Arsenal, scoring in their 2-0 victory over Olympiacos on Wednesday. He replaces his club teammate Noni Madueke in the squ...

Kazakhstan 0-1 Wales Wales were made to work hard in Kazakhstan, clinging to a slender victory that takes them to the top of their World Cup qualifying group. Author | Stephen Chadwick Stadium | Astana Arena Wales fans and players celebrate at full-time Kieffer Moore , winning his 50th cap, opened the scoring midway through the first half, sliding in after Liam Cullen ’s header from a Harry Wilson free-kick had been parried. The visitors controlled the early stages but soon lost their rhythm, and Kazakhstan, ranked 114th in the world, almost equalised when Galymzhan Kenzhebek ’s curling strike from distance was pushed on to the bar by Karl Darlow . The atmosphere inside the Astana Arena lifted as the hosts grew in belief. Dastan Satpayev , the 17-year-old striker set to join Chelsea next year, tested Darlow again as Craig Bellamy ’s side came under sustained pressure.  READ MORE |  World Cup 2026 Qualifying news and stories Wales did create chances to settle the contest,...

Kazakhstan v Wales preview Wales resume their attempt to reach a second successive World Cup when they meet Kazakhstan in Astana. Author | Stephen Chadwick Stadium | Astana Arena The stadium that will host the match Wales have made an encouraging start under Craig Bellamy . After earning promotion to the top tier of the Nations League at the end of last year, they have taken seven points from their opening four World Cup 2026 qualifiers . They are also the leading scorers in Group J with ten goals. An opening victory over Kazakhstan was followed by a stoppage-time equaliser in North Macedonia, when David Brooks rescued a point. A 3-0 win at home to Liechtenstein then set the stage for an eye-catching performance in Brussels . Wales fought back from three goals down against Belgium, only for Kevin De Bruyne ’s late strike to seal the points for the hosts. READ MORE |  Heartbreak for Wales in Belgium READ MORE |  Wales snatch dramatic draw in North Macedonia That result...

For the first time in 43 years, Wrexham will play in the Championship They are preparing for life in the second tier of English football for the first time since 1982.  Author | James Lees Wrexham fans just before promotion was confirmed This is is a moment few could have imagined three years ago, when the club were still in the National League and promotion seemed like a distant dream. Since the arrival of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney , expectations at the Racecourse Ground have been completely transformed. The club's rise has been remarkable. After winning the National League with a record 111 points in 2022–23,  Wrexham went on to finish second in both League Two and League One in successive seasons. No club in the history of English football has ever achieved three consecutive promotions . It is a rare achievement that may not be repeated for some time. The Championship , however, presents a much tougher challenge. The step up in quality and financial strength is s...

Belgium 4 - 3 Wales Wales produced a stirring fightback in Brussels, recovering from three goals down to draw level with Belgium, only for Kevin De Bruyne to strike late and hand Craig Bellamy his first defeat as manager Author | Mark Milward Stadium | Stade Roi Baudouin Belgium raced into a 3-0 lead inside the opening half-hour, with Romelu Lukaku converting from the penalty spot before Youri Tielemans capped a sweeping move and Jeremy Doku added a dazzling third, cutting inside and drilling into the bottom corner. For Wales, it threatened to be a repeat of the 4-0 defeat by Slovakia a year ago that brought an end to Rob Page’s tenure.  But this team, under Bellamy, has shown greater resolve. A penalty from Harry Wilson shortly before the break gave them a foothold, and the comeback gathered pace in the second half. READ MORE | World Cup Qualifying match reports READ MORE | Stories from across Belgium Wilson turned provider to set up Sorba Thomas, who finished coolly for ...

Lincoln City 0 - 2 Wrexham Wrexham ended their League One campaign on a high, rounding off their promotion-winning season with a composed and clinical victory away at Lincoln City. Author - Ajay Stadium - LNER Stadium View from the home fans who helped create a party atmosphere Second-half goals from Elliot Lee and Ryan Longman secured a 27th win of a remarkable season, one that has taken the north Wales club back to the second tier for the first time in 43 years. Phil Parkinson’s side finish on 92 points, a tally that also brought Lincoln’s long unbeaten home run, stretching back to February, to a close. Michael Skubala’s team end the season in 11th place, 15 points clear of the relegation zone and 17 adrift of the play-offs. This has ultimately been a decent campaign for a side that was playing in Non League in recent memory.  While the result was of little consequence to the hosts, it once again underlined Wrexham’s credentials as they prepare for Championship football follo...

Sheffield United 2 - 0 Cardiff City Sheffield United kept their slim hopes of automatic promotion alive with a hard-earned win that deepened Cardiff City's relegation fears. Author - Tom Parker Stadium - Bramall Lane Gustavo Hamer, one of the Championship’s standout players this season, gave the Blades the lead with a sharp first-half finish, reacting quickest after Tyrese Campbell’s shot took a couple of deflections and landed kindly at his feet. The Brazilian midfielder also struck the woodwork with a well-hit free-kick as United created the better chances in what was a tight, nervy affair. Cardiff worked tirelessly but lacked the cutting edge to force a way back into the match. Their chances of a late rally were dashed when Ben Brereton Díaz turned home from close range with three minutes remaining, sealing the points for Chris Wilder’s side. The win ends a three-game losing run for United, a spell that had left them trailing Leeds United and Burnley in the race for promotio...

North Macedonia 1 - 1 Wales Wales salvaged a dramatic World Cup qualifying draw in North Macedonia after a chaotic finale, where they conceded in stoppage time only for David Brooks to snatch an equaliser with virtually the last kick of the game. Author - Stephen Chad Stadium - Toše Proeski Arena For 90 minutes, the contest had been edging towards a goalless draw, but a calamitous backpass from substitute Joe Allen gifted Bojan Miovski a golden chance. The Macedonian forward made no mistake, latching onto the loose ball and finishing coolly to send the home crowd into raptures. With defeat looming, Wales threw everything forward. Kieffer Moore rose highest to nod the ball down and Brooks reacted quickest, bundling it home from close range. The visitors erupted in celebration, an odd sight given the frustration that had gripped them only moments earlier. But in the circumstances, this was a dramatic way to extend their unbeaten start to World Cup qualifying and Craig Bellamy’s unble...

Swansea City 0 - 2 Burnley Burnley climbed into the Championship’s top two with a commanding victory over Swansea City, extending their remarkable unbeaten league run to 25 games. Author - Jack L Stadium - Swansea.com Stadium The Clarets were in control from the off, capitalising on an early mistake from Josh Key, whose slip gifted Josh Brownhill a simple finish from close range. Jaidon Anthony doubled the lead midway through the first half, smashing the ball high into the net after Swansea failed to clear their lines. Scott Parker’s side never looked in danger of surrendering their lead and set a new second-tier record in the process, registering their 27th league clean sheet of the season. The win lifts Burnley to second, a point ahead of Sheffield United, who take on Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday. Meanwhile, Swansea remain 16th after back-to-back defeats, with the gap to the relegation zone now down to six points with eight games left to play. Burnley cruise past Swansea as Shee...

Aston Villa 2 - 0 Cardiff City Marco Asensio was the star of the show for Aston Villa again as he helped them secure a deserved 2-0 win over Championship strugglers Cardiff City in the FA Cup. Author - Jamie P Stadium - Villa Park The hosts maintained control throughout the match but faced a strong performance from visiting goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, who made several crucial saves to keep Cardiff competitive. In a clash of attack versus defense, the hosts struggled to break down Cardiff's low block. However, they eventually found the breakthrough when Marco Asensio scored from a precise cross by Marcus Rashford. Asensio secured the win in the 80th minute with another clinical finish, converting a cross from Leon Bailey. This was his fourth goal since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in January. This could still be a landmark year for Aston Villa This year for Villa could yet be one for the history books, with Unai Emery’s side still in the hunt for silverware on two fron...

Luke Williams has departed Swansea City after an awful run of form that saw them lose seven of their last nine matches. Williams leaves after just over a year in charge, with the Swans sitting 17th in the table, eight points clear of the relegation zone with 13 games remaining. His departure is accompanied by the exits of assistant head coach Ryan Harley and first-team coach analyst George Lawtey. Author - Mark Milward Assistant head coach Alan Sheehan has been placed in temporary charge for a second time, with the club confirming that the search for Williams' successor is "already under way."  Sheehan will be supported by coach Kristian O’Leary and goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson as Swansea prepare for Saturday’s home clash with Blackburn Rovers. Williams was interviewed after that recent defeat to Stoke A dramatic decline Williams’ exit comes after a dramatic downturn in form since the start of 2025. At the turn of the year, Swansea looked well positioned for a p...

Wales 4 - 1 Croatia Wales pulled off an extraordinary return to the Nations League's top tier with a commanding comeback victory over Iceland in Cardiff, aided by Montenegro’s crucial win against Turkey.  The result sealed promotion for Craig Bellamy’s side, sparking celebrations at the Cardiff City Stadium. Author - Stephen Chad Turkey had started the evening atop Group B4, two points clear of second-placed Wales, with Iceland a further two points back in third. For Wales to achieve promotion, they needed to win and hope Montenegro could do them a favour. The night began ominously for the hosts when Andri Gudjohnsen struck for Iceland in the seventh minute. Danny Ward had made a stunning save to deny Orri Oskarsson’s header, but Gudjohnsen, son of former Chelsea striker Eidur, pounced on the rebound to fire through Ward’s legs.  That goal ended Wales’ 321-minute home clean sheet streak , stretching back to March’s 4-1 defeat to Finland in their Euro 2024 play-off semi-fin...

Turkey 0 - 0 Wales Turkey’s striker, Kerem Akturkoglu, squandered an 89th-minute penalty, keeping Wales’ slim hopes of promotion to the Nations League’s top tier alive after a tense goalless draw in Kayseri. Author - Stephen Chad Backed by a fiercely hostile home crowd, Turkey dominated much of the first half. However, it was Wales who came closest to scoring, with Harry Wilson’s effort rattling the post. After the break, Turkey’s substitute Enes Unal missed a golden opportunity, somehow firing wide from just a yard out. As the match edged towards its conclusion, the home side were awarded a contentious penalty when Yunus Akgun went down under a challenge from Neco Williams. But Akturkoglu, the competition’s leading scorer for Turkey, failed to capitalise, his penalty clipping the outside of the post and going wide, to the despair of the home fans. This result leaves Turkey top of Group B4 with 11 points, Wales second on nine, and Iceland third on seven. For Wales to top the group,...

Cardiff City 2 - 0 Portsmouth Cardiff City continued their revival under interim boss Omer Riza, cruising past Portsmouth with another impressive attacking display to secure their second home victory in just four days. Author - Sean M Fresh off their 5-0 thrashing of Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, the Bluebirds hit the ground running once more. They found themselves 2-0 up within 13 minutes, thanks to an own goal from Regan Poole and Callum Robinson’s close-range strike. A closer look at what happened Despite squandering several opportunities to extend their lead either side of half-time, Cardiff kept Portsmouth’s substitute goalkeeper Jordan Archer busy, with David Turnbull and Anwar El Ghazi testing him throughout the match. Although Portsmouth showed signs of life in the second half, they struggled to break down Cardiff’s defence, with their rare attempts on goal thwarted by captain Jak Alnwick in the Bluebirds' goal. The win sees Cardiff move out of the Championship relegatio...