Serbia & M 1- Italy1 Sep 11, 2003

Serbia & Montenegro scored a late equalizer to draw 1-1 with Italy

Serbia & M 1 (Sesa Ilic 81 mins)
Italy 1 (Filipo Inzaghi 22mins)

Wales 1 Finland 1 Sep 11, 2003

Wales drew 1-1 with Finland to earn a Euro 2004 play-off place.

Wales 1 Simon Davies 3 mins
Finland 1 Mikael Forssell 80 mins

Team
Jones, Weston (Johnson 73mins), Melville(Y), Page, Speed, Davies, Pembridge, Koumas (R),Giggs, Hartson (Blake 82 mins) Earnshaw

Wednesday's News Sep 10, 2003

Andy Melville, Kit Symons and Mark Pembridge are still struggling with injury but all are aiming to be fit for tonight's match.
Danny Gabbidon is looking very unlikely to start.
Interestingly David Vaughan did not play in the U21s last night.

Litmanen Out Sep 10, 2003

Jari Litmanen is definately out of tonights's game with Finland and has been replaced by former West Ham defender Hannu Tihinen.

We Must Show What We Are Made Of - Hughes Sep 9, 2003


Although Wales had the opportunity in the last 2 qualifying games to make qualification for Euro 2004 safe, Mark Hughes believes the Welsh team must forget about that and concentrate on what they need to do to qualify and focus themselves again and make sure they achieve what they all want.He believes they must return to the style of play that served them well before the 2 defeats.

"We need to show what we are made of and show the things that got us where we are" said Hughes.

Litmanen Doubt Sep 9, 2003

Jari Litmanen has not turned up with the rest of the Finnish squad. Although not definate that he will not join them later, he is at the centre of a row between his club Ajax and Finland. He did not play in Saturday's 2 - 1 win against Azerbaijan and Ajax say he has an achilles tendon injury and is not fit to play.

Tuesday's News Roundup Sep 9, 2003

Mark Pembridge has now only been given a 50-50 chance of being fit. Despite believeing yesterday he would be fit to play his foot has swollen up and he is today unable to kick a ball.

This could result in Gary Speed, who will tomorrow earn his 76th cap and take the record for most capped outfield player from Dean Saunders, moving to midfield and Darren Barnard could switch to full back.

Simon Davies looks set to play as right back again. He says it is difficult to play there but that he is not complaining as he has played there for Spurs and against Azerbaijan. He believes Italy would have given problems to even the most experienced right backs but he will play wherever he is needed to play. "We owe the manager something and we owe the country something" Simon said.

Adrian Williams is hoping for a call up but although Danny Gabbidon is looking more and more unlikely to be ready both Andy Melville(foot) and Kit Symons(knee) have come through training successfully. Mark Hughes is hopeful that at least one of them will be fit to play.

John Hartson believes that the Millennium Stadium crowd will help the team although the game will not be easy after the defeat in Italy but he believes the team can bounce back.

Pembridge Fit Sep 8, 2003

Mark Pembridge has declared himself fit for Wednesday's game against Finland in the Millennium Stadium after limping out of the clash with Italy.

Finland team news Sep 8, 2003

Finland's players arrive in Cardiff today and tomorrow ahead of Wednesday night�s massive Group 9 qualifier. The Finns have no suspensions, the only slight doubt being over Jari Littmannen who has not played since pre-season. He is being checked out at his club Ajax today.

Defence boost Sep 7, 2003

In a boost for Wales and Mark Hughes in the depleted defence both Andy Melville and Kit Symons trained today (Sunday) in a lunchtime training session.

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