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Basque XI v Wales - Friendly. - San Mames Stadium, Bilbao - Sunday 21st May 2006.

 


The match against the Basque Country is not a full international. Caps will not be awarded to players.

Craig Morgan and Richard Duffy were not considered for selection due to minor injury issues. Jason Brown (Gillingham) has returned home after the birth of his second child.

Returning to Wales on Monday to join the Under 21 squad for the match with Estonia in Wrexham on Wednesday will be: Lewis Price, Craig Davies, Craig Morgan, Andrew Crofts, Gareth Bale. Richard Duffy will return home on Tuesday after a slight recurrence of a knee injury.

Jason Brown has returned to the UK following the birth of his second child. He is expected to rejoin the Wales party for the second match in Austria. Please note that no international caps will be awarded for the game with the Basque country. There are also doubts over Richard Duffy and Danny Gabbidon.


Following changes to the squad for the match, out are Jason Koumas (personal reasons), Sam Ricketts (play-off match) and Owain Tudur Jones (play-off match). Into the squad come Craig Davies, Craig Morgan and Gareth Bale. Paul Parry has withdrawn, he has not completely recovered from a knee injury sustained with Cardiff
City. He will not be replaced in the squad.

PLEASE NOTE: Kick Off has been confirmed for 20.15hrs local time. The FAW will write to all fans who have booked tickets today. Refunds will be issued to all supporters who are unable to attend the match. Fans who are able to attend will have to collect their tickets from me in Bilbao (by the time the new tickets are printed it will be too late to post them). Full details will be in the letter i'm hoping to send everyone tonight.

Lucy - FAW (Ticket office) - posted 11.05.2005

It has been agreed reluctantly that the representative match between the Basque Country and Wales will now be played on Sunday 21st May 2006 at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao. The original date agreed with the Basque Federation was 24 hours earlier on the Saturday. Kick off time is to be confirmed but will be in the evening.

This has come about due to the Spanish League being granted permission by FIFA to extend their domestic season by one week following a knock-on effect after the postponement of one of the recent key La Liga games.

The Football Association of Wales has worked closely with the Basque Federation to minimise the disruption that the change of date will cause for the travelling Welsh supporters. The situation has however, been caused by circumstances beyond the control of both sides. - info from FAW


John Toshack names 23-man squad for for the matches with the Basque Country and Trinidad & Tobago. With no standby players to be named, players from the Under 21 squad are expected to be called up if there are any withdrawals.

Squad list
Goalkeepers: Jason Brown, Glyn Garner, Paul Jones, Lewis Price

Defenders: James Collins, Richard Duffy, Danny Gabbidon, Lewin Nyatanga, David Partridge, Sam Ricketts

Midfielders: Andrew Crofts, Simon Davies, Carl Fletcher, Owain Tudur Jones, Jason Koumas, Joe Ledley, Paul Parry, Carl Robinson, David Vaughan

Forwards: Craig Bellamy, David Cotterill, Robert Earnshaw, Ryan Giggs.

Basque Country: Josu Sarriegi, Edu Alonso (all Alaves), Julen Guerrero, Joseba Etxeberria, Ismael Urzaiz, Fernando Llorente, Inaki Lafuente (all Athletic Bilbao), Ivan Campo (Bolton), Cesar Cruchaga, Raul García, Patxi Punal (all Osasuna), Asier Riesgo, Igor Gabilondo, Aitor Lopez Rekarte, Mikel Alonso, Mikel Labaka, Javi Garrido, Xabi Prieto (all Real Sociedad). 

The Football Association of Wales has received confirmation from the Basque Football Federation that Spain's request to FIFA to extend their domestic season by one week has been denied. This follows representations by the FAW to the Spanish FA and FIFA.

The Football Association of Wales was particularly concerned that more than 300 Wales fans have already booked to travel to Spain and most would have lost-out financially if the game had had to be moved to a date in the following week, as well as missing the match.

This means that the match between the Basque Country and Wales WILL go ahead as planned on Saturday 20th May 2006 at 21.30hrs (Local).

earlier

Due to the postponement of the Barcelona and Seville La Liga match recently, and both clubs subsequent appearances in the Champions League and UEFA Cup Finals, the Spanish FA has sought the approval of FIFA to extend their season by one week. This would be in contravention of a FIFA Circular No: 950 (Issued 14 January 2006) that states that all top division matches and cup finals must be completed by May 14th 2006. This ruling had been put in place to give international players an opportunity to rest prior to appearing in the World Cup Finals in Germany. If the request is approved, it would force the Basque Football Federation to alter the date of the representative match with Wales, originally scheduled for Saturday 20th May 2006 in Bilbao.

The Football Association of Wales has therefore made representations to the Spanish FA, Basque Federation and FIFA that this should not be allowed, and thus mean that the original date for the match with the Basques could stand. The Football Association of Wales is mindful of the large number of loyal Welsh fans who will be travelling to Spain for the match and the problems and cost implications it will cause for all concerned if the game has to be rescheduled. Further information will be released when a decision has been reached by FIFA. It is under- stood that this will be forthcoming this evening at 6pm
.

BBC 2 Wales - Game live on BBC 2 Wales

 

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