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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Wales 4-0 Liechtenstein | Wales 4-0 Liechtenstein |
| (1 day later) | |
| Wales enjoyed the perfect preparation for future Euro 2008 qualifying fixtures, with a comfortable friendly win over Liechtenstein at Wrexham. | Wales enjoyed the perfect preparation for future Euro 2008 qualifying fixtures, with a comfortable friendly win over Liechtenstein at Wrexham. |
| Jason Koumas set the pace against a side that Wales boss John Toshack had picked for a similarity to San Marino. | Jason Koumas set the pace against a side that Wales boss John Toshack had picked for a similarity to San Marino. |
| The West Brom midfielder struck twice in the first half, picking his spots to fire home right-footed from long range. | The West Brom midfielder struck twice in the first half, picking his spots to fire home right-footed from long range. |
| Two more goals followed as Craig Bellamy shot home from close in, before he set up Chris Llewellyn to slot in. | Two more goals followed as Craig Bellamy shot home from close in, before he set up Chris Llewellyn to slot in. |
| That was the first four-goal haul for Wales under Toshack, and a perfect way for captain Ryan Giggs to celebrate winning his 60th cap. | That was the first four-goal haul for Wales under Toshack, and a perfect way for captain Ryan Giggs to celebrate winning his 60th cap. |
| In contrast it was harsh on new Liechtenstein manager Urs Meier, in charge for the first time. | In contrast it was harsh on new Liechtenstein manager Urs Meier, in charge for the first time. |
| Wales could have been an early goal down at the Racecourse Ground, but Thomas Beck could not take a high, defence-splitting pass in his stride. | Wales could have been an early goal down at the Racecourse Ground, but Thomas Beck could not take a high, defence-splitting pass in his stride. |
| The hosts made light of that early danger and, with eight minutes played, punished Liechtenstein for not closing down quickly enough. | The hosts made light of that early danger and, with eight minutes played, punished Liechtenstein for not closing down quickly enough. |
| Koumas cut inside off the left flank, skipping over an attempted tackle before curling a beautifully weighted right-foot shot in off the far post from 25 yards. | Koumas cut inside off the left flank, skipping over an attempted tackle before curling a beautifully weighted right-foot shot in off the far post from 25 yards. |
| "A lot of players came in and did well and it's always nice to get a win Wales striker Craig Bellamy More Wales reaction | "A lot of players came in and did well and it's always nice to get a win Wales striker Craig Bellamy More Wales reaction |
| Liechtenstein goalkeeper Peter Jehle was given no chance by the Wrexham-born midfielder's accuracy, but did brilliantly three minutes later to deny Bellamy. | Liechtenstein goalkeeper Peter Jehle was given no chance by the Wrexham-born midfielder's accuracy, but did brilliantly three minutes later to deny Bellamy. |
| The Liverpool frontman bamboozled Martin Telser, who had already been booked for hacking Bellamy down, and bore down on Jehle. | The Liverpool frontman bamboozled Martin Telser, who had already been booked for hacking Bellamy down, and bore down on Jehle. |
| But the Boavista keeper managed to get his left hand to Bellamy's shot, pushing it onto the post before gratefully gathering the kind rebound. | But the Boavista keeper managed to get his left hand to Bellamy's shot, pushing it onto the post before gratefully gathering the kind rebound. |
| Yet within a minute Wales were two up as Giggs, drifting to his natural left flank, played a square ball for Koumas to rifle home from the edge of the area. | Yet within a minute Wales were two up as Giggs, drifting to his natural left flank, played a square ball for Koumas to rifle home from the edge of the area. |
| The waves of red shirts continued to bear down on the Liechtenstein goal, with the front two both going just inches wide. | The waves of red shirts continued to bear down on the Liechtenstein goal, with the front two both going just inches wide. |
| First Bellamy fired into the side netting after being set free by Koumas' perceptive pass, then Rob Earnshaw just failed to connect with Bellamy's cross from six yards out. | First Bellamy fired into the side netting after being set free by Koumas' perceptive pass, then Rob Earnshaw just failed to connect with Bellamy's cross from six yards out. |
| Liechtenstein were still a threat on the counter and Beck broke clear when Sam Ricketts and Lewin Nyatanga got into a muddle on Wales' left flank. | Liechtenstein were still a threat on the counter and Beck broke clear when Sam Ricketts and Lewin Nyatanga got into a muddle on Wales' left flank. |
| Jason Brown was swiftly off his line and got a finger-tip to the ball as Beck tried to lob the advancing Wales goalkeeper. | Jason Brown was swiftly off his line and got a finger-tip to the ball as Beck tried to lob the advancing Wales goalkeeper. |
| But mostly it was Liechtenstein being forced to defend deep to combat a pacy Wales attack. | But mostly it was Liechtenstein being forced to defend deep to combat a pacy Wales attack. |
| That gave rein for the Wales defenders to join in some of the fun, despite the threat of Beck's occasional breaks from the Liechtenstein midfield. | That gave rein for the Wales defenders to join in some of the fun, despite the threat of Beck's occasional breaks from the Liechtenstein midfield. |
| Left-back Ricketts pinged a shot off the crossbar, while debutant central defender Steve Evans showed some pleasing trickery in the left corner to make space for a cross. | Left-back Ricketts pinged a shot off the crossbar, while debutant central defender Steve Evans showed some pleasing trickery in the left corner to make space for a cross. |
| Earnshaw poked the ball just wide of the post twice in quick succession, while Christof Ritter almost sliced into his own net trying to clear a cross. | Earnshaw poked the ball just wide of the post twice in quick succession, while Christof Ritter almost sliced into his own net trying to clear a cross. |
| Wales' Jason Koumas struck twice with fine long-range efforts | |
| But just before half-time Wales were reminded that the game was not safe, when Mario Frick saw an 18-yard effort deflected just wide after his free-kick had been blocked. | But just before half-time Wales were reminded that the game was not safe, when Mario Frick saw an 18-yard effort deflected just wide after his free-kick had been blocked. |
| Toshack withdrew Giggs and Richard Duffy for the second half, switching from an attacking 4-4-2 to a more solid 5-3-2. | Toshack withdrew Giggs and Richard Duffy for the second half, switching from an attacking 4-4-2 to a more solid 5-3-2. |
| That saw Carl Fletcher arrive to bolster central defence, while Joe Ledley slotted into the left wing-back role and Ricketts switched to the right, Bellamy taking over as captain. | That saw Carl Fletcher arrive to bolster central defence, while Joe Ledley slotted into the left wing-back role and Ricketts switched to the right, Bellamy taking over as captain. |
| Bellamy and Earnshaw both went close with first-time efforts under pressure, as Wales continued to fire the crosses in. | Bellamy and Earnshaw both went close with first-time efforts under pressure, as Wales continued to fire the crosses in. |
| Koumas had a sniff of his hat-trick, but this time Jehle managed to get his whole body behind another well-struck effort from the West Brom man. | Koumas had a sniff of his hat-trick, but this time Jehle managed to get his whole body behind another well-struck effort from the West Brom man. |
| There were plenty of Wrexham fans who had turned up to cheer on their man Evans making his international debut on his home ground. | There were plenty of Wrexham fans who had turned up to cheer on their man Evans making his international debut on his home ground. |
| And the Dragons soon had more to cheer as Llewellyn replaced Earnshaw, while midfielder Mark Jones came on to win his first cap and bring the Wrexham contingent to three. | And the Dragons soon had more to cheer as Llewellyn replaced Earnshaw, while midfielder Mark Jones came on to win his first cap and bring the Wrexham contingent to three. |
| Jones soon made his mark, playing a one-two that set Bellamy loose into the area to lash home Wales' third goal into the roof of the net. | Jones soon made his mark, playing a one-two that set Bellamy loose into the area to lash home Wales' third goal into the roof of the net. |
| Llewellyn wrapped things up in the final minute, dropping back intelligently to side-foot home Bellamy's cut-back. | Llewellyn wrapped things up in the final minute, dropping back intelligently to side-foot home Bellamy's cut-back. |
| Wales are next in action with another friendly at Belfast's Windsor Park against Northern Ireland on 6 February. | Wales are next in action with another friendly at Belfast's Windsor Park against Northern Ireland on 6 February. |
| Then Toshack's side continues their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign with a late March double-header against the Republic of Ireland and then San Marino. | Then Toshack's side continues their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign with a late March double-header against the Republic of Ireland and then San Marino. |
| Wales: Brown, Duffy, Nyatanga, Evans, Ricketts, Simon Davies (Jones 70), Robinson (Crofts 80), Koumas (Craig Davies 85), Giggs (Fletcher 46), Bellamy, Earnshaw (Llewellyn 60).Subs Not Used: Morgan, Ledley, Ward. | Wales: Brown, Duffy, Nyatanga, Evans, Ricketts, Simon Davies (Jones 70), Robinson (Crofts 80), Koumas (Craig Davies 85), Giggs (Fletcher 46), Bellamy, Earnshaw (Llewellyn 60).Subs Not Used: Morgan, Ledley, Ward. |
| Goals: Koumas 8, 14, Bellamy 77, Llewellyn 90. | Goals: Koumas 8, 14, Bellamy 77, Llewellyn 90. |
| Liechtenstein: Jehle, Telser, Hasler, Ritter, Michael Stocklasa, Roger Beck (Kieber 89), Burgmeier, Buechel, D'Elia (Rohrer 60), Ritzberger (. Frick 60), Mario Frick (Buchel 82).Subs Not Used: Steuble, Oehri. | Liechtenstein: Jehle, Telser, Hasler, Ritter, Michael Stocklasa, Roger Beck (Kieber 89), Burgmeier, Buechel, D'Elia (Rohrer 60), Ritzberger (. Frick 60), Mario Frick (Buchel 82).Subs Not Used: Steuble, Oehri. |
| Booked: Telser. | Booked: Telser. |
| Att: 8,752. | Att: 8,752. |
| Ref: Luc Wilmes (Luxembourg). | Ref: Luc Wilmes (Luxembourg). |