Wales have one final step to reach the UEFA European Championships this summer and that’s a play-off with Poland. Thanks to an early goal from AFC Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks.
Cherries team-mates Chris Mepham and Kieffer Moore both featured in the game with Mepham starting alongside Brooks, whilst Moore came on as a substitute.
Wales meet Poland on Tuesday 26th March with a place in Group D at Euro 2024 at stake, the other nations who are already in that group are Netherlands, Austria and France.
"Y dechrau delfrydol i Gymru"
David Brooks yn rhoi Cymru ar y blaen ar ôl 3 munud!
The perfect start for Cymru who lead inside three minutes!@Cymru @S4C | #WALFIN pic.twitter.com/rIxIOstUR0
— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) March 21, 2024
Brooks was quick to credit his move on loan to Championship outfit Southampton for his recent position.
Brooks has 10 goal contributions (four goals and six assists) in his last 10 games for Southampton and Wales.
Brooks, as quoted by the Southampton Daily Echo said…
“…We have another very big game on Tuesday so now it’s about getting right for that game. I want to get goals and assists – I should have had a second goal rather than the assist.
“But I can’t really complain because it was a good team performance and we are through to the final.”
He added…
“…I was thankful to get the nod and thankfully I could repay him (Rob Page – Wales manager) with a goal and an assist. This was one of the big reasons why I wanted to come out on loan.
“If I was still at Bournemouth and playing 10 minutes at the end of games I might not have got the nod. It’s been a good decision for me.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine and Iceland are also through to one of the three UEFA European Championship play-off finals and they battle for a place in Group E at Euro 2024 alongside Belgium, Slovakia and Romania.
Illia Zabarnyi played the full 90 minutes against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their play-off semi-final with Ukraine dramatically coming from 1-0 down to overturn the result 2-1 with two goals in the final five minutes of the game.
However, it hasn’t all been good news for AFC Bournemouth’s international players with Luis Sinisterra sustaining a hamstring strain whilst with Colombia.
AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola told afcb.co.uk…
“Sini’s injured; he has a hamstring strain. He will be out, I don’t know, four or five weeks at least.
“It’s a shame for us because he’s someone who we had a plan with him, and it has been working perfectly all season.
“He’s had no injuries and been available all season for us.
“I’m sure Colombia also wanted to keep him with no injuries but he got an injury training with them.
“He came back because they were close, they were in London, so we have already made assessments and he has a strain.”
Your say…
hba1 said…
I really hope that Brooks stays/ we don’t let him go. Playing as a second striker he would give us a great option although I am not sure it is in our new style. – To join the conversation, click here.
