Wales – No. 24 in FIFA World Rankings
Team Strengths:
Wales are a very tough team to break down. Manager Chris Coleman often went with a five-man defense to provide a solid base, and it worked like a charm during qualifying. They gave up just four goals as they reached a major international tournament for the first time since 1958.
Wales has a tough time playing against overly defensive teams down, but they should be able to continue playing their preferred counter-attacking style – with star man Gareth Bale leading the charge – in at least two of their three group games.
The all-British combination of England and Wales is priced at +230 to finish as the top two in Group B.
Team Weaknesses:
However, if Bale is not at his absolute best in France, it’s hard to see exactly where the goals are going to come from. Aaron Ramsey is a good goal-scorer for a midfielder, but he’s not as prolific as Bale, while Hal Robson-Kanu, who is actually a speedy winger masquerading as a striker, has just two goals in 30 caps.
Team Stats (During Euro Qualifiers):
| Category | Stat |
|---|---|
| Goals Scored Per Game | 1.1 |
| Goals Conceded Per Game | 0.4 |
| Goal Attempts Per Game | 13.4 |
| Pass Completion Percentage | 88% |
| Ball Possession Percentage | 52% |
Starting Lineup:
| Position | Name (Age) | Career Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalie | Wayne Hennessey (29) | 56 | 0 |
| Defender | Chris Gunter (26) | 66 | 0 |
| Defender | James Chester (27) | 10 | 0 |
| Defender | Ashley Williams (31) | 58 | 1 |
| Defender | Ben Davies (23) | 19 | 0 |
| Defender | Neil Taylor (27) | 27 | 0 |
| Midfielder | Joe Allen (26) | 25 | 0 |
| Midfielder | Aaron Ramsey (25) | 38 | 10 |
| Midfielder | Joe Ledley (29) | 61 | 4 |
| Midfielder | Gareth Bale (26) | 58 | 19 |
| Forward | Hal Robson-Kanu (27) | 30 | 2 |
Writer’s Prediction
Wales make it through as the third-place team in Group B, but the round of 16 is as far is they go.
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