The 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign came as a huge disappointment for Welsh football fans after the fantastic Euro 2016 tournament in France, where Chris Coleman’s boys made everyone in Europe stand up and take notice as they reached the semi-finals, only missing out to eventual champions Portugal.
A nation hoped the golden generation would emulate the ‘class of 58’ by reaching the final stages of a World Cup for the first time in 60 years but a 1-0 defeat against Ireland in Cardiff meant we didn’t even reach the play-offs, with Denmark eventually pipping the Irish for the place in Russia.
Ryan Giggs took over from Coleman and in a strange quirk of fate Wales were drawn in the same group as Denmark and Ireland in the inaugural Nations League tournament last year.
That campaign got off to an unbelievable start with Giggs’ youngsters smashing four past the Irish to win 4-1 in Cardiff in one of the best performances by a Welsh side in generations, but despite another win in Dublin two defeats against the Danes saw Wales fail to gain promotion to the top tier and miss out on an alternative route via the Nations League play-offs for next year’s European championships.
But there was more than enough passion and commitment in those performances to suggest Wales can mount a serious challenge for a place in the Euro 2020 finals when qualification gets underway in March.
Wales are drawn in Group E with World Cup runners-up Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan.
The Dragons kick-off their campaign against Slovakia on Sunday, 24 March, before going to Croatia on Saturday, 8 June, and Hungary three days later. Wales then host Azerbaijan on Friday, 6 September, and Slovakia four days later.
Croatia visit Wales on Sunday, 13 October, with Giggs’ men out in Azerbaijan on Saturday, 16 November. The campaign comes to a close with a home game against Hungary three days later.
Wales are not scheduled to play a qualifier in the opening session of Euro 2020 fixtures, so will play a warm-up game ahead of the campaign against Trinidad & Tobago at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground on Wednesday, 20 March, at 7.45pm.
On the occasions Wales did not have competitive fixtures during last year’s Nations League they played friendly matches against Spain in October and Albania in November, losing both.
Wales Euro 2020 Qualifying Fixtures
Wales v Slovakia, Sunday 24 March (14:00)
Croatia v Wales, Saturday 8 June (14:00)
Hungary v Wales, Tuesday 11 June (19:45)
Wales v Azerbaijan, Friday 6 September (19:45)
Slovakia v Wales, Thursday 10 October (19:45)
Wales v Croatia, Sunday 13 October (19:45)
Azerbaijan v Wales, Saturday 16 November (17:00)
Wales v Hungary, Tuesday 19 November (19:45)
