Welsh fans can look forward to trips to Finland, Bulgaria and the Republic of Ireland after the Dragons were drawn in Group B4 in today’s Nations League 2020-21 draw in Amsterdam.
The Republic of Ireland seem to be perennial opponents for Wales, with the sides also grouped together in the inaugural Nations League tournament in 2018-19. Wales won on both occasions the teams met, securing a memorable 4-1 win in Cardiff and a 1-0 win in Dublin.
But two defeats against Denmark, 2-0 away and 2-1 in Cardiff, meant Wales finished second in the group to stay in league B for the 2020-21 tournament, where they can now also look forward to games against Finland and Bulgaria in an expanded four-team group.
Wales manager Ryan Giggs, who was in Amsterdam for the draw, said the Republic of Ireland were a “a team we know well” before adding that he was was hopeful there would be no repeat of the scenes that marred England’s 6-0 win in a Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia in October when Wales travel to Bulgaria.
Bulgaria have been ordered to play two matches behind closed doors, one suspended for two years, for their fans’ racist abuse of England players. “We’re aware of what happened with England,” Giggs said. “We just hope that we don’t see those scenes off the pitch and we’re just talking about what’s happening on the pitch.”
Gareth Southgate’s England team face tough competition in Group A2, where they will meet Denmark, Iceland and Belgium. Scotland’s opponents in Group B2 are the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Israel; while Group B1 sees Northern Ireland pooled with Austria, Norway and Romania.
Group A1
Netherlands, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland
Group A2
England, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland
Group A3
Portugal, France, Sweden, Croatia
Group A4
Switzerland, Spain, Ukraine, German
Group B1
Austria, Norway, Northern Ireland, Romania
Group B2
Czech Republic, Scotland, Slovakia, Israel
Group B3
Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Hungary
Group B4
Wales, Finland, Republic of Ireland, Bulgaria
Group C1
Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Montenegro
Group C2
Armenia, Estonia, North Macedonia, Georgia
Group C3
Moldova, Slovenia, Kosovo, Greece
Group C4
Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Belarus, Albania
Group D1
Malta, Andorra, Latvia, Faroe Islands
Group D2
San Marino, Liechtenstein, Gibraltary
Wales’ 2020-21 Nations League Fixtures
Thursday, 3 September 2020: Finland v Wales
Sunday, 6 September 2020: Wales v Bulgaria
Saturday, 10 October 2020: Republic of Ireland v Wales
Tuesday, 13 October 2020: Bulgaria v Wales
Friday, 13 November 2020: Wales v Republic of Ireland
Monday, 16 November 2020: Wales v Finland
