Wales announce squad for EURO 2020

Caerphilly-born Aaron Ramsey has been named in Wales’ EURO 2020 squad.

Juventus midfielder Ramsey – a former pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni – is one of 26 players named in the squad by interim manager Rob Page.

Ex-Arsenal and Cardiff City star Ramsey, 30, scored twice as Wales beat Hungary in Cardiff back in November 2019, to seal Wales’ place at the tournament.

It is the second time Wales have qualified for a European Championships – the first time being in 2016, when Wales, led by manager Chris Coleman, stunned the footballing world by reaching the semi-finals – knocking out the much-fancied Belgium in a famous quarter-final encounter in Lille.

The competition – which is still being called EURO 2020 – was meant to be held last year, but was delayed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wales are due to play France in a friendly in Nice on June 2, before the competition gets underway.

The side will travel to Baku, Azerbaijan, to face Switzerland on June 12 and Turkey on June 16, before heading to Rome to take on Italy on June 20.

26-man squad

Goalkeepers

• Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace)
• Danny Ward (Leicester City)
• Adam Davies (Stoke City)

Defenders

• Chris Gunter (Charlton Athletic)
• Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Connor Roberts (Swansea City)
• Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea)
• Chris Mepham (Bournemouth)
• Joe Rodon (Tottenham Hotspur)
• James Lawrence (St Pauli)
• Neco Williams (Liverpool)
• Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United)
• Ben Cabango (Swansea City)

Midfielders

• Aaron Ramsey (Juventus)
• Joe Allen (Stoke City)
• Jonny Williams (Cardiff City)
• Harry Wilson (Liverpool)
• Daniel James (Manchester United)
• David Brooks (Bournemouth)
• Joe Morrell (Luton Town)
• Matt Smith (Manchester City)
• Dylan Levitt (Manchester United)
• Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City)

Forwards

• Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
• Kieffer Moore (Cardiff City)
• Tyler Roberts (Leeds United)

Who’s missed out?

Derby County winger Tom Lawrence, Schalke 04 attacker Rabbi Matondo, Luton Town centre-back Tom Lockyer, Cardiff City’s Mark Harris and George Thomas of QPR were all included in Wales’ pre-tournament training camp in Portugal this week, but have all missed out on the final cut.

Other notable exclusions include Cardiff City midfielder Will Vaulks, as well as West Bromwich Albion’s Hal Robson-Kanu.

Robson-Kanu, who scored arguably the most iconic goal in Welsh football history against Belgium at EURO 2016, has not been selected, despite coming out of international retirement.

Brennan Johnson, who spent the 2020/21 season on loan at League One outfit Lincoln City from Nottingham Forest has also missed out on a place in the squad, while Newport County midfielder Josh Sheehan has also been left out, having been involved with the Wales setup in recent months.

Neil Taylor, James Chester, Andy King, George Williams, Dave Edwards, Jazz Richards, Joe Ledley and Sam Vokes were all involved in EURO 2016, but were not in contention for a place in this summer’s tournament.

• St Pauli defender James Lawrence has since been ruled out the tournament through injury, so Luton Town’s Tom Lockyer has been called up to replace him.