Cymru U21 head coach Matty Jones believes his side will be a lot more competitive as they prepare to take on Belgium in Westerlo on Tuesday night (7pm UK).
In what is the penultimate Group I match for Cymru in UEFA U21 EURO qualifying, Jones has named a squad with mixed experience at this level and has no fitness concerns following their initial training sessions together during the last few days.
“There’s a fantastic mood in the camp,” said Jones. “There was definitely a spring in their step when they entered the door. We’ve been able to continue that with the enthusiasm of everything we’ve presented to them when it comes to our game plan and the things that we have done well throughout the campaign, and the things that we need to improve as well.”
Cymru are currently fourth in Group I having claimed six points from their opening six games and now complete the qualifying campaign with the match against Belgium before they take on Austria at Caernarfon on Tuesday, 6 October (5.30pm).
Cymru U21 v Austria U21
Tuesday 6 October, 17:30. The Oval, Caernarfon.
Belgium claimed a 7-0 victory when the two teams met in Newport last October, and Jones appreciates the challenge of taking on the current group leaders.
“I’m expecting high levels of individual brilliance and a well-structured team,” he explained. “They will be well-drilled and well-organised, and they have the luxury of incredible players.
“So, we’re aware of all that, but we have the confidence and belief that we’re in a place now where we are physically developed, we have an improved mentality and we’re more tactful based on the experiences that certain players are having at their clubs.
“I’m envisaging a game where we’re going to be a lot more competitive, more robust and more disciplined when it comes to managing moments. We can’t afford to have players sent off or concede set-pieces like we did last time, and we’re in a much better place to compete than we were 12 months ago.”
Kai Andrews started that match and spoke about how the young players have integrated themselves into the squad this week.
“There’s a good feeling around the camp and everyone’s buzzing for the game,” the midfielder said. “It’s refreshing to see younger players coming through and it’s an opportunity to go and right the wrongs from the last one.
“We know the quality they bring. We obviously suffered in the last game and we felt that quality, but it’s not a game for us to fear. I think all the players respect how good they are as a team, but there’s no fear going into the game. It’s a very exciting game for us as a group.”
Andrews is one of three players in the squad with senior Cymru experience, together with Charlie Crew and Roman Kpakio, while nine players are yet to make an appearance at this level. The squad also includes nine teenagers, including 15-year-old Noah Anyadike of Cardiff City.
The qualifying campaign began for Cymru just over a year ago in what has been a very open and competitive group, and Jones reflected on the progress of his squad during that time.
“The way I’ve explained the narrative to the players is that our journey has been different,” he added. “The start of the journey was different to Denmark, Austria and Belarus for example. What I can guarantee, and I’ve been really positive about this, is that the end of our campaign is also going to look different. So, whereas if you look at the last campaign where we started strongly, we had an abundance of experience within that group.
“It allowed us to put points on the table quite early and then you’ve got the psychological edge. We haven’t been able to do that this time, and we’ve had to wait for these periods, and these periods are super exciting because I know for a fact we’re going to be more competitive, we’re going to be more organised and we’re going to be more disciplined.
“We all know success at any level is about the result. But the message to the players is that we’ve had to be patient, and now we’re in a time and place of the campaign where we can really make use of these two games and it could transform the way that table looks.”
Player development and progression through the international pathway remains a key marker in defining success at this level, and Jones has celebrated the number of players who have been involved, and continue to be involved, in Craig Bellamy’s senior squad.
“Seeing players like Cian Ashford and Cam Congreve with our national team means everything to me,” said Jones. “I’ve spent the last four years working extremely hard alongside their clubs and our technical staff to make their pathway a success. My pride is definitely on performance and on the pathway for these players.
“I think everyone’s got to take a huge amount of credit for the success that’s happening with the movement across our age groups at the moment. Even though there’s always going to be a level of pain, and there’s going to be some suffering at times, we have to see the bigger picture.”
