Cymru U21 head to Iceland for their penultimate EURO qualifier on Tuesday, 10 September (5.30pm) with Matty Jones’ side currently sitting in the runners-up position in Group I with a five point lead over their opponents who have two games in-hand.
“Preparation – that’s the key part for me,” explained Jones last week. “The last eight weeks have been spent on opposition profiling, understanding ways for us to go to what is a difficult place. Having the win last year against Iceland, at home with 10 men and holding on for the last 30 minutes, showed a lot of character from our players. They know that if we can’t travel away and show the bravery and courage that we need to showcase within our performance, then unfortunately it’s going to work against that. We’ve got to go to someone’s backyard, we’re going to be fighting for the three points, and we’ll be disappointed if we come away with anything less.”
Rubin Colwill and Charlie Crew have both made the step-up to the senior squad since Jones announced his squad, but there is still a wealth of experience available for the match in Reykjavík with Fin Stevens, Charlie Savage, Matt Baker and Joe Low all having been involved with the senior squad previously. “It’s a huge privilege to work with this level and calibre of player,” Jones explained. “To be on that journey with the players and to support them through what have been great achievements. Two years ago we were speaking about changing the culture, changing people’s behaviours and attitude towards playing across age groups.
“It was always my vision to make sure that these players can make senior appearances but then equally have the same motivation and pride and delivery when they step back into their own age group,” he added. “What it has allowed us to do as an age group is be competitive. I’d rather see ten players in the senior squad than having the success in our age group because I always know there’s a pathway. There’s a huge amount – an abundance of quality talent and high potential coming through the system, so I’ve always got faith within that and I always trust that process. So my attitude has always been about pushing the players as hard as we can to get those senior experiences.”
Iceland have won just two of their four games in the campaign, earning victories over the Czech Republic and bottom side Lithuania. Cymru complete their qualification campaign at home to Czechia next month, knowing that cementing the runners-up position will either guarantee their place at the finals in Slovakia next summer as one of the best three teams or lead to a play-off. “Preparation gives you a level of confidence and that’s what the players need,” Jones explained.
A former midfielder who made 13 appearances for Cymru between 1999 and 2003, Jones’ efforts were recently rewarded with a contract extension to take him through to 2028. “I was absolutely overwhelmed,” said Jones. “It came as a surprise, but I appreciate it massively because it’s recognition of the good work that’s being done. There was an element of emotion attached to it because of that hard work has not just been from myself but the staffing group and certainly the players who have been able to execute what we’ve put in front of them.
“I’m always confident in the way I work,” he added. “I practice and preach my values. That will always get recognised and always get valued. It’s really nice to put pen to paper, but it was also thanks to the staff and the players for showcasing what they have done over this last period. I adore my job. I’m always confident with how I practition, how I deliver and how I uphold myself. But when you get asked to represent your country in any capacity – that’s what means so much to me.”
The new contract coincides with the start of a new Cymru era under senior team head coach Craig Bellamy, and Jones spoke about the importance of their relationship. “What’s been really pleasing for me is the continuation of strategies, processes, communication, those type of things which are important to me in my role,” he explained. “My remit has always been to help with the transition and the progression of players and I think we’ve had great success over the last two years especially. I’d like to take this opportunity to recognise the hard work and the relationship that myself and Pagey (Rob Page) had and the support he gave me in my role.
“We’ve had healthy conversations already, myself and Craig, so I’m really pleased that it’s been a positive start and it’s something that will continue. I love Craig’s passion. There’ll be a lot of things happening behind the scenes and our fans should be open to seeing our intentions and our objectives. Sometimes it doesn’t go right and we fail or make mistakes along the way – we’re human. But it comes from the heart, and everyone working with the association is doing it for the love of our country as opposed to it being a job or a role. That oozes out of Craig as well.”
