Eight of Wales team back on U21 duty after senior heroics

Published on Sunday 15 November 2009 23:04

TO EMPHASISE just how young the Wales team which tore Scotland apart in Cardiff were, eight of the players on duty in the 3-0 triumph have been called up for their country's Uefa Under-21 qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday.

Simon Church, who scored his debut goal for Wales' senior side against Scotland, has been called-up to Brian Flynn's revised squad for the clash in Sarajevo.

Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey is out with a back injury but Church, Ched Evans, Joe Allen, Andy King and Sam Vokes – who all played against the Scots – are in the under-21s. Other senior squad members, Adam Matthews, Darcy Blake and David Cornell are also in Flynn's party.

Ramsey may have picked up an injury on Saturday, but he enhanced his growing reputation with an outstanding performance that plunged Scotland into further turmoil and gave Wales their best win in months.

The Arsenal teenager, despite playing with a back injury that had restricted his training all week, walked away with the man of the match champagne after spending just 56 minutes tormenting Scotland and their under-fire manager George Burley.

Wales manager John Toshack would not risk his prized asset any further, but the midfielder had done enough to shatter the Scots, scoring a stunning solo goal and helping create the other two for David Edwards and Church.

And the fact that Toshack was able to indulge himself by taking off Church and Evans to rest them for the under-21s trip only served to heap more embarrassment on the Scots.

After Wales' debut international at what they hope will be their new home at Cardiff City's stadium, midfielder Edwards spoke for the delighted Welsh camp.

The Wolves player, who scored his third goal in 18 appearances, said: "Aaron is going to be a great, great player. One of the best in Europe when he gets into his prime. He looks a bit like Cesc Fabregas was at his age. I played against Aaron last week against Arsenal and he ran the show, with such a mature head for a lad of his age. He is going to be a really great player."

He added: "The boys were terrific and I was delighted to score, the ball arrived quickly from Aaron and I didn't have to think about it much, just hit it.

"Our coach Dean Saunders is always telling us about the volleys he used to score, so that was for him, we can do it!

"We looked solid. With Ashley (Williams) sitting in front of the back four and myself and Joe (Ledley) wide, it gave Rambo space ahead of us to do what he does, create havoc. We forced them to give the ball away, and we broke quickly. That is when we are at our best with runners arriving from midfield."

Scotland were cut to shreds in the first period, then suffered further humiliation as Wales toyed with them, passing and holding possession.

Ramsey enjoyed it all and said: "If there's 13,000 in the Millennium stadium, it seems like the place is deserted. But that sort of crowd in a more compact place like the Cardiff ground still creates an atmosphere and we responded to that."