Wales manager glad to see the end of the Olympics

Published on 11/08/2012 03:19

Wales manager Chris Coleman was impressed by the performances of his quartet of Team GB stars, but admits he is pleased to see the back of the Olympics.

The Football Association of Wales, along with their Scottish and Northern Irish counterparts, did not back the move to enter a British team in the Games, fearing it would have an impact on their individual standings within FIFA. But with the FAW having no means of preventing Wales players being selected, captain Aaron Ramsey, new Cardiff signing Craig Bellamy, Neil Taylor and Liverpool-bound Joe Allen all featured prominently in Stuart Pearce’s squad.

Following Great Britain’s quarter-final exit against South Korea Coleman has included the four players in his squad for Wednesday’s friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Llanelli, as well as Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, who missed the Games through injury.

The game will be Wales’ final preparation for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign in September, which gets under way with a home clash with 
Belgium in Cardiff.

Coleman said: “The boys who were there did well, but what I want to concentrate on is Wales as all of us here are aware of what is coming up and we are trying to get to the World Cup in Brazil. This game is an important step before that. It’s a big game Bosnia, they’re a good team.”

As well as the return of Bale, who missed the May friendly against Mexico, Joe Ledley, Jack Collison, James Collins and Darcy Blake are all included in the 22-man squad. Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and midfielder David Vaughan miss out through injury.

Aberdeen’s Jason Brown impressed in place of Hennessey against Mexico, but with the Wolves keeper a major doubt for next month’s clash with Belgium, West Brom’s Boaz Myhill looks set to start.