GOOD AFTERNOON
Welcome to day two of Euro 2020, and our live coverage of Wales’ match with Switzerland in Baku.
A contest already considered key by both countries, today’s fixture takes on even greater importance in Group A following Italy’s electrifying performance in the tournament’s opening game last night.
A strong start for either nation here will steer them on course for the knockout stages, and, in the case of the Welsh, have them dreaming once again.
The Dragons’ greatest summer came five years ago in this very competition when Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and co. had Chris Coleman’s squad roaring all the way to the semi-finals in France.
The main men are back under Rob Page’s leadership, this time with Bale as captain of his country, but persistent injuries have cast a cloud over Ramsey’s involvement.
Elsewhere, debate has raged in the land of my fathers with many Welsh fans demanding the presence of target man Kieffer Moore in the side as opposed to the front three with a false nine currently favoured by Page.
Switzerland have selection considerations of their own with key players short of game time in the past year, particularly the Premier League-based pair of Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabian Schar.
However, coach Vladimir Petkovic insists his squad are fully prepared and ready to improve on their last 16 eliminations at both Euro 2016 and the World Cup in Russia three years ago.
We’ll bring you the important team news imminently, and then it’s all about the main event in Azerbaijan at 2pm.
