Hughes seeks place in history

The fixture may well be swiftly forgotten but, should Wales avoid defeat against Bosnia in Cardiff tonight, the achievement will not. Mark Hughes' side will become the most successful side in their nation's football history, going nine games without defeat.

Hughes' team would break the record set by the side of Ivor Allchurch and John Charles which reached the World Cup quarter-finals of 1958 and by Mike England's team, whose run of eight undefeated matches was not enough to send Wales to the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

"Much as I respect the team of the 1980s, I want their record," Hughes said yesterday. "We achieved such a lot in the past year or so and it would be a great reward for the players. I want us to be regarded as the best team in Welsh history."

Since Hughes' men were on the point of being labelled the Principality's worst-ever side a year ago, having gone a dozen matches without victory, the turnaround has been spectacular.

Unlike Mike England, Hughes is determined to crown a run of success with qualification for a major tournament and Portugal 2004 is firmly in his sights. Bosnia, who have lost both their European Championship qualifiers without scoring a goal, are reckoned to be good preparation for the Euro 2004 qualifiers with Azerbaijan and Yugoslavia, newly renamed Serbia-Montenegro, which follow tonight's friendly.

A sizeable crowd of 35,000 is expected at the Millennium Stadium, although their idol, Ryan Giggs, who picked up a calf injury in the Manchester derby, may not be risked, especially in view of United's FA Cup tie with Arsenal on Saturday.

WALES (4-4-2; probable): Jones (Southampton), Delaney (Aston Villa), Melville (Fulham), Page (Sheffield Utd), Speed (Newcastle), Davies (Tottenham), Savage (Birmingham), Earnshaw (Cardiff), Pembridge (Everton), Hartson (Celtic), Bellamy (Newcastle).