Armenia v Wales LIVE: Result and reaction from crucial Euro 2024 qualifier as Wales suffer huge blow with draw
Armenia 1-1 Wales: Euro 2024 qualification is taken out of Wales’s hands as they fail to find a winner in Yerevan
Wales suffered a huge blow in their penultimate Euro 2024 qualifier against Armenia, as a 1-1 draw in Yerevan took automatic qualification for the tournament out of their hands.
Rob Page’s side remain in the second automatic qualifying spot in Group D but will be leapfrogged by Croatia if they beat Latvia later this evening and if the Croats then do likewise against the Armenian on Tuesday they won’t be able to be caught by Wales, regardless of the result against Turkey in Cardiff at the same time.
Wales fell behind after just five minutes in Yerevan when they failed to clear a corner and Lucas Zelarayan brilliantly fired past Danny Ward but the visitors steadily gained a foothold and deservedly equalised in first-half injury time when Nair Tiknizyan headed into his own goal under pressure from Joe Rodon at a corner.
Yet the Dragons couldn’t find a winner in the second half and were fortunate not to lose the match as Vahan Bichakhchyan struck the underside of the bar and Ward made a couple of important saves with Armenia looking the side more likely to score. The dropped points now likely consign Wales to a play-off if they want to reach a third straight men’s European Championship finals.
Relive all the action with our live blog below:
CLOSE! Armenia 1-0 Wales
7 mins: That’s better from Wales. A good response to falling one behind as they win an attacking throw. It’s hurled long into the box by Roberts and comes out to Brooks on the edge of the area.
He fires in a shot which is only inches over the bar with Armenian keeper Cancarevic desperately leaping but unable to get anything on it
GOAL! Armenia 1-0 Wales (Lucas Zelarayan, 5 mins)
5 mins: Oh no! That’s not what Wales needed at all. Bichakhchyan whips in the corner, Rodon’s header is straight up in the air, it’s beautifully brought down by Lucas Zelarayan, he cuts across the edge of the box and fires a shot into the bottom right corner beyond a diving Danny Ward. Disaster
Armenia 0-0 Wales
4 mins: Joy down the right for Armenia as Bichakhchyan gets past his man but the cross is blocked for a corner.
Armenia 0-0 Wales
3 mins: Good early pressing by Wales to pin Armenia back in their own half but the hosts able to build their way out. A long ball into the Wales box is then well dealt with by Joe Rodon and Danny Ward hoofs clear.
KICK-OFF! Armenia 0-0 Wales
1 min: And we’re off! Can Wales keep their Euro 2024 qualification hopes on track?
Armenia vs Wales
We’re about to get underway in Yerevan. A huge game for Wales
Over 30 Wales fans arrested in Armenia ahead of Euro 2024 qualifier
More than 30 Wales football fans have been arrested in Armenia ahead of Saturday’s European Championship qualifier in Yerevan.
The Football Association of Wales confirmed that 32 supporters had been arrested in the Armenian capital and that the Foreign Office was involved.
An FAW statement read: “The FAW are aware of the situation regarding our fans in Yerevan and we are in regular discussions with the travelling police and FSA (Football Supporters’ Association) Cymru.
“FSA Cymru are the fan embassy who have contact with the local authorities as well as South Wales Police, who are here to liaise with local law enforcement.
“The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office are also involved.”
Around 1,200 Wales fans are in Yerevan, having made the 2,300-mile journey to one of European football’s distant outposts.
FSA Cymru’s X/Twitter account Fan Embassy Wales posted before the game: “Lots of tickets touts in streets leading to stadium...be wary of them...the police have stated that no fans will be allowed in wrong ends of stadium.”
Ben Davies keen to prove doubters wrong as Wales target another major tournament
Ben Davies insists Wales are determined to prove the doubters wrong by making Euro 2024 and reaching a fourth major tournament in five attempts.
Wales are preparing for decisive Euro 2024 ties against Armenia and Turkey knowing qualification for next summer’s finals is in their own hands.
Last month’s stunning 2-1 upset win over World Cup semi-finalists Croatia has set Rob Page’s side up for what could be another momentous week in Welsh football.
Tottenham defender Davies, stand-in skipper for the injured Aaron Ramsey on the night and again this week, gave a rousing ‘huddle’ speech after the Croatia game that was caught on camera.
Evoking the words of Dafydd Iwan’s Yma O Hyd – the 1980s folk protest song which has been adopted by the Football Association of Wales as an anthem and translates as “Still Here” – Davies declared that the Dragons never give in.
“It was just a case of showing the reason why we’re here,” Davies said of a speech which came during a campaign in which Wales have had to adapt to life without the match-winning exploits of the retired Gareth Bale.
“It was backs against the walls stuff, it was showing that people doubted us again but we’re still standing. We’re standing up against the challenges and here we are with two games to go still in the fight.”
Ben Davies keen to prove doubters wrong as Wales target another major tournament
The Dragons are attempting to qualify for a fourth major tournament in five attempts.
Harry Wilson knew he had to step up for Wales after Gareth Bale retirement
Harry Wilson admits the onus was on him to step out of Gareth Bale’s shadow and keep Wales on track for major tournaments.
Boss Rob Page revealed recently he spoke to Wilson last summer and told him he was no longer simply a squad member and that he is a “big player” for Wales.
Wilson responded with a hand in both goals in September’s 2-0 win in Latvia, and then scored twice in the stunning 2-1 victory over World Cup semi-finalists Croatia last month.
Those two wins lifted Wales up to second in Group D and they will qualify automatically for Euro 2024 by taking six points from their final two games, away to Armenia and at home to Turkey.
“Gaz provided a lot of moments for us on the pitch in times that we needed him,” Fulham forward Wilson said of Wales’ record scorer Bale, who retired from football in January.
“So for me being an attacking player, I need to start stepping up in those moments, and thankfully I was able to do that in the Croatia game.”
Harry Wilson knew he had to step up for Wales after Gareth Bale retirement
The Fulham forward has had four goal involvements in the Dragons’ last two Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Wales v Armenia: Key talking points
Yellow peril
Defensive pair Chris Mepham and Neco Williams will be walking disciplinary tightropes in Armenia.
Both players have picked up two bookings in the campaign, and a third would rule them out of Tuesday’s final qualifier against Turkey.
Wales have yet to lose any player to three bookings, although Joe Morrell and Kieffer Moore served two-match bans for respective red cards against Turkey and Armenia in the summer.
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