Some have been waiting for this day for 18 months, the opening game for Wales of what was Euro 2020 kicks off in Azerbaijan today in 2021. We all know the reasons why, and that means and makes this day even more of a landmark. The thousands who originally booked, allegedly upwards of ten thousand will be represented by seven hundred or so in Baku this afternoon.
Robert Page, think of him what you like as a leader, has the most memorable period of his career over the next few weeks surely ? In place of Ryan Giggs who is currently suspended after being accused of assault on two woman, again a well documented issue, Page has to dig deep to get the Red Wall singing again. In his press conference he made it clear Giggs and he had spoken, and made no bones about why. "Yes, absolutely. He's a friend at the end of the day. Forget manager, assistant manager, assistant coach, he's a friend. Of course, I have been in touch and he wishes us all the best," said Page when asked if the former Manchester United winger had been in contact. "He sent well wishes and he is fully supportive behind the team. Like anyone watching back home, he's a supporter."
Wales are the favourites
Wales are most certainly favourites today and within their group. Favourites that is to lose today and finish bottom of Group A. Gareth Bale who has heard it all before, very much like he did in France five years ago was also focussed "It does not bother us at all," People have their opinions. All we are worried about is what we do on the pitch, what we can affect. "We will just be concentrating on our performance and hopefully that is good enough on the day. We want to win, we want to get off to a good start. I don't think it's a case of we can't lose the game. But we are going in with the mentality of wanting to win, get off to a good start and put ourselves in a great position. In our minds, we have a game plan, we want to win and that's what we will be going onto the pitch to do."
Injuries are at the forefront of many Wales followers pre match, especially a fragile AaronRamsey who hasn’t had the best of years with reoccurring injuries with Juve and his country. Page has managed that carefully with good medical advice stating "I was fearful of him breaking down in games. We had a plan in place when I spoke to him a month ago about how many minutes we needed to achieve with one eye on Switzerland. That's the ultimate game for us, it's not about the two friendlies. "The build-up has gone really well. The medical team have got to take an enormous amount of credit for that. "I have a great medical team around me. Today we are sat here with 26 players fully fit and raring to go and Aaron falls into that category. He's ready."
Great news if the Aaron Ramsey we know can find some form, and it will be needed against the Swiss today.
There is a likelihood, but only a slim one that a Swansea academy back four could line up for Wales. Conner Roberts and Joe Rodon will most certainly get starts as will Ben Davies. Ben Cabango hasn’t been at the forefront of Page’s plans but if selected he would do, as many swans fans know an excellent job. Great testimony to the academy at Swansea, I would imagine this would be headlines elsewhere if they were Cardiff players.
Switzerland are in a golden run of form with a squad that many would do well not to underestimate.
Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Yvon Mvogo (PSV), Jonas Omlin (Montpellier)
Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Borussia Dortmund), Loris Benito (Bordeaux), Nico Elvedi (Monchengladbach), Kevin Mbabu (Wolfsburg), Becir Omeragic (Zurich), Ricardo Rodriguez (Torino), Silvan Widmer (Basel), Fabian Schar (Newcastle United), Jordan Lotomba (Nice), Eray Comert (Basel)
Midfielders: Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Denis Zakaria (Borussia Monchengladbach), Remo Freuler (Atalanta), Djibril Sow (Eintracht Frankfurt), Admir Mehmedi (Wolfsburg), Xherdan Shaqiri (Liverpool), Ruben Vargas (Augsburg), Steven Zuber (Eintracht Frankfurt), Edimilson Fernandes (Mainz), Christian Fassnacht (Young Boys)
Forwards: Breel Embolo (Monchengladbach), Mario Gavranovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Haris Seferovic (Benfica)
Far more experienced than Wales at higher levels, and with a form guide that is impressive. Unbeaten in their last seven games, last losing to Belgium in November last year they are brimming with confidence. However, before the Belgium defeat they had a shocking run of poor results, the are definitely fallible. They may have the Alpine Messi in Shaqiri and players from Monchengladbach, Eintracht, Arsenal and a whole host of other impressive teams, but this is Wales. Fourth placed in the last competition, and a country that fears nobody.
Wales v Switzerland kicks off at 2pm today in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The game will air live on BBC One in the U.K, with Welsh channel S4C providing free-to-air coverage as well. Radio coverage across the country on Talk Sport, BBC Radio 5 Live, Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and on the tune in app online