Europe South Asia Asia Pacific Americas Middle East Africa BBC Homepage World Service Education



Front Page

World

UK

UK Politics

Business

Sci/Tech

Health

Education

Sport

Entertainment

Talking Point

In Depth

On Air

Archive
Feedback
Low Graphics
Help

Saturday, October 9, 1999 Published at 23:35 GMT 00:35 UK


Sport: Football

Wales hit new low

Hughes: Anxious wait to find out if the FAW will appoint him full-time

Wales 0-2 Switerzerland

Wales' roller-coaster Euro 2000 campaign ended in the depths of disappointment as they slumped to a home defeat against fellow-failures Switzerland.


The BBC's Ian Brown: "This is not what Mark Hughes wanted"
Both teams were already out of contention for the European Championship play-offs but the Swiss still managed to raise the spirit for a comfortable away win.

Wales on the other hand played like a team trying to get rid of another manager, not hang onto a new one.

Bobby Gould quit the job after Wales' 4-0 Euro 2000 qualifier defeat against Italy and his temporary replacement Mark Hughes was desperate for the victory which would cement his claims to be appointed full-time boss to the national side.


[ image: Speed; Disappointed]
Speed; Disappointed
Instead the Welsh committed two defensive errors which handed the visitors two soft goals in front of barely 5,000 spectators in the unusual setting of Wrexham, Cardiff being fully booked due to the Rugby World Cup.

In the first-half Alexandre Rey was allowed to head in unchallenged from a corner, and in the second Wales were left standing by a rapid Swiss break which culminated in Patrick Buhlmann backheeling a stunning second.

Wales were a little weakened by injury.

There was no Ryan Giggs - but that is nothing new for the Manchester United winger - and other injuries saw a recall for Everton's John Oster and a new cap for Mark Delaney.

But the Swiss were missing their two best players - Stephane Chapuisat and Ciriaco Sforza - yet still managed to outshine Robbie Savage and Gary Speed in the midfield.

It was a home-coming for Hughes, who learnt his football in North Wales, but he will have an anxious wait until Thursday when the Football Association of Wales will consider the long-term options for the post.

Teams:
Wales: P. Jones, Delaney, Barnard, Page, Coleman, Savage, J. Robinson, Saunders, Blake, Speed, Oster.
Subs: Trollope, C. Robinson, Symons, Hartson, Roberts, M. Jones, Crossley.
Switzerland: Zuberuhler, Haas, Di Jorio, Henchoz, Hodel, Vogel, Sforza, Jaquet, Rey, Jeanneret, Buhlmann.
Subs: Pascolo, Wolf, Wiss, Comisetti, Muller.
Referee: S Papadakos (Greece)




Advanced options | Search tips




Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | ©


Football Contents

Africa
In this section

Collins calls it a day for Scots

Derby double swoop fails

From Special Report
Keegan accused over late night

White Rose rivals meet again

McIlroy tipped for NI role

League to rule on Sky shares

Keane talks to resume

From Special Report
We'll be back for World Cup - Brown

From Special Report
Keegan insists England can triumph

Irish to appeal after brawl

Israel demands soccer sex scandal inquiry

From Special Report
I've rarely seen anything worse

From Special Report
An almost unbelievable turnaround

SA kidnap shocks soccer coach

From Special Report
Police claim play-off success

From Special Report
England book Euro 2000 place

From Special Report
We've a long way to go - Keegan

Turks bury Irish dream

From Special Report
We deserved to qualify - Hendry

Slovenia to make Euro debut

From Special Report
England v Scotland - picture gallery

From Special Report
What they said