Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / INTERNATIONALS
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Snooker | Horse Racing | Cycling | Disability Sport | Olympics 2012 | Other Sport... | TV/Radio Schedule | Fun and Games | Photo Galleries | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Football Contents:  My Club | Gossip & Transfers | Premiership | Championship | League One | League Two | Non League | FA Cup | League Cup | Scottish Premier | Scottish Cups | Scottish League | Welsh | Irish | Internationals | Europe | African Women | Photo Galleries | Football Focus | Match of the Day | World Football | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Score on BBCi

06:13 GMT, Wednesday, 20 August 2008 07:13 UK

Flynn hails Welsh World Cup hopes

Wales Under-21 manager Brian Flynn says the stars of the junior generation can fire the nation into the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Flynn is preparing the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Chris Gunter for Wednesday's crucial Uefa Under-21 qualifier against Romania at the Racecourse.

But he says Wales boss John Toshack's plans always focused on the World Cup qualifiers that start in September.

"The World Cup qualifiers are on our doorstep and we're ready," said Flynn.

606: DEBATE
Can Wales make the 2010 World Cup in South Africa?
"Me and John have been discussing this for years, not just days, and hopefully the plan is coming together. South Africa was at the forefront of our minds."

"In the meantime, Flynn is concentrating on the under-21 campaign that this week overshadows the senior team's friendly with Georgia at Swansea's Liberty Stadium on Wednesday.

Flynn stated: "It's a cup final. It's a one-off game we need to win to qualify for the next stages. It's a big one.

"I had some important games in management at Wrexham and Swansea but in terms of international football this us up there amongst the best.

"Having worked with this group for almost four years I can't wait for Wednesday.

"This hasn't happened overnight. It's been a long, hard, detailed plan and effort put in by a lot of people.

"We've got some talented young players and they now have to make the step up into the senior squad and show how good they are.

"I know they are capable of being full internationals for the next 10 years.

"In terms in of strength in depth I could probably have picked two teams to play against each other and it would be a close game.

"We've got strength and cover in all departments. We've lost the captain, Joe Jacobson, with injury and he has been replaced by Gareth Bale - that's not a bad replacement, I must say.

"It makes my job better to work with quality players who've come back in and the preparation has been excellent.

"They've trained the way they play and that's why we've had some good results. They are an absolute delight to work with on the training ground and they take that into a match."



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Ledley withdrawn from young Wales (19 Aug 08 |  Internationals )
Premier-primed Evans set for U21s (19 Aug 08 |  Internationals )
Wales to keep Earnshaw in reserve (19 Aug 08 |  Internationals )
Revamped Wales ready to deliver (20 Aug 08 |  Internationals )
'Old' stadium claims world record (20 Aug 08 |  North east )
Country profile: Romania (09 May 08 |  Country profiles )
Wales' international fixtures (22 Aug 07 |  Internationals )
Wales' results archive (10 Oct 05 |  Internationals )
Pick your Wales XI (05 Feb 07 |  Internationals )
BBC Sport Wales coverage (23 Mar 08 |  Wales )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Uefa
Fifa
Football Association of Wales
Football on the BBC
BBC Local - Wales
Wales weather
Your say - 606
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Snooker | Horse Racing | Cycling | Disability Sport | Olympics 2012 | Other Sport... | TV/Radio Schedule | Fun and Games | Photo Galleries | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Football Contents:  My Club | Gossip & Transfers | Premiership | Championship | League One | League Two | Non League | FA Cup | League Cup | Scottish Premier | Scottish Cups | Scottish League | Welsh | Irish | Internationals | Europe | African Women | Photo Galleries | Football Focus | Match of the Day | World Football | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Score on BBCi

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©