Giggs’s credentials under the microscope, Berahino’s Burundi opportunity and another international debut for Rice
Speaking to the Elis James Feast Of Football podcast last week, Ryan Giggs admitted Slovakia are his Wales side’s main rivals to qualify alongside Croatia from a group in which Hungary and and Azerbaijan are likely to do little more than make up the numbers. Despite having Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey on board, along with an influx of several exciting young prospects, their best performance under Giggs remains a 4-1 demolition of a dire Republic of Ireland side last September that perhaps gave fans unrealistic expectations of similar things to follow. They haven’t and Nations League defeats at home and away against Denmark, along with friendly losses to Spain and Albania, mean the jury remains out on Giggs, who did mastermind another, more narrow win over the Irish. After 10 matches in charge, a period he told James he considered a kind of “free swing”, the important business for the Wales manager starts now. BG
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