Euro 2024

CHRIS COLEMAN hailed Harry Wilson after his heroics kept Wales’ Euro 2024 dream alive.Former Dragons and Fulham boss Coleman gave him his first cap at the age of 16 in a 1-1 World Cup qualifier against Belgium in October 2013 — to stop England from pinching him.
Chris Coleman hailed Wilson after his heroic performance to keep Wales’ Euro 2024 dream aliveCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Harry Wilson scored two goals in Wales’ Euro 2024 qualifier against Croatia on SundayCredit: Alamy
Coleman gave Wilson his first debut for Wales at 16 years oldCredit: Alamy
And a decade later, Wilson’s second-half brace against Croatia on Sunday in his 50th Welsh appearance left Robert Page’s side two wins away from next summer’s tournament in Germany.
Cookie, 53, said: “Harry was brilliant and I’m delighted for him.
“He’s fulfilling the potential we saw in him all those years ago.
“He was only 16 when he came in and I gave him his debut.
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“I could see straight away he had the ability and the appetite to be an important player for Wales for the next ten or 15 years.”
Wilson, 26, could have qualified for the Three Lions through a grandad.
Coleman added: “It was a decision that I felt needed to be made.
“I didn’t know my own future at the time, I hadn’t signed a new contract and it could have been my last match in charge of Wales.
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“But I was looking at the bigger picture for Welsh football.
“He could have gone to play for England but we knew he was a Welsh boy. The result was good for us that night but just   as   importantly, we secured Harry for Wales.
“I’m glad I made the decision because I knew he would be an important player for the country moving forward.”
Ex-Wales forward Craig Bellamy, who played his final international match in Brussels that night, disagreed with his gaffer’s decision to bring Liverpool academy midfielder Wilson on for Hal Robson-Kanu in the 87th minute.
Bellamy, who won 78 caps, claimed that the substitution devalued the achievement of playing for Wales.
At 16 years and 207 days old, Wrexham-born Wilson is the youngest player to be capped by Wales, beating Gareth Bale’s record by 108 days.
Cookie added: “I wasn’t bothered about what people were saying, we started to blood the next group coming through.”
Sunday’s 2-1 win moved Wales second in Group D behind Turkey — who have already qualified — and Croatia.
Victories away to Armenia and the Turks in Cardiff next month would book an automatic qualification spot.
Coleman, who led Wales to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, said: “It’s a huge result.
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“It opens the door and there are six points to be had.
“It won’t be easy but it’s very possible to qualify now.” More

SWEDEN captain Victor Lindelof says there is “no reason” to replay the match against Belgium after two fans were shot dead in a suspected terrorist attack.Two men, both believed to be wearing Sweden shirts, were gunned down in the street before the game in Brussels.
Victor Lindelof says there is ‘no reason’ for Belgium vs Sweden to be replayedCredit: Rex
The match was abandoned at half-time after Sweden players decided not to resume the game – Belgium agreed with the scoreline 1-1 after Romelu Lukaku cancelled out Viktor Gyokeres’ strike.
Now Manchester United star Lindelof has called for the nullified result to stand as Belgium have already qualified for Euro 2024, while it is mathematically impossible for Sweden to do so.
He said: “Belgium are already qualified and we don’t have the opportunity to get to the European Championship, so I see no reason to play [replay the game].”
Sweden fans were held behind for hours as police and security evacuated the stadium.
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Both fans and players received a police escort with Sweden stars travelling directly to the airport.
Sweden boss Janne Andersson was told the horrific news at half-time and he revealed he and his players agreed they would not continue the game out of respect for the victims’ families.
He said: “When I came down for the break, I got this information. Immediately, I felt that it was completely unreal. What kind of world do we live in today?
“I came into the locker room and when the team started talking we agreed 100 per cent that we didn’t want to play on out of respect for the victims and their families.
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Asked if the match will be replayed, Andersson responded: “Only time will tell. It is surreal what happened.
“The players quickly knew at half time that the situation was serious, but first we had to get confirmation of the facts.
“As for the Belgian players: Everyone was allowed to leave as agreed. Some went home, others to the players’ hotel.” More

THE Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden was abandoned at half-time after two football fans were shot dead.Two men, both wearing Sweden shirts, were gunned down in the street before the game in Brussels.
Sweden vs Belgium was abandoned at half-timeCredit: AFP
Sweden players decided not to play the second half with Belgium stars agreeingCredit: Getty
The score in the game was 1-1 when it was abandonedCredit: Reuters
Supporters were told not to leave their seatsCredit: AP
Sweden players decided during the break to not resume the game, with the score 1-1 at half-time.
This decision was agreed to by their Belgian counterparts.
A statement from Belgium said: “Due to the incidents in Brussels earlier tonight, play is suspended. Our thoughts are with all those affected.”
A Swedish FA social media post added: “Our thoughts go out to all the relatives of those affected in Brussels.”
A Uefa statement on the incident, said: “Following a suspected terrorist attack in Brussels this evening, it has been decided, after consultation with the two teams and the local police authorities, that the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is abandoned.
“Further communication will be made in due course.”
Sweden boss Janne Andersson told a press conference that shocked players decided not to carry on out of respect to the victims and their families.
“When I came down for the break, I got this information. Immediately, I felt that it was completely unreal. What kind of world do we live in today?” he told reporters.
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“I came into the locker room and when the team started talking we agreed 100 percent that we didn’t want to play on out of respect for the victims and their families.”
Sweden captain Victor Lindelof told the press conference that the players never felt in any danger.
He said: “Our security team handled it well and put us at ease. They explained that this is the safest place to be in Brussels.”
Fans were kept inside the King Baudouin Stadium until security services confirmed it was safe to depart, with the gunman at still at large.
As an extra safety measure, fans were allowed to enter the press room.
Thousands of fans are now trapped inside the stadiumCredit: AFP
Uefa confirmed the match had been abandoned after consultation with both teams and local policeCredit: AP
There are said to be 700 Swedish fans in attendance at the King Baudouin StadiumCredit: EPA
Footage from inside the stadium appeared to show fans clapping and chanting “Sweden”.
The alleged shooter – who claims to be linked to ISIS – is still on the run hours after the horror unfolded at 7pm around three miles from Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium.
Cops in Belgium have now launched a terror probe following the shooting at Boulevard d’Ypres and the city has raised its terror alert to the highest level.
In a clip filmed moments before the horror, the alleged attacker says he’s part of terrorist group the Islamic State.
Speaking in Arabic, he claims responsibility for the shooting and outlines what appears to be a terrorist manifesto.
The match was stopped as panic ensued among supporters – who were barricaded inside the stadium, which has capacity for 50,000 fans.
Thousands of terrified fans – including 700 Swedes – were trapped inside, with pictures showing fans phoning relatives and removing their jerseys as Belgium’s Crisis Centre said it planned to “safely escort” them out.
Videos shared online shows the alleged gunman in a fluorescent orange jacket arriving on a moped just three miles from the Heizel stadium.
The alleged shooter then chases several people into a building while firing shots from an automatic rifle.
It is believed he first shot at a van, with one man dying inside.
Meanwhile, a third victim has been rushed to hospital.
No suspect has yet been arrested.
A second video shared on social media shows a man in an orange fluorescent jacket claiming responsibility for the attack.
Manhunt launched
Cops are now urgently hunting the gunman – and Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has asked residents to be “vigilant”.
He said: “My deepest condolences to the relatives of the cowardly assassination attempt in Brussels
“I monitor developments together with the Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs from the national crisis center
“We are monitoring the situation and would like to ask the residents of Brussels to be vigilant.”
Security services and ministers are currently gathered at a Crisis Center, amid fears of a terror motive.
The threat level for the Brussels Capital Region has been raised to level 4 – with officials telling locals to “avoid unnecessary movements”.
Regions are placed under level four “when the threat is serious and very imminent”.
Photos show a smaller gun left behind at the scene.
One witness told HBVL:  “There was soon a crowd, including the police.
“I saw the victim less than five meters away from me. A man about 40 years old.
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“And then a black Mercedes Vito with two or three bullet holes in it.
“Inside was the driver dead. The injured passenger, half his body filled with blood, but conscious.”
A manhunt has been launched to find the alleged shooterCredit: EPA
Two football supporters wearing Sweden shirts were shot in BrusselsCredit: Reuters More

FORMER Premier League star Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored his first goal for Iceland in three years.Sigurdsson, 34, made his return to the national set-up by coming off the bench against Luxembourg last Friday.
Gylfi Sigurdsson scored his first goal for Iceland in three yearsCredit: AP
Sigurdsson started the match against LiechtensteinCredit: Rex
Sigurdsson’s last goal for them came in a 2-1 defeat against Hungary in 2020Credit: PA:Empics Sport
He was promoted to the starting XI for Monday night’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Liechtenstein.
The former Everton man then found himself on the score sheet 22 minutes later.
Sigurdsson converted from the penalty spot by smashing the ball into the goal off of the bar to the left side of the net.
It marked his first goal for the national team in three years.
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He then added a second goal after half-time.
His last goal for Iceland came in the final of the Euro 2020 qualifier play-offs, when he scored against Hungary after 11 minutes in a 2-1 defeat.
After being called up to the team for the October international’s Sigurdsson was reportedly cheered everytime he touched the ball in his 20-minute cameo against Luxembourg.
Speaking to Fotbolti, he said: “It was hard not to hear, it was already in my warm-up and when I came in. I have never received such a reception here, it was an extra wild welcome.”
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Sigurdsson’s international return comes after he joined Danish side Lyngby in August.
He added: “I think. In Lyngby I may have trained fully 10-14 times. It has gone quickly.
“I know there is a long way to go and it will probably be a few months before I am in top form.”
Sigurdsson made played in his first professional football match for 853 days when he starred for two-time Danish champions Lyngby against Vejle on Septmeber 22.
He signed a one-year deal with the Superliga club and has so far made two appearances.
Speaking to the club’s website he said: “I hope that I can come in and contribute with a lot of experience and quality.
“I know that there are a lot of young and talented players in the team, and I really want to learn from me so that we can lift ourselves up together.
“I have heard about the good support we have, and I am very much looking forward to meeting the fans and not least playing in front of them.”
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Sigurdsson played 318 Premier League games between 2011 and 2021.
He turned out for Tottenham, Swansea and Everton, scoring 67 goals and providing 52 assists. More