The Wales road to Euro 2016 thread - featuring the best British midfielder (and Gareth Bale)

There's only one Aaron Ramsey.

Wales will start their Euro 2016 campaign in the tiny Pyrenees principality of Andorra.

The first-ever fixture between the two nations will take place on September 9, 2014, with Andorra playing their home matches at the 1,800-capacity Comunal d’Andorra la Vella in Aixovall.

However, Andorra – sandwiched between France and Spain – have occasionally played “home” matches outside their borders in nearby Barcelona.

Wales will then host top seeds Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus in October before visiting Brussels, familiar foes from the recent World Cup qualifying campaign, in November.

The resumption of fixtures in 2015 sees Wales head to Israel in March before the visit of Belgium to Cardiff in June.

Two double-headers – Cyprus away and Israel at home in September and Bosnia away and Andorra in October – complete the group.

“I'm happy, positive. They’re all tough teams obviously, but it’s a positive draw for us,” said Wales manager Chris Coleman after the draw was made at Nice in the south of France.

“We’re looking at it and we’re certainly confident.

“We got the point against Belgium in the World Cup qualifiers with a depleted squad, and we were unlucky at home having a man sent off in the first 15 minutes, ultimately beaten but with a good performance.

“But this is about us, and how many times we can field our strongest team, that’s what will dictate how we do in this group.”

The eight group winners, eight runners-up, and the best third-placed team will qualify directly for the Euro 2016 finals and join hosts France.

The eight remaining third-placed teams contest two-legged play-offs to determine the last four qualifiers for the finals.

Full details on the draw

Full Wales fixtures

Tuesday, September 9, 2014 - Andorra (away, 7.45pm)

Friday, October 10, 2014 - Bosnia-Herzegovina (home, 7.45pm)

Monday, October 13, 2014 - Cyprus (home, 7.45pm)

Sunday, November 16, 2014 - Belgium (away, 5pm)

Saturday, March 28, 2015 - Israel (away, 7.45pm)

Friday, June 12, 2015 - Belgium (home, 7.45pm)

Thursday, September 3, 2015 – Cyprus (away, 7.45pm)

Sunday, September 6, 2015 – Israel (home, 5pm)

Saturday, October 10, 2015 – Bosnia-Herzegovina (away, 7.45pm)

Tuesday, October 13 – Andorra (home, 7.45pm)

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Please let now be the time

If Bale and Ramsey can stay fit we have a great chance.

Play bale through the middle with Jonny Williams and HRK either side imo.

Israel, Cyprus & ourselves will all fancy our chances at finishing 3rd.

We could have had far tougher draws, but 3rd place is achievable if we keep all our players fit.

Ridiculously optimistic of our chances this time. But then I always am.

Also ridiculously optimistic, but this time I feel we have a right to be. Although we still lack a few areas we have much more solid players in other areas. Ledley, Bale, Ramsey, Allen, Collison, Joniesta and others like Harry Wilson(probably too soon but could feature) and Emyr Huws(who is unreal according to Lee Clarke) at Birmingham. Sam Vokes has really hit form and will be a Premier League striker soon hopefully. Having Swansea and Cardiff in the prem means we have Ash Williams, Ben Davies, Neil Taylor, Declan John and Jazz Richards all regularly playing at a high standard facilities and amongst class players to add to the competitive spots at full-back. Matthews, Gunter and of course the developing Paul Dummett not to be forgotten!

Will be down to having big players available but also Coleman can't screw this one up. I might be wrong but I really see us as a much better side than Israel.

From an objective Dutch view, you should be optimistic. Wales is way better than Israel or Cyprus, so you should be 3rd at least.

Wales look good on paper but they have been underachieving imo. Israel was the worst team from pot 3 so you're lucky there. I think you can even battle Bosnia for 2nd place.

Belgium will finish in 1st place obviously

I love Gareth Bale more than is probably healthy for a man of my vintage. Emyr Huws had an excellent debut I thought, and hrk had maybe his best game for us. Still think there is a case for starting Bale up top given the amount of midfield options we have when everyone is fit.

More than happy with our options at full back and gk, need williams and collins to have good campaigns as cb seems to be our weakest position by a distance

If Palace stay up and they stick with Gabbidon it'll be good

Was a joy to watch tonight and that's missing Ramsey. Huws did well. I am still an advocate and always will be ofBale central and Joniesta out wide. But I'm so confident!

Going Amsterdam in June, can't wait!

Finding it an absolute joy going to Wales games atm.

Just watching the Highlights show on BBC 1.

Iwan Roberts taking "Football Hipster" literally.

Meanwhile. Rob Earnshaw has developed a Mid-Atlantic accent really rather quickly.

Haha.

who is your starting GK atm? the rate Karl Darlow is developing, i think he could be a GK to watch for you lot, hes not likely to be good enough for england, but could be for Wales

Where is Earnshaw now and has he scored a hat-trick?

Hennessy is the keeper atm and Earnshaw is without a club after leaving Toronto

Our midfield has the potential to be top quality.

Huws looked composed on Tuesday against a half-decent Iceland side, Joey Allen is starting to show some of the class that made Rodgers take him to Liverpool, and Aaron Ramsey has shown to be almost unstoppable when he's been fit this season.

In my opinion, the midfield of our future has to be: Huws (DM), Allen and Ramsey (CM), Bale and Joniesta (AML/R)

With an in-form striker (most likely Sam Vokes at the moment), I think we stand half a chance. A central defender to play alongside Ash seems to be the only real issue that I can see. These Euro Quals. are the best chance we've had in a while of a major tournament. I for one believe we can do it!

We actually need two Centre Backs because Ashley Williams isn't good enough either.

He's passable, but he's too prone to mistakes & we need somebody reliable.

Somebody to play alongside him would be fine, but ideally, we get two players there.

Weird that Paul Dummett wasn't in the squad, can only assume he doesn't want to play for us. Shame as he's getting consistent game time at Newcastle and he has been playing centre back a few times.

Emyr Huws getting ridiculous reviews by BCFC fans and Lee Clark raving about him "unreal" etc!

One-man team.

We actually need two Centre Backs because Ashley Williams isn't good enough either.

He's passable, but he's too prone to mistakes & we need somebody reliable.

Somebody to play alongside him would be fine, but ideally, we get two players there.

As much as I think he's a knob, he's still the best we have and no ones gunna come through to change that any time soon tbh.

Shouldn't be captain though, he's not even welsh. Should be Ramsey.

Weird that Paul Dummett wasn't in the squad, can only assume he doesn't want to play for us. Shame as he's getting consistent game time at Newcastle and he has been playing centre back a few times.

Emyr Huws getting ridiculous reviews by BCFC fans and Lee Clark raving about him "unreal" etc!

Turned it down apparently to keep his options open

As much as I think he's a knob, he's still the best we have and no ones gunna come through to change that any time soon tbh.

Shouldn't be captain though, he's not even welsh. Should be Ramsey.

Oh agree with all of that.

Sam Vokes ruptures ACL

FFS. Our in form striker who was just about to play in the Prem...

Thought I'd up this - noticed in the coverage of the FA Cup yesterday that James Chester has declared himself to play for Wales.

Great news in an area we've been severely weak on for a while now.

If Coleman gets it right and Ramsey and Bale remain fit you could have a very good qualifying campaign.

Wow. Ramsey and Bale.

Being Welsh and not English probably the best thing that could have possibly happened to either of their careers.

Being Welsh and not English probably the best thing that could have possibly happened to either of their careers.

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Not too happy with Coleman "resting" the likes of Ramsey, Williams and Davies.

Even if he's just gunna play them for 30 mins it is important to have them turning up and being a part of the squad.

A week's training and the game isn't exactly hard either compared to what a load of players will be doing this summer. It's annoying. Good to see James Chester in though and Emyr Huws involved again.

I'm going to Amsterdam for it, can't wait

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can you imagine the pressure that would be on their shoulders going into this World Cup if they were English...

Oh pressure, pressure, pressure

All these other top footballers from other countries just pull on a pair of slippers before going out to play top level games that mean a lot

The cynic and Welshman who is used to crap Wales teams would also note that being Welsh means the players get summers off as well, leaving them fresh for pre-season training which is always an advantage.

Seriously though, there's a lot of positivity around Welsh football at the moment, and it's bloody great. The expanded Euro 2016 is coming just at the right time, and I think that makes chopra right: we've got to make use of these friendlies. Even if they're not going to play, getting the guys together for the week is vital. We very rarely get a fully fit Welsh squad, and this is one of the few occasions where the majority of the top guys are fit.

Bale has pulled out now with a knee injury. Bit of a shame.

Ramsey's absence due to having thigh surgery.

The Daily Mail made that up, Ramsey is not having surgery.

Aye, weird.

Everyone wants a story about the Euro 2016 champs atm

Just booked up to go to Belgium in November...so excited for this campaign!

Despite the scoreline, thought we played well today. Nice to see some new players come in & do well. Some nice chances created & when you add in the players that were missing, it's hopefully going to be a better qualifying campaign this time around.

Agree Gregg, it was like watching Brazil!

We are gunna qualify im telling you!

Saw joe Allen in the red light district haha. He said jermaine Easter was inside loving life.

As somebody about to get married, Joe probably terrified of going in for fear of his missus finding out!

Yeah I don't think he went in. Quality. Bring on France!

Jonny Williams is quality.

Happy with that. Bar Dummett is that the strongest squad? (I'm probably missing someone simple)

Yeah it looks strong. Vokes is still injured, not sure why Dummett isn't in

Collins out

Dummett in

5 game ST now out. £75 for adults and £18.75 for under 16s. Great value.

18.75 for seniors as well, my dad is over the moon :DNot sure about Collins, seems to drop out so often. Hopefully Chester can develop, need to get a couple of these youngsters who look like they could be something capped next week too

Robson-Kanu out, fellow Reading man Jake Taylor in.

Uefa pitch inspection today, ridiculous.

Still no decision what country the game will be in, with 6 days until it's played. Absolutely pathetic.

I'm feeling confident though, Andorra, Bosnia, Cyprus up first in September/October.

7 points minimum please! (9 if possible ... )

I'm going 2-0 on Tuesday. Think it'll be tough to break them down initially but Bale/Ramsey class will shine through.

It is a shambles that no decision has been made about where the game is going to be played.

Confirmed it will be played in Andorra. Come on Wales!!

i know we should beat them but i'm so nervous about it

3 points would set up the home game with bosnia perfectly, would be such an epic friday night next month in cardiff

Artificial pitches?? I though they went the way of the dodo.

But at least every one in the group has to play on it now.

its time

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/inside-andorras-national-stadium-roads-7738512

If you could not break Ramsey that would be great.