WALE OF A TIME
Wales promise review after farcical admin blunder sees SIX players ruled out of Euro U21 qualifier
Jones admitted to feeling 'really fragile' due to the mistake
MATTY JONES promised a review into the admin blunder that saw SIX Wales Under-21 players ruled out of their Euro qualifier with the Czech Republic.
A paperwork error meant only those registered to face Iceland last month could take to the field.
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That meant the likes of Owen Beck and Rubin Colwill were made unavailable just hours before Friday’s costly 2-1 defeat.
Wales now need the Czechs to fail to beat Lithuania on Tuesday to secure a play-off place for next summer’s finals.
Under-21s boss Jones said: “There will be a review to get to the bottom of it and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“It has caused disruption and unnecessary noise.
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“I think I managed it the best I could but ultimately it’s at the back of your mind and at the back of players’ minds as well.
“We know we have the strength in the squad to cater for players when they’ve been missed, when they’ve been good enough to go up to the first team.
“Of course everyone wants a Rubin Colwill and Owen Beck in the team but we’ve shown before we can manage without them.
“It wasn’t a major concern, but how it came about was disappointing.
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“We will stick together and take the responsibility as a whole.
“It’s a ‘we’ problem rather than about pointing fingers.”
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Wales' Euros qualiying group
Here is the state of play in Group I...
1. Germany U-21 - 18pts
2. Belgium U-21 - 13pts
3. Bosnia and Herzegovina U-21 - 11pts
4. Wales U-21 - 9pts
5. Moldova U-21 - 7pts
Jones also revealed that he was feeling emotional and "really fragile" at the possibility of their Euros campaign ending.
The last time the Under-21s last reached the finals was with the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen in 2008.
A victory against the Czechs would give them a chance of qualifying.
Jones did admit his emotions were “really fragile” at the prospect of the end of a campaign that had impressed and threatened to create history.
He said: “My emotions are really fragile because it’s been a lot of hard work for two years, and to see it come to an end like that – even though we’re hanging onto a string – is tough.
“We know these teams qualify for major tournaments and do it consistently, we know what it looks like, but we need to know how it feels.
“They know how to find a way to qualify and we need to get there.”
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