Neil Eardley focused on Romania crunch

May 16 2008 Media Wales

Wales Under-21s will turn their focus to arguably the most important game of their lives after an encouraging display against the quality of England’s best youngsters.

The determined Welsh side lost 2-0 at Wrexham yesterday in a friendly watched by national boss John Toshack as well as his England counterpart Fabio Capello.

That defeat ended a run of five successive Wales Under-21 victories, performances that put them on the brink of their first qualification for a UEFA Championship finals.

The magnitude of the Welsh task against England was underlined by the fact their illustrious opponents had amassed 333 top-flight starts between them.

While Wales had only four players who have performed at that level – Jack Collison, Lewin Nyatanga, David Cotterill and Chris Gunter – with barely 20 Premier League games between them.

Now Wales must concentrate on their crunch match with Romania on August 20, also at Wrexham, where victory will ensure a play-off berth.

Full-back Neil Eardley, whose trip on Theo Walcott cost Wales a crucial penalty, said: “We have to take the experience of this game with England into the Romania match. Win that and we are in the play-offs, something Wales have never done before.

“Everything we are doing is geared to that, we are able to use young players like me who have already played at senior level, it is crucial that we beat the Romanians.”

On the England result, Oldham skipper Eardley said: “It was tough and we knew England would be a very decent side. But I feel they found it hard. The first goal was a penalty after my tackle and the second took a wicked deflection.

“We had loads of chances, but things don’t always go your way in games.

“They were surprised at the way we attacked them. They would have been aware of our result in beating France recently at this level in the UEFA qualifiers.

“They would have expected us to be good, but we still took them by surprise with the high tempo of our game.”

He added: “We had several chances, we should have put them away. But we still feel we should get credit for a performance like that against young, but experienced Premier League players.

“But we have got to learn that you must take chances at this level otherwise teams with the skill and ability that England have will not waste time in punishing you.

“But the Under-21s will join up with the Wales senior squad in a fortnight for two end-of-season friendlies. That shows the growing quality of Welsh football that so many of these Under-21s are now in the senior squad.

“Going away with the first team to Iceland and Holland will see them learn a lot and that can be brought back to the Under-21 level for the vital last two qualifiers against Romania.

“I’ve got myself into the senior squad already, but I am still young with plenty to learn. We will have another seven new faces from this group in that senior squad for the two friendlies and they will all benefit from the experience like I have.

“When you come in fresh it adds something, and it will be great for them and Wales in the future.

“Personally I have had a good end to the season with my club, and being involved with the Under-21s and the seniors at the end of the campaign is a real boost for me.”

Eardley, 19, added: “We are all geared to the senior and Under-21 qualifiers coming up at the beginning of next season.

“The seniors have a friendly with Georgia the same day as the Under-21s have their vital qualifier with Romania in Wrexham, and I do not mind which squad I am picked for.

“Whenever I am involved for my country it is a great honour, with either team, and I will do my best regardless.”