Euro 2016: Liverpool rookie Danny Ward makes Wales debut in goal with Wayne Hennessey ruled out of Slovakia clash
Chris Coleman forced to make late change ahead of Group B opening match in Bordeaux
LIVERPOOL goalkeeper Danny Ward has been handed a shock debut in goal for Wales’ Euro 2016 opener against Slovakia.
Ward, 22, was a late replacement in Chris Coleman’s side after Crystal Palace stopper Wayne Hennessey was ruled out with a back spasm.
The keeper has made just two first team appearances for Liverpool at the end of last season having spent most of the campaign on loan at Aberdeen.
Wales boss Coleman was otherwise able to name a strong side with the only real dilemma over whether to play Hennessey's Palace team-mate Joe Ledley.
The midfielder has just proven his fitness having suffered a broken leg seven weeks ago, but Coleman opted to on use him as substitute.
Coleman goes with a five-man midfield, with Gareth Bale being employed as the lone striker up top as Wales look to ensure they do not concede too early.
Wales: Danny Ward; Chris Gunter, James Chester, Ashley Williams, Ben Davies, Neil Taylor; Dave Edwards, Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey, Jonathan Williams; Gareth Bale.
Slovakia: Matus Kozacik; Peter Pekarik, Martin Skrtel (capt), Jan Durica, Dusan Svento; Juraj Kucka, Patrik Hrosovsky; Robert Mak, Marek Hamsik, Vladimir Weiss; Michal Duris
Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen (NOR)
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Stat Attack: Wales v Slovakia
The two previous encounters between Wales and Slovakia produced 13 goals. Both were played in the EURO 2008 qualifiers (5-1 to Slovakia in Cardiff, 5-2 to Wales in Trnava).
Wales are making their European Championships debut. It’s only their second major tournament after the 1958 World Cup when they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by the eventual winners, Brazil.
Slovakia are taking part in the European Championships for the first time in their history as an independent state.
This is Slovakia’s second major tournament after the 2010 World Cup where they were knocked out in the Last 16 by the Netherlands.
Slovakia’s 17 goals in the qualifying campaign were scored either from open play (14) or indirect free-kick (3).
Vladimir Weiss made six assists in the qualifying campaign, the joint-highest with Poland’s Arkadiusz Milik and Israel’s Eran Zahavi.
Only four players scored for Wales in the qualifying campaign, fewer than any of the teams that have made it to EURO 2016.
Gareth Bale’s first ever goal for Wales was against Slovakia in October 2006. He scored from a direct free-kick.
Bale scored or assisted nine of Wales’ 11 goals (82%), the highest ratio in the EURO qualifying campaign among teams to have made it the 2016 finals.
Bale had 52 shots in the qualifying campaign, more than any other player from any team. That equated to 39% of Wales’ total attempts (52 out of 134).
This is Chris Coleman’s first major tournament as an international manager. He won 32 caps with Wales as a player.
This is Jan Kozak’s first major tournament as manager. He played all four games with Czechoslovakia at EURO 1980, finishing third.
