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Attendance: 50,232
Wales national football team
International Friendlies
Oct 11, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Spain national football team

1-4

Vokes (89')
FT(HT: 0-3)
Alcacer (8', 29'), Ramos (19'), Bartra (74')

‘We will be better’ – Ryan Giggs vows improvement after Wales’ 4-1 loss to Spain

Return to Principality Stadium after a seven-and-a-half-year wait brought heaviest defeat since 2012.

Ryan Giggs promised Wales would improve after their Spanish lesson, even though Gareth Bale is set to be absent again for the Nations League trip to the Republic of Ireland.

Wales were no match for a rampant Spain side as the visitors ran out 4-1 winners in a Principality Stadium friendly on Thursday night.

Real Madrid star Bale was missing with what Wales manager Giggs described as “muscle fatigue”, and the chances of the 29-year-old forward playing in Dublin appear slim.

“Gareth is struggling for Tuesday,” Giggs said after Wales’ heaviest defeat for six years.

“We will make a decision in the next couple of days.

“We will make it sooner, rather than later.”

Wales v Spain – International Friendly – Principality Stadium
Gareth Bale was a spectator as Wales lost 4-1 at home to Spain and now seems set to miss the Nations League game against the Republic of Ireland through injury (Nick Potts/PA)

Asked if it looked at the moment that Wales would be without their headline performer, Giggs said: “Yes, it does.”

Wales also have injury concerns over Chelsea midfielder Ethan Ampadu (knee) and Brentford defender Chris Mepham (glute) for Dublin.

There was plenty of pain on the pitch, too, as Wales ended a seven-and-a-half-year wait to play at the 74,500-capacity home of Welsh rugby.

A crowd of 50,232 saw Spain storm into a three-goal lead through Paco Alcacer and Sergio Ramos inside 29 minutes before substitute Marc Bartra added a fourth in the second-half.

Sam Vokes headed a consolation a minute from time to provide Wales with some cheer before their journey across the Irish Sea.

“It is disappointing,” Giggs added. “Against average teams, you have to do the basics right.

“Against a very good team, if you don’t do the basics, you get punished, and that’s what happened.

“We brush ourselves down, take it on the chin. The last time we were in Cardiff we won 4-1 and were magnificent.

“The good thing about football is you have always got the next game, and that can’t come quickly enough.

“We will be better on Tuesday.”

Spain had a terrible World Cup when coach Julien Lopetegui was sacked on the eve of the tournament after it was revealed that he was joining Real Madrid at the end of it.

The former European and world champions bowed out at the last-16 stage, but Luis Enrique has revitalised them in his short time in charge.

Spain have scored 12 times in his three games and approach their Nations League return with England in Seville on Monday full of confidence.

“It was an intense game and I loved watching my team,” Enrique said.

“The team were very involved from the first minute and had an almost perfect attitude.”

“Yes, there are (selection) clues (for the England game) in terms of those who have not played tonight, but you won’t be able to guess more than four or five (of the team).

“I love the competition. It means we can bring in four or five players and they still have a very high level.”

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Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

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Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

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Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

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Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

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Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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