Wales fans gather round their TVs to watch Gareth Bales’ men take on Switzerland in Baku
Wales fans hope for second half comeback after Gareth Bales’ men go 1-0 down to Swiss in opening Euros match in Baku after Gary Lineker wishes team ‘pob lwc’ (that’s ‘good luck’ in Welsh)
- Fans rushed to pubs to see Gareth Bales’ men take on the continental opposition in Baku, Azerbaijan, at 2pm
- A group of five wore dragon-coated shirts with pride as they sat at Wales’ fan zone at Vale Sport Arena, Cardiff
- But some 300 hardcore Welshmen ignored the government’s travel advice and made the 3,000-mile journey
- Two fans smiled as they clutched beer in the 86F at the Baku Olympic Stadium after making the mammoth trip
- Find out the latest Euro 2020 news including fixtures, live action and results here.
Wales fans have gathered around their TVs to watch the national side take on Switzerland in their first Euro 2020 match today.
Supporters rushed to the pubs to see Gareth Bales’ men take on the continental opposition in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 2pm.
A group of five wore their dragon-coated shirts with pride as they sat at the Wales’ fan zone at Vale Sport Arena in Cardiff.
But some 300 hardcore Welshmen ignored the government’s travel advice and made the 3,000-mile trek across the world for the game.
Two fans smiled as they clutched their beers in the 86F (30C) at the Baku Olympic Stadium after making the mammoth journey.
Both Wales and Switzerland footballers took the knee to show their unity against racism briefly before kick off after the referee blew his whistle.
Former England striker and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker was among those who wished the side good luck this afternoon, tweeting: ‘Pob lwc @Cymru.’
Supporters rushed to the pubs to see Gareth Bales’ men take on the continental opposition in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 2pm
Two fans smiled as they clutched their beers in the sun at the Baku Olympic Stadium after making the mammoth journey
Young Wales fans sing the national anthem at Oval Space in London as they geared up for the country’s start of the tournament
Some 300 hardcore Welshmen ignored the government’s travel advice and made the 3,000-mile trek across the world for the game
In a promo clip ahead of the match, Wales’s official Twitter showed off the ‘rugged’ landscape and asked fans if they were having ‘pre-match goosebumps’. Pictured: Fans in Baku
Both Wales and Azerbaijan footballers took the knee to show their unity against racism briefly before kick off after the referee blew his whistle
Fans at the Wales Fanzone at Vale Sport Arena, Cardiff as they watch the UEFA Euro 2020 Group A match between Wales and Switzerland
Fans who made it to the stadium were heard pumping out renditions of Men of Harlech before switching to the simpler ‘Wales’.
In a promo clip ahead of the match, Wales’s official Twitter showed off the ‘rugged’ landscape and asked fans if they were having ‘pre-match goosbumps’.
A woman’s voice in the video said: ‘Behold this land of rugged beauty. Weathered by the elements. Enduring and iron-willed in spirit.
‘Built on centuries of grit, resilience and determination. It’s soul forged in the smoke and fires of industry. One land, with many voices.
‘A modern nation with an ancient heart. A heart that’s been battered, bruised and broken too many times before. But our spirit? Our spirit will never be broken.
‘We will not go gentle into that good night. We rage, rage against the dying of the light. Because to be Welsh is to feel the blood pound in your veins.
‘Like the pounding of the sea upon these ancient shores. And to be Welsh is to know that victory hard-one is the sweetest victory of all.
‘So when we stumble, we get back up. We dig deeper and we go again. Yes our history made us, but there’s so much history left for us to make.
Restrictions in Baku allowed the ground to be 35,000-strong, but the stadium was nowhere near that capacity today
Fans at the Wales fan zone at Vale Sport Arena in Cardiff as they watch the UEFA Euro 2020 Group A match between Wales and Switzerland
Locals were desperately trying to flog tickets for £25 outside the ground in a bid to up the numbers on Saturday afternoon. Pictured: Wales fans in Cardiff today
Fans of Wales show their support in kits and flags as one munches on some crisps ahead of the huge clash on Saturday afternoon
Fans at the Wales Fanzone at Vale Sport Arena, Cardiff as they watch the UEFA Euro 2020 Group A match between Wales and Switzerland
Fans at the Oval Space, London, are photographed as they watch the UEFA Euro 2020 Group A match between Wales and Switzerland
Wales supporters blast out anthems as they stand in the ground in Baku Olympic Stadium on a boiling Saturday afternoon
Famous fans wished the Welsh national side good luck ahead of their clash. The Duke of Cambridge tweeted: ‘Finally it’s here! #Euro2020.’ Pictured: Fans in Baku
The Welsh wall waive their flags and chant as they prepare for the clash against Switzerland in the sun on Saturday afternoon
Fans singing at the Oval Space, London as they watch the UEFA Euro 2020 Group A match in the beating sun on Saturday afternoon
‘And we all have a part to play. Working together. Standing together. Singing together. Through the highs and lows. The victories and defeats.
‘We win together and lose together and throughout it all we stay together. A shared vision built on craft, Welsh spirit and the unconquerable will to win.
‘Passion. Progress. Pride. A football nation reborn. An identity remade. And a fire that never, ever goes out. Because together we are stronger. Gorau chware, cyd chware.’
Restrictions in Baku allowed the ground to be 35,000-strong, but the stadium was nowhere near that capacity today.
Locals were desperately trying to flog tickets for £25 outside the ground in a bid to up the numbers on Saturday afternoon.
Famous fans wished the Welsh national side good luck ahead of their clash. The Duke of Cambridge tweeted: ‘Finally it’s here! #Euro2020.’
The Prince added: ‘Wishing all the best to the Home Nations competing this summer – looking forward to a fantastic tournament! W.’
Commentator and former player Robbie Savage said: ‘It is a pivotal game for Wales after seeing Turkey’s performance last night. They have to try and get Bale and Ramsey on the ball.’
Fellow former star Nathan Blake said on BBC Radio: ‘I am just really looking forward to this. It’s so hot that it’s going to be difficult for the players, but I am sure they are really relishing this fixture.’
Ex-manager Mark Hughes added: ‘It (Euro 2016) had such an impact on the whole nation. It was wonderful. People describe it as a four-week stag do. I am very jealous they had that experience because I never did as a player.’
Retired boxer Joe Calzaghe posted on Twitter: ‘C’mon Wales!’ And former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher added: ‘C’mon Wales.’
Football fans watch Wales v Switzerland at the Philharmonic pub in the city centre on of Cardiff, the capital of Wales, today
Fans pile in the Bake Stadium as the sun beat down on the players and supporters ahead of the kick off in the group match today
A Switzerland fan wearing face paint looks on prior to the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group A match between Wales and Switzerland
Switzerland fans show their support with flags prior to the Euro 2020 Championship Group A match between Wales and Switzerland at the Baku Olympic Stadium
This summer’s delayed European Championship promises to be a tournament like no other. UEFA have scrapped the traditional format of it in one country for the competition to be across Europe.
From Glasgow to Baku and Seville to Saint Petersburg, some teams are having to travel thousands of miles in such a short space of time over the course of the group stage.
Switzerland (6,218 miles), Poland (5,876 miles) and Belgium (5,690) are the three teams who will cover the most distance.
While host nations like England, Italy, Spain, Holland and Germany will be able to enjoy home comforts for most of the tournament.
Because of the pan-European format, UEFA announced in January that each team has chosen a base from which they will travel to and from their group games.
