Ryan Giggs was unveiled as the new Cymru manager at a press conference in January 2018, but his first experience of leading the team on the field would take place on the other side of the world as the side made the long journey to the China Cup in March to take on the hosts in the opening game before meeting Uruguay in the final. In this opening episode, we talk to the Cymru fans on the streets of Nanning ahead of the first match of this new era, while taking a look at the preparations and build-up to the mini-tournament as Giggs explains the thought process behind his squad selection and the short and long-term aims from this first experience of managing his country. “I'm not bothered about age,” explains Giggs when asked about the new faces in his squad. “If you're good enough, you will get a chance. It's healthy competition and I want to see that everyday in training. I want these younger players to push the more experienced players. I want to create a competitive squad.” The two games offered a glimpse into the future with Harry Wilson scoring his first international goal to mark his 21st birthday, but it was Gareth Bale who continued to make headlines as he eclipsed the goalscoring record of Ian Rush with an impressive hat-trick. “It's great to break the record on a personal note,” said Bale. “But the most important thing was the performance.” Heading to California a couple of months later to take on Mexico in a friendly following an open training session in Wrexham, Giggs and his backroom staff discussed the process behind their tactical experiments and taking the opportunity to test different players in different positions, while offering the young players the chance to impress on their elevation to the senior squad. With previously unseen footage, this opening episode provides a valuable insight into Giggs' introduction to international management, and sets the tone for his tenure to date as he begins to build a side in his own vision ahead of
Having experienced his first taste of international management with fixtures against China, Uruguay and Mexico in the first half of 2018, the next challenge for Ryan Giggs would be to lead his Cymru side into the new UEFA Nations League that began in September. Cymru were drawn against the Republic of Ireland and Denmark in the inaugural series of the competition, with the opening match taking place against Ireland in Cardiff. “It's my first managerial game in my home town,” said Giggs. “Yes, I'm nervous, but I'm excited. It's a new competition. If you look at all the groups they're really competitive. The proper stuff starts now and I'm excited.” Our cameras follow the team behind the scenes throughout the competition, as the new-look and youthful squad find their feet in the unforgiving environment of the senior international game. The highs and lows are documented from within the training ground and the down time as the new players enjoy their elevated status, and the senior figures adapt to the methods of the new manager and his staff. “I believe in giving young players a chance,” Giggs added. “I had that chance. You give players a chance, and it's up to them then to take it. It's quite intense and it's still a learning curve for me. You can do all the coaching badges in the world but you can't beat experience on the job. Things will always come up that you haven't encountered before, and you have to think on your feet.” In addition to the Nations League fixtures, this second episode also includes the friendly fixture against Albania when defender Chris Gunter became the most-capped player in the history of the men's national team. Gunter eclipsed the previous record set by Neville Southall as he captained the team on his 93rd appearance for his country.
The serious business of EURO 2020 qualification marked the return of international football in 2019. With the previous year spent experimenting and with tactics and personnel, the time had come for Ryan Giggs to show that his team were ready for the challenge as Slovakia arrived in Cardiff in March. Prior to the opening qualifier, Giggs returned to Manchester United's training ground at Carrington to put his Cymru players through their paces ahead of a friendly against Trinidad & Tobago at Wrexham. An experimental side claimed a 1-0 victory, but attentions quickly turned to the opening match of Giggs' first qualifying campaign. “It won't be easy,” explained the manager at the start of this latest episode. “It never is. We've qualified once in the last 60 years but we've got a talented group of players. The first year (as manager) I've enjoyed, and I'm really looking forward to the upcoming campaign. My job is to get Wales to the European Championships. I take that very seriously and I'm 100% committed.” Meanwhile, talisman Gareth Bale recognised the changing dynamic of the group when he was asked about the youngsters that were pushing the senior players for a place in the Cymru team. “I'm actually the longest serving player in the team now,” said Bale. “We've got quite a lot of new players, a lot of youngsters, but it's about us oldies now giving them some advice and helping them along the way.” The qualifying campaign would continue in June 2019 with two difficult away fixtures against Croatia and Hungary. However, the detail of the preparation was highlighted as our cameras followed the team to their warm weather training camp in Portugal at the end of the domestic season. FAW Head of Performance Tony Strudwick takes the time to explain the key targets of the training camp and how it was designed to balance the fitness and bridge the physical gap between a group of players who had all played varying amounts of football at different levels at their r
Ryan Giggs probably expected an easier question at the start of this latest episode as he was quizzed on Cymru's chances of EURO 2020 qualification by a group of school children on a visit to the Urdd Centre in Llangrannog. An impromptu training session with some of the children in attendance then showed an often unseen side of the manager ahead of the crucial home fixture against Azerbaijan. “Obviously with two defeats we're up against it,” said Giggs. “But it's still early in the group and there's plenty of points to play for. If we've got aspirations to qualify we need to win all our home games, and we've got tough games ahead. Every time you play for your country you're under pressure, but we need to just welcome that pressure.” Giggs also discusses the rise of young central defenders Joe Rodon, Tom Lockyer and Chris Mepham, and explains the importance of developing a central defensive partnership that injures have so far prevented in the qualifying campaign. Meanwhile, there are cameo appearances from Jess Fishlock and Rachel Rowe as the duo switch over from the women's senior team for the new kit launch, while Connor Roberts, Ethan Ampadu, Daniel James and Harry Wilson justify choosing careers in football over singing during the photo shoot. Osian Roberts departure to Morocco is covered in this latest episode as Giggs discusses the contribution made by the former Technical Director to Welsh football, while the elevation of Rob Page from the U21 squad is confirmed ahead of the September qualifier against Azerbaijan and friendly against Belarus at the Cardiff City Stadium. “We've got a great record here,” said Giggs. “The players love playing here and we've always had fantastic support. It makes a difference.” Heading into the final stages of the qualifying campaign with a tough trip to Slovakia and the hosting of group favourites Croatia, the emergence of Kieffer Moore becomes a key factor, while Aaron Ramsey remains an injury concern. “I've got a
The fifth and final episode moves behind the scenes as the EURO 2020 qualifying campaign culminates with two must-win games away to Azerbaijan and the visit of Hungary to the Cardiff City Stadium. With qualification now in Cymru's own hands, the tension and excitement completes a remarkable turnaround from just a few months before when everything seemed lost. “They're huge games and we need to win the two games,” explained Giggs. “We're in good form and we've got the momentum.” There was a welcome return to the squad for Aaron Ramsey from injury, with the Juventus midfielder yet to kick a ball in the campaign. “The team is in good shape at the moment,” Giggs added. “I'm confident.” 'The Art of the Wales Shirt' exhibition at St. Fagans National Museum of History opens the episode, with Ben Davies picking out his favourites from the historic collection. The squad then head to Baku to prepare for the crucial match against Azerbaijan. The confident mood in the camp is reflected in the candid footage as the team go through their training drills on the eve of the match, with the competitive nature showing the strong bond that clearly exists within the group. “The result was the priority,” said Giggs with business taken care of in Azerbaijan. “But I was also pleased with the performance. We've done all that we can do.” With results elsewhere going in Cymru's favour, attentions quickly switched to the decisive match against Hungary in Cardiff. A win would guarantee the side a place at the EURO 2020 finals. “Since our last loss to Hungary we haven't lost and we've been on that upward trajectory,” explained Gareth Bale on the eve of the match. “The confidence is there and the football is really good, and we just have to keep riding that wave. We know how big a game it is and we will to be ready to give a big performance. We want the Welsh fans to be the same as always supporting us, to sing and be the twelfth man, and do what they always do. We always appreciate t