Wales have got to regroup Group Nine

EURO 2004 QUALIFYING/Group Nine: Three days after the 4-0 defeat by Italy in Milan, Mark Hughes finally got the disappointment out of his system yesterday.

Now the question is: have Hughes's players? Standing in the foyer of the team hotel on the outskirts of Cardiff, Hughes declared: "We still feel we've got a chance to win the group."

With that sentence the gloom was expelled. Hughes expects, and Wales must live up to that expectation in front of 70,000 at the Millennium Stadium against Finland tonight. "We just need to re-assert ourselves," Hughes added, "and understand we're still a good side."

That side had been dented severely by Italy and this is a test of Hughes's management. A Wales victory, coupled with an Italy draw in Belgrade against Serbia-Montenegro, would put the Welsh back on top of the group. That is the best-case scenario, the one that would leave Wales needing to beat the Serbs in Cardiff next month to clinch the group and make history. More likely, however, is that Italy will win in Belgrade and that would mean Wales would need only a point this evening to ensure a play-off place.

The difficulty Wales face is a disintegrating squad. Mark Delaney, Robbie Savage and Craig Bellamy all collected suspensions in Milan. Mark Pembridge picked up a foot injury, while the centre of defence is of no less concern than it was in San Siro. Robert Page should be fit but who will partner the Sheffield United player is uncertain. Andy Melville, Kit Symons and Danny Gabbidon are all carrying injuries and Adrian Williams of Reading is again favourite to start.

One plus point for Wales, though, is that Jari Litmanen, Finland's former Liverpool forward, has an achilles tendon problem and has not travelled to Cardiff. But Mikael Forssell, Sami Hyypia and Antti Niemi offer Premiership experience.

WALES (possible): Jones; Oster, Page, Williams, Speed; Davies, Earnshaw, Pembridge, Koumas, Giggs; Hartson.

FINLAND (possible) Niemi; Reini, Tihinen, Hyypia, Saarinen; Nurmela, Vayrynen, Tainio, Kopteff; Kolkka, Forssell.

Guardian Service