Western Mail

Why do Wales have no matches at home?

- Gwilym Wyn Roberts Penylan, Cardiff

I was very disappoint­ed to read how unfairly the venues for the Euros have been arranged by the relevant authoritie­s this year.

What I find very annoying is that England have the significan­t advantage of playing all three matches at home in Wembley. Scotland who are in the same group as England also have a fabulous advantage of playing two of their matches at home in Glasgow.

Why oh why are Wales, the only other British nation who have successful­ly qualified have not been allowed a single match at home in such an important European competitio­n? We are obliged to play two matches in Baku and the match against Italy has been arranged as a home game for Italy in Rome.

There is sufficient evidence to indicate that clubs and countries who play at home with vocal support from their supporters are inspired and motivated by the support they receive.

A further disadvanta­ge is that our Welsh supporters have been discourage­d from travelling to support their nation.

I expect that very few ardent supporters will travel abroad and our players will therefore be deprived of the precious and truly valuable motivation and inspiratio­n in hearing the singing of our national anthem at critical moments in the matches when players need to be lifted especially when playing on foreign lands.

Despite this obvious unfairness and handicap for Wales I sincerely believe that our talented squad will perform to the best of their abilities and hopefully qualify for the next rounds in the competitio­n.

Pob hwyl a llwyddiant fechgyn.

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