Wales name squad for second successive Euro Under-17 finals
Wales finished as runners-up to Sweden in the elite round
- Published
Wales Under 17s head coach Craig Knight says qualifying for a second successive Uefa European Under-17 Championship finals was “beyond our wildest dreams.”
Knight has named a squad of 20 for the finals in Cyprus, which begin next month.
Wales’ appearance in last year’s tournament was their first at Uefa men's intermediate tournament since 1981.
“Last year to qualify was really special and to do it in two consecutive years is really beyond our wildest dreams to be honest,” Knight told BBC Sport Wales.
“All credit to both age groups who’ve got themselves into these finals tournaments and given themselves an opportunity to really experience what a finals tournament feels, what it looks like and hopefully stand them in good stead moving forward."
Arsenal defender Brayden Clarke was part of the squad that played in Hungary last summer.
The squad also features West Bromwich Albion forward Oliver Bostock, who captained the side throughout the qualifying and elite round, and Norwich City's Elliot Myles was who was top scorer in the qualifying campaign.
Wales face Denmark in their opening game of Group B on Monday, 20 May at Dasaki Achnas Stadium.
They will then face Austria at Larnaca’s Ammochostos Epistrofi Stadium on Thursday, 23 May before concluding the group stage against Croatia at Dasaki Achnas Stadium on Sunday, 26 May.
“When you get to the final 16 of any tournament you’re playing against the best,” Knight added.
“We actually look at who is not at the tournament – Germany the holders didn’t make it, Netherlands haven’t made it, Belgium haven’t made it.
“First and foremost we’ve got to give credit to our boys for getting there and then in terms of what we face we know it’s going to be tough.
“Denmark topped their qualifying group, Austria topped their group that included Spain, and Croatia qualified from the group Germany were eliminated from.
“We know they’re going to be tough tests but we trust our process and make sure we do things right on and off the pitch and enjoy it.”
Wales Under-17: Luis Lines (Coventry City), Max Hudson (Manchester City), Ronan Kpakio (Cardiff City), Jac Thomas (Cardiff City), Rhys Morrish (West Bromwich Albion), Brayden Clarke (Arsenal), Iestyn Jones (Swansea City), Charlie Walker-Smith (Crystal Palace), Jake Davies (Cardiff City), Charlie Stevens (AFC Bournemouth), Makenzie Bradbury (Wolves), Cruz Allen (Derby County), Harlan Perry (Swansea City), Josh Salmon (Afc Bournemouth), Luis Gardner (Everton), Oliver Bostock (West Bromwich Albion), Adam Brett (Brighton & Hove Albion), Elliot Myles (Norwich City), Louis Griffiths (Oxford United), Henry Kasvosve (Bristol City).