Wales U21s suffer Euro Championship disappointment

Wales U21s manager Matty Jones speaks to the mediaImage source, FAW
Image caption,

Matty Jones is a former Leeds United player

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Wales have missed out on qualifying for the European U21 Championship.

Czech Republic Under-21s beat their Lithuanian counterparts 3-0 on Tuesday to knock Matty Jones' side out of the second place that would have put them into the playoffs.

Wales' chances were hindered by an administrative error that saw them lose, among others, senior international squad members Rubin Colwill and Owen Beck just hours before they were beaten by Czech Republic last Friday in Newport.

Wales lost that game 2-1, leaving Jones and Football Association of Wales (FAW) chief executive Noel Mooney rueing the off-field issue.

FAW chief executive Noel Mooney was "gutted" at the paperwork blunder.

It left Wales' youngsters hoping in vain the Czechs would fail to beat Lithuania and give them the chance to reach a major finals at this age grade for the first time.

At the same time, Wales U21s were losing 4-2 in a friendly against their Slovakian hosts and counterparts.