Aaron Ramsey is hoping to scale his next Euro 2024 qualifying challenge before climbing the three highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours.
Wales skipper Ramsey will lead the Dragons into battle against Armenia and Turkey and then turn his attention to the National Three Peaks Challenge and ascending Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Yr Wyddfa on Wednesday.
The walking distance is 23 miles and total ascent 10,052 feet with a driving distance of 462 miles.
“I am fully focused on the Welsh games, but we get back and fly up to Scotland and start there first,” said Ramsey, who is embarking on the journey with 10 others to raise funds for the @its.neveryoucharity created in memory of six-year-old Hugh Menai-Davis who died from rhabdomyosarcoma in September 2021.
“The plan will be to do that and work our way down to Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa).
“It’s for a cause that’s really close to my heart as a good friend of mine lost his little one.
“So, I’ll be putting on my walking boots and trying to get my way up those mountains.
”Let’s just focus on these two games first, and get to the top of the table before the Three Peaks.”
Wales host Armenia in Cardiff on Friday before meeting Turkey in Samsun on Monday.
Rob Page’s side are looking to build on a promising start to the campaign in March when they took four points from two games, a 1-1 draw away to World Cup semi-finalists Croatia and a 1-0 home victory over Latvia.
Ramsey said: “We got off to a fantastic start after a difficult World Cup for many reasons.
“It was important for us to hit the ground running, away to Croatia. It has set us up quite nicely now and we’ve got some momentum going.
“But football can change very quickly and we’ve got to treat the Armenia game with respect.
“They’ve been dangerous in certain periods of their games, they scored a very good goal against Turkey for example.
“But it’s all on us. We are at home, fans behind us and we have a game plan.”
Wales are at full-strength with Brennan Johnson and Ben Davies back after missing the March qualifiers and Neco Williams cleared to play after breaking his jaw in April.
The Nottingham Forest full-back has taken a full part in training and manager Page confirmed that there was no need for him to wear a protective mask.
Williams’ Forest team-mate Johnson has been the subject of a reported £30million offer from Brentford and Page insisted it will not be a distraction for the 22-year-old forward.
Page said: “He is a great lad and he has got a great support network around him.
“I know his dad (David) – I used to play against him – and I know the messages his dad will be giving him.
“I was impressed with the way they conducted themselves in January when his head could have been turned.
“He could have had the opportunity to go to one of the so-called bigger clubs, and he didn’t. I thought he made the right decision for his future.
“He’s a level-headed lad, he’s sensible. His focus will be on this game on Friday.”
Newcastle sell youngsters Minteh and Anderson to comply with Premier League financial rules
Newcastle United have confirmed the sales of youngsters Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson to Brighton and Nottingham Forest respectively.
The Magpies needed sales by the end of their accounting year (June 30) in order to comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR).
A breach of the PSR would likely have resulted in a points deduction in the 2024-25 campaign.
Numerous clubs were interested in Minteh, who thrived on loan at Feyenoord last season. A deal to Everton, which would have included Dominic Calvert-Lewin heading to St James' Park, was mooted, but Brighton have sealed the signing of the 19-year-old on a five-year contract.
Minteh, who has cost the Seagulls a reported £33million, scored 10 goals and provided five assists in 27 Eredivisie appearances for Feyenoord last season, while only five players in the Netherlands' top tier attempted more dribbles than his 123.
Anderson, meanwhile, has joined Forest, who along with Everton were hit with a points deduction last season for breaching the PSR.
The 21-year-old came through Newcastle's academy and made 55 appearances for the Magpies in all competitions.
Anderson has penned a five-year deal at the City Ground, with Newcastle recouping a reported £35m for the midfielder, who is yet to score a Premier League goal.
Goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, meanwhile, has moved from Forest to Newcastle in a separate transaction.
Newcastle also reportedly offered star winger Anthony Gordon to Liverpool as they desperately scrambled to bring their losses back within the allowed, £105m limit over a three-year period.
On Monday, reports emerged that Manchester United had struck a deal for a compensation package with Newcastle for their former sporting director Dan Ashworth, who had been on gardening leave since expressing his desire to join the Red Devils earlier this year.
Mexico coach Lozano says decision on his future is out of his hands after Copa America exit
Jaime Lozano is unsure over his future as Mexico coach after his team exited the Copa America with a whimper.
Mexico were the favourites to progress from Group B at the start of the tournament, yet instead the 2026 World Cup co-hosts find themselves as the biggest casualty so far.
Ecuador held out for a 0-0 draw on Sunday that sent them through at the expense of Mexico on goal difference.
And Lozano, who led Mexico to the Gold Cup title last year, conceded a decision on his future is out of his hands.
"Whenever an objective is not meant, there is certain discomfort and doubts, that's only natural, no matter who's here," Lozano said.
"But the players kept believing until the very end, that's not easy. It's not easy to play that strong union and the commitment that they showed ... over the whole tournament.
"That decision about my future is not up to me."
Mexico had 19 shots but only got three on target, accumulating just 0.89 expected goals (xG) against Ecuador, who will face Argentina in the quarter-finals.
Ecuador coach Felix Sanchez said: "We know it is an unmatched opponent, and we know how tough it's going to be, but our players are happy that they've moved to the next round, and we'll see how that unfolds," he added.
"It is another final for us, and we will try to compete against the world's champion and the world's best team.
"I believe that our team is going to be extremely motivated with a very high morale and trying to play a good match.
"I have full confidence in our players. I know they are going to give their best as they've done in the three matches. We know how tough it is, but it is 11 against 11, and we're going to do whatever we can to win it."
Venezuela, meanwhile, stayed perfect by hammering already-eliminated Jamaica 3-0 in Austin.
They will take on Canada in the last eight.
'We have the best team at this tournament', claims Spain coach De la Fuente
Spain are the best side at Euro 2024, so says La Roja head coach Luis de la Fuente.
Tournament debutants Georgia were no match for Spain on Sunday, as De la Fuente's team ran out 4-1 victors in Cologne.
Spain accumulated 3.25 expected goals (xG) and allowed just 0.25 going the other way in another emphatic performance in which their youngsters Lamine Yamal and Nico Willams dazzled.
La Roja will now face hosts Germany in an enthralling quarter-final tie, but De la Fuente says they must hold no fear.
"We have a lot of confidence and a team with talent, quality and commitment.
"Being convinced of your ability is very important. I don't want to offend anyone but we have the best team at this tournament.
"Germany is a fantastic team, they have some of the best players in the world and they are very organised, very disciplined.
"But they will face a team that is very similar to them, very committed, very well organised, difficult to overcome, hungry with lots of ambition.
"I know it's the usual thing to say but in football it's the small details that will decide the match and what happens in the end."
Only Germany (10) have scored more goals at Euro 2024 so far than Spain (nine), while La Roja lead the way for non-penalty xG (8.9) and shots (72) - 35 of those attempts came against Georgia.
They have conceded just one goal at the tournament, with that being the own goal netted by Robin Le Normand against Georgia on Sunday.
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