Latest news with #JoeRodon
New York Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Leeds in talks with Werder Bremen over Max Wober sale
Leeds United are in talks with Werder Bremen over the permanent transfer of Max Wober to the Bundesliga outfit. A deal has not yet been concluded but sources at Elland Road, speaking on the condition of anonymity, are optimistic an agreement will be found. 'Leeds has already made it clear to me that they want to sell me,' Wober told Austrian media in early June. Advertisement The 27-year-old has never settled in West Yorkshire, though he was one of the few players to emerge from 2023's relegation with any credit. When Daniel Farke arrived as manager in July 2023, he was told Wober would be a part of his plans, but the Austria international was one of many players with a loan release clause activated by relegation. When Borussia Monchengladbach triggered that clause, Wober agreed to join them for a season on loan. Another transfer failed to materialise for Wober ahead of United's second season in the Championship under Farke. He was reintegrated into the team, along with fellow returner Brenden Aaronson, but he declined media interviews last summer and was booed by some fans in a friendly appearance at Elland Road. Injuries ruined 2024-25 for Wober, though the form of Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk ensured he never had a chance of regular minutes when he was fit. He has two years remaining on his Leeds contract, but a summer move suits all parties. United have already signed two centre-backs since last season ended, with Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw added alongside Rodon and Struijk. ()
Wales Online
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Hundreds of Wales fans bring Brussels street to a standstill in stunning moment
Hundreds of Wales fans bring Brussels street to a standstill in stunning moment Footage captures fans gathered together belting out Dafydd Iwan's Yma o Hyd Wales fans bring Brussels street to standstill Hundreds of Wales fans have been captured gathered in Brussels city centre preparing for the nation's World Cup qualifier against Belgium in true patriotic fashion. A video clip shows supporters dressed in replica shirts and bucket hats, with some bare chested, gather together as Dafydd Iwan's Yma o Hyd plays in the background. Fans can also be seen at balcony level of a bar, O'Reillys, facing towards fellow supporters outside, all belting out words to the popular Welsh football anthem in unison. The footage, outside Brussels Stock Exchange, resembles something akin to a fan zone, as flags and beers are lifted aloft. Sign up to the Don't Take Me Home newsletter here . Spirits are high among members of the Red Wall, as they fully embrace the atmosphere of what, prior to the all important match itself, looks to be an epic away day for fans. Wales are currently top of group J in the group stage of the World Cup qualifiers, with seven points, after two wins and a draw from their first three fixtures. Article continues below On Friday, Wales beat Liechtenstein 3-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium thanks to a 39th minute opener from Joe Rodon, followed by goals from Harry Wilson in the 65th minute, and Kieffer Moore three minutes later. Belgium, meanwhile, slipped up away against North Macedonia, being held to a 1-1 draw. They are currently 4th in the group with just one point, but have played two games less than Wales. The game between Belgium and Wales kicks off at 7.45pm at the King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels. Article continues below The match is being shown live on BBC1 Wales, BBC Three, S4C, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Unbeaten start for Craig Bellamy as Wales boss
Craig Bellamy's impressive start as Wales boss continued in Cardiff, as his side made it nine games without defeat thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win over Liechtenstein. Joe Rodon opened the scoring before Harry Wilson and Kieffer Moore added their names to the scoresheet in what was a routine night for the hosts. Advertisement Elsewhere in the group, North Macedonia grabbed a late leveller to hold top seeds Belgium to a 1-1 draw - a result that played nicely into Welsh hands. With two wins from three in this qualifying campaign, Wales now sit at the top of Group J. They're two points ahead of North Macedonia and six clear of Belgium, although the Belgians have played two fewer games. Since Bellamy took over in July 2024, Wales have picked up five wins and four draws - a run that includes topping their Nations League B group ahead of Turkey, securing promotion back to League A in the process. That unbeaten run is now one of the longest in Europe, second only to Spain's 19-game streak. Advertisement The big test comes next: a trip to Brussels on Monday to face a Belgium side packed with talent and desperate to bounce back. It's a fixture that could prove decisive in the race for a place at the World Cup.
Glasgow Times
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Craig Bellamy promises Wales will not sit back and defend against Belgium
Wales coasted to a 3-0 win over Liechtenstein, the world's 205th ranked team, as second-half goals from Harry Wilson and Kieffer Moore added to Joe Rodon's 39th-minute opener. It was defender Rodon's first international goal and Wales had complete domination of a one-sided contest with 27 goal attempts to zero. Wales face a far tougher challenge in Brussels, although the Dragons did have the bonus of Belgium being held 1-1 in North Macedonia on Friday night, thanks to a late home equaliser. Bellamy said: 'We go there and I'm not camping. I'm not sitting back. It's not in my make-up. I can't do it, I don't want to do it. 'I've got a little bit more in my head, but I'm really excited about it. I'll try and absorb this one but then, yeah, get ready for that.' Victory took Wales to the top of their World Cup qualifying section with seven points from three games – but Bellamy could not resist a dig at the Welsh ball boys on the perimeter of the pitch. 'There is a lot I liked,' said Bellamy. 'I'd really like us to make this six, seven, eight. That's what we need to push. 'These games have never been easy four our nation. We have a proven record of that. 'The mentality of the players was really good. Did we expect to win? Of course we did. Did we expect such a slow game? Joe Rodon celebrated after scoring the first goal of his Wales career (Nigel French/PA) 'I felt our ball boys could have been a bit quicker. We are at home so we have a choice in that as well. 'I'm going to be looking for them in a bit – I'm not. I'm joking!' Victory came at a price as Neco Williams, one of Wales' best performers since Bellamy took charge last summer, was forced off midway through the first half with a nasty-looking injury. The Nottingham Forest full-back, in trying to cross on the byline midway through the first half, landed awkwardly and was in obvious pain before leaving the field on a stretcher. Neco Williams leaft the pitch distraught after being carried off on a stretcher in Wales' 3-0 victory over Liechtenstein (Nigel French/PA) Williams appears a serious doubt for Monday's clash with Belgium. 'Give us a few hours,' said Bellamy. 'We just don't know. We'll find out tomorrow morning (Saturday). 'The medical staff will be racing with it, we'll make sure he's looked after. 'We'll find more and relay that message as soon as we know.'
Times
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Times
Wales warm up for Belgium battle with victory over Liechtenstein
There was no surprise that Wales brushed aside Liechtenstein — the more eye-catching news arrived later, when they learnt that Belgium had dropped points by drawing in North Macedonia. Wales and Belgium are expected to be rivals to top the 2026 World Cup qualifying group J, making their meeting in Brussels on Monday a potentially significant one. Wales have seven points from three matches while Belgium were opening their campaign. Even if Belgium are past their peak, they are ranked eighth in the world and will certainly pose a greater attacking threat for Wales than Liechtenstein, who failed to manage one attempt on goal, even off target, at the Cardiff City Stadium. Wales needed to maintain their patience and move the ball quickly against part-timers who set out to frustrate before tiring and conceding twice after the break. Wales probably should have scored more than three goals, having had 79 per cent of the ball against a country ranked 205th of the 211 Fifa members and without a win in their previous 43 World Cup qualifying games. Joe Rodon broke a frustrating deadlock six minutes before the break with a powerful header from Sorba Thomas's inswinging corner. Harry Wilson arrived late to head home a second on his return from a foot injury before Kieffer Moore tapped a third into an empty net after David Brooks's volley was parried by Benjamin Büchell, the former Oxford United goalkeeper. He made good saves to keep the score respectable, notably tipping over the bar from Ethan Ampadu's overhead kick, which deflected and looped up, and using his legs to save from Brooks. The Wales head coach, Craig Bellamy, will be pleased that his substitutions played a part in the second and third goals but frustrated that he lost Neco Williams, the full back, who was taken off on a stretcher after attempting to wrap his foot around the ball to cross. He will have a scan on a suspected ankle injury on Saturday. Bellamy is looking forward to returning to Belgium, where he spent two years working at Anderlecht, initially as under-21 coach and then as assistant to Vincent Kompany. 'We could have made it a lot more [goals], and we'd like to make it a lot more,' Bellamy said. 'There were good chances created, I liked how we controlled it. When the ball was in play we were really sharp, as soon as they had the ball our reactions were brilliant. They couldn't build anything to get anywhere near our goal. 'Now we go there [Belgium] and I'm not sitting back, it's not in my make-up.' While Bellamy is unbeaten in nine matches since being appointed last summer, his side initially found it tough going to break down a low block and the match followed the same pattern as in the games against Kazakhstan and North Macedonia in the previous qualifiers in March. There were half-chances spurned in the first half before they finished with 26 attempts, 11 of which were on target. Bellamy and his Wales players became increasingly irritated with Liechtenstein's disruptive tactics and Anastasios Papapetrou, the referee, giving free kicks. Liechtenstein played five at the back and dropped four in front, making it a test of Wales' creativity and finishing. Thomas played in an advanced role on the left, not always making the best use of plenty of space and chance to cross. He was perhaps also fortunate not to be punished for a challenge on Simon Luchinger, which was reviewed by VAR, before he swung in a pacey corner for Rodon to score and draw sighs of relief from his team-mates. Wilson, who joined Ampadu in returning from injury, used a short free kick to drive into space and sliced wide from outside the penalty area. Moore, who was among five changes from the 1-1 draw in North Macedonia in March, picked the wrong option as he chested down an excellent cross from Williams when he might have either headed at goal or laid across to Wilson in space. Moore and Liam Cullen got into each other's way on a cross before Wilson skied the loose ball. After the interval, Moore was a shade slow to react to a fantastic low cross by Brennan Johnson and then headed wide with a chance that should have been routine for a target man like him. The substitutes Lewis Koumas and Jay Dasilva combined for Wilson to double the lead. Brooks, who also came off the bench, volleyed Cullen's cross before Moore converted the rebound. Brooks sprinted clear and poked into the side netting and Moore could not reach a late chipped cross. Wales (4-2-3-1): K Darlow — C Roberts, J Rodon, B Davies, N Williams 6 (J Dasilva 24) — E Ampadu (J Sheehan 64), S Thomas (L Koumas 64) — B Johnson, J Cullen, H Wilson (J James, 74) — K Moore. Booked Sheehan. Liechtenstein (5-3-2): B Buchel — L Meier (K Kindle, 46), L Traber, S Wieser, J Hofer, M Goppel — S Luchinger (A Netzer, 73), N Hasler, A Sele – F Saglam (V Pizzi, 46), Luque Notaro (A Malin, 70). Booked Kindle, Pizzi.
