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Wednesday, 12 February, 2003, 08:31 GMT
Wales eye record run
The Wales team that beat Italy in Cardiff last September
Wales are on an eight-match unbeaten run
Wales v Bosnia-Herzegovina | International friendly | Wednesday, 12 February | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | Kick-off 1945 GMT

Live on BBC 2 Wales, 2W, Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and Sport Interactive

Wales manager Mark Hughes has urged his side not to waste a golden opportunity to set the best unbeaten run in the nation's 127-year history.

A win or a draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina will establish a new record of nine games without defeat.

And although Hughes is quick to stress his side "haven't qualified for anything yet", he acknowledges this would be a significant landmark.

Confidence levels have risen with every game we have played

Wales manager Mark Hughes
The existing record was first set under Jimmy Murphy when the likes of John Charles and Ivor Allchurch guided Wales to the quarter-final of the 1958 World Cup.

Mike England then equalled the record between June 1980 and May 1981, but lost 2-0 to Czechoslovakia in a World Cup qualifier in the crucial ninth game.

Said Hughes: "I have the greatest respect for that team of the 1980s, but I'd like to have their record.

"There is an incentive, it will be good for this team if we can set a new unbeaten record for Wales, it's important.

"Any player needs to make their mark and so does any team - and we can do this, put a marker down in Welsh football history.

"You don't pass up those opportunities when they arise.

"We are a different animal to the side we were 12 months ago, and that comes from playing well.

"We have acquitted ourselves very well against top-class competition, and confidence levels have risen with every game we have played."

Wales captain Gary Speed
Gary Speed will win his 72nd cap for Wales
After the unimaginable high of beating Italy in their last outing at the Millennium Stadium, Wales should have nothing to fear from Bosnia.

They are ranked 36 places below Wales in the Fifa rankings and have gone six games without a win.

But Hughes will not have the benefit of fielding his strongest side.

A calf injury will almost certainly rule-out Ryan Giggs, while defenders Mark Delaney and Danny Gabbidon are definitely out with injury.

And there are worries over the form and match fitness of goalkeeper Paul Jones and defender Andy Melville who are no longer regulars in their club sides.

On a positive note, Robert Page has established himself as a rock in the Sheffield United defence and Jason Koumas is beginning to show his true talent for West Brom.

Hughes will also probably give Cardiff City's prolific scorer Robert Earnshaw another chance to showcase his predatory instincts at the highest level.

The match will create a piece individual history for Gary Speed.

Providing he plays, the captain will equal his manager's 72-cap total to become the fifth most-capped Welshman.

Bosnian coach Blaz Sliskovic is expected to name a handful of new caps.

They have suffered bad Euro 2004 reverses against Romania and Norway, but held a strong German side to a 1-1 draw in October.

  • Tickets will be sold for the match up until kick-off and can be purchased from the Millenium Stadium or from Ticketline.


    Wales (probable): P Jones, R Weston, R Page, A Melville, G Speed, R Savage, M Pembridge, S Davies, J Koumas, C Bellamy, J Hartson.
    Subs: D Ward (Nottingham Forest), K Symons (Crystal Palace), D Barnard (Grimsby), M Jones (Leicester), C Robinson (Portsmouth), G Taylor (Burnley), R Earnshaw (Cardiff).

  •  WATCH/LISTEN
     ON THIS STORY
    Wales manager Mark Hughes
    "We're looking quite strong at the moment"
    Simon Davies
    "We've had such a great run over the last year and a half"
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    See also:

    12 Feb 03 | Wales
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