Euro 2012 qualifying preview: Wales v England

It will be the 100th meeting between Wales and England when the two nations meet at the Millenium Stadium for Euro 2012 qualifying.

England are second on the Group G table – three points behind Montenegro with a game in hand – having registered seven points from three games.Wales are in a rather precarious situation; slumped at the foot of the group with three losses, having conceded six goals so far in the campaign.The build-up to the game has largely centred on the restoration of John Terry as England captain and the abrupt withdrawal of Wales’ man-of-the-moment Gareth Bale.Terry, who was deposed following a protracted marital scandal that gained traction in the British media, has stated that England boss Fabio Capello never should have revoked his armband.But Terry appears to have the backing of some of his England teammates; James Milner backing the Chelsea defender as a leader.”As an England player he’s been absolutely fantastic. I think that’s the most important thing, as a team, whoever’s captain, whoever’s got the armband, that we’re all as one, and we go out there to win matches as one unit,” Milner said.Meanwhile, Terry’s Chelsea cohort Frank Lampard’s seemingly fixed place in the England first XI could be in jeopardy thanks to the rise of mercurial young playmaker, Jack Wilshere.The Arsenal midfielder has revelled alongside his cultured teammates, and is being earmarked as England’s ‘next big thing’.Up front, Capello is likely to retain the pairing of Wayne Rooney and Andy Carroll.The loss of Bale to a hamstring injury has served a huge blow to Wales’ hopes of downing their great rivals.The game, however, will mark the return of Aaron Ramsey who has not appeared in international colours since Wales’ 3-0 victory over Scotland in November 2009The Arsenal midfielder, who has been named as captain for the match, was acrimoniously hacked down by Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross last year and has since spent brief spells at Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City.Wales boss Gary Speed has conceded his side are unlikely to reach the Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine, but is adamant a win over England would be a missive boost for long-suffering Welsh fans.”The England game is an opportunity to put down a marker to the fans and get them excited about the Wales team again,” Speed said.