Wales team picks itself for Euro 2016, says Danny Gabbidon
Tuesday 7 June 2016 14:58, UK
Danny Gabbidon says the Wales starting XI for Euro 2016 picks itself, as long as the whole squad remains injury free.
Since Chris Coleman's side completed their qualifying fixtures last autumn, they have played four friendly matches, three of which have ended in defeat, with one draw.
Their most recent defeat was a 3-0 hammering by Sweden on Sunday, with the Stockholm result inflicting on Coleman his heaviest loss since September 2013.
Now Wales are set to play their first Group B match at Euro 2016 - against Slovakia in Bordeaux on Saturday - and there has been much debate about what the starting line-up will look like.
And speaking on Euro 2016 Verdict, Gabbidon, a former Wales international with 49 caps, picked the team he feels the Wales manager will select in France.
"The team mainly picks itself," he told Sky Sports News HQ. "This team is what Chris Coleman [mostly] went with in qualifying, and if everyone's fit, he'll try and get that team out onto the pitch."
Forward Hal Robson-Kanu, a regular fixture in Wales' European qualifying campaign, has an ankle injury which raises questions over his fitness.
The 27-year-old has claimed he will be fit for the opener, but Gabbidon believes Crystal Palace midfielder Jonny Williams would provide adequate cover, as a lack of game-time might be an issue for Robson-Kanu.
"Robson-Kanu for me hasn't played too much this season," he said. "He's struggling with a little knock at the minute so he might not be ready.
"Jonny Williams is another option there. He played at the weekend against Sweden, and did very well in the first half, so that's someone who could go into the first team."
Gabbidon also believes there is plenty of depth in the centre-back positions to help complete Coleman's conventional five-man defence.
"James Chester has been fantastic in qualifying so it's between him and James Collins, who plays on the right-hand side of the centre-backs," he said.
"But both players have had fantastic seasons, so I don't really mind too much who plays there.
"But that will be the team, if Chris Coleman can get everyone fit, for the first game against Slovakia."
