Romania U21 v Wales U21. Preview

Last updated : 09 September 2008 By Wales Reporter

Brian Flynn insists Wales Under-21s believe they can still qualify for the UEFA Championship finals.

Flynn's team will line up against Romania in Iasi tonight knowing his youngsters are now the underdogs, having got so close to qualifying for the October play-offs for next summer's finals in Sweden.

But the 1-0 home defeat to the same opponents in Wrexham last month now means Wales must win their last qualifier to achieve their goal.

Flynn has a heavily weakened squad with senior boss John Toshack having now claimed back the likes of Wayne Hennessey, Chris Gunter, Ched Evans, Sam Vokes and Gareth Bale for senior duty tomorrow against Russia in a crucial World Cup qualifier.

Flynn said: "We don't feel like we have been abandoned, of course Tosh must have his best players back for the game in Moscow.

"I was allowed the pick of everyone for the first game with Romania and we did not achieve the aim we wanted.

"But now there are other youngsters who have come in and they are good enough to win.

"After the Wrexham game, the lads sat in the changing room saying they knew they should have won and were the better team.

"I have every confidence they can go out and prove that now. We know we have to win or the dream goes, but we are confident we can do that."

Flynn has been given back Arsenal youngster Aaron Ramsey and Middlesbrough defender Rhys Williams from Toshack's seniors.

Toshack said: "I would rather Aaron had a full game for the under-21s rather than sitting on the bench in Moscow. He can make a big difference for the youngsters.

"He was disappointed he was not going to Moscow with the seniors, he had been training all week with us alongside his mates Gareth Bale and Chris Gunter and desperately wanted to win his first cap.

"But I want him to have 90 minutes in a very important under-21 game - they can still qualify if they win - and Aaron will be of a great use to them, rather than sitting and watching us in Moscow.

"I don't like this part of the job. I had to tell him I felt it would be better if he had 90 minutes with the under-21s in Romania rather than go to Moscow and sit on the bench and not be involved."

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