Wales hit for seven by Spain in U19 Euros opener
Wales' Robert Tankiewicz tries to avoid the challenge challenge of Jose Antonio Morante, who scored two of Spain's goals.
- Published
Craig Bellamy saw Wales fall to a heavy 7-0 defeat to nine-times champions Spain in the opening game of the Uefa Men's Under-19 Championships.
Senior boss Bellamy, whose proposed move to take charge at Burnley fell through during the week, was in a crowd of 3,606 at Wrexham's Racecourse to witness a clinical performance from the Spanish.
Wales were outclassed by an impressive Spain team and suffered their heaviest competitive defeat at Under-19 level since 2021.
Chris Gunter's side next face Germany, who beat Denmark 4-3 in their opener, at the Racecourse Ground on Wednesday, 1 July (20:00 BST), while on the same day Spain play the Danes in the other game in Group A (18:00 BST).
Wales boss Craig Bellamy was at the game at the Racecourse Ground
The game marked the start of the eight-team tournament being held in north Wales in a year which sees the Football Association of Wales (FAW) celebrate its 150th anniversary.
Spain's Xavi Espart had the first effort of note when his stinging shot hit the crossbar inside the opening 12 minutes.
But Spain went ahead four minutes later Daniel Yanez's deflected shot gave Wales keeper Luis Lines no chance.
The hosts had promising spell after conceding but Spain doubled their lead when Barcelona's Espart cut into the area and fired an unstoppable shot.
Spain's devastating attacking play saw them go further ahead courtesy of two goals from Betis winger Jose Antonio Morante.
His shot from inside the area took a deflection to make it 3-0 and he scored a second eight minutes later with an effort from outside the box.
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Spain went further ahead a minute into the second half when captain Quim Junyent netted with an exquisite lob from a tight angle.
Substitute Sergio Esteban scored Spain's sixth with 13 minutes remaining before Diego Aguedo completed the scoring with a seventh.
His free-kick rebounded off Wales keeper Lines, which summed up Wales' luck.
Gunter's prospects will hope to bounce back strongly against a Germany side who survived a scare at Central Park.
They led 3-0 thanks to goals by Francis Onyeka, Gustav Schjott and Otto Stange before Olti Hyseni gave Denmark a lifeline with a penalty in the 39th minute.
The Danes struck five minutes after the restart through William Martin only for Stange to make it 4-2 from the spot on the hour.
It was 4-3 when Alfred Gothler struck in the 72nd minute but Denmark could not rescue a point.
