MX23RW : Saturday, November 16 10:27:02| >> :120:82431:82431:

Kieffer Moore: 'I am an easy target for referees'

Kieffer Moore: 'I am an easy target for referees'
© Reuters
The 6ft 5in striker was booked against Switzerland for catching Fabian Schar in the face with a stray elbow.

Wales striker Kieffer Moore believes he is an easy target for referees at Euro 2020 because of his size.

The 6ft 5in Cardiff striker was on the bench for Wales' final group game in Rome as he was on a booking, and manager Robert Page was aware another yellow card would rule Moore out of their last-16 tie against Denmark on Saturday.

Moore was eventually sent on with Welsh backs to the wall and an attacking outlet needed following Ethan Ampadu's 55th-minute dismissal, but Page told the forward "to jump with no arms" against Italy.

Italy Wales Euro 2020 Soccer
Kieffer Moore believes he is an easy target for Euro 2020 referees because of his size (Alberto Lingria/AP)

"When referees look at my stature and my height, I've kind of made it to be an easy target," Moore told Sky Sports News.

"If opponents go down, realistically I haven't probably touched them, but they've thrown themselves to the floor and it looks like I have.

"It's also about me taking myself out of those situations and look like I'm not doing that really."

Moore has scored six goals in 20 games since making his Wales debut in September 2019.

The 28-year-old's arrival on the international scene helped Wales turn around their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign and reach this summer's delayed cross-continent tournament.

Moore also scored in the opening 1-1 draw against Switzerland, a match in which he was booked for catching Fabian Schar in the face with a stray elbow.

Skipper Gareth Bale implored Moore to avoid a booking when he came on for the final half-hour at the Stadio Olimpico.

Asked about modifying his jump, Moore said: "I did do that, but jumping without the arms is very hard.

Italy Wales Euro 2020 Soccer
Wales captain Gareth Bale, pictured, urged Kieffer Moore to avoid a booking when the striker was sent on against Italy (Alberto Lingria/AP)

"In a way, I had to get through to not get yellow carded. It's all about adapting, if I can not get another yellow card I'll be happy to keep trying to do that."

The Wales squad left their Rome base for Amsterdam on Thursday and a third country visited at Euro 2020.

If Wales do beat Denmark at the Johan Cruyff Arena, they will return to Baku – where they played their opening two matches – for a quarter-final against Holland or the Czech Republic.

Wales fans are not permitted to travel to Amsterdam due to travel restrictions, and Moore said: "You can feel we've been hard done by.

"But for us obviously finding out the semi-final and final is at Wembley, that's more of an incentive than ever for us to see if we can reach those heights and get Wales fans back in there.

"The whole experience has been amazing. It's just a whirlwind of a tournament and to get through the way we did was amazing.

"I'm loving every minute of it and I want us to keep going.

"I don't want to go home yet."

ID:452577: cacheID:452577:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8081:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Aymeric Laporte celebrates scoring for Spain against Slovakia at Euro 2020 on June 23, 2021
Read Next:
Euro 2020 Team of the Week - Ronaldo, De Bruyne, Pogba
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!