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Wales national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Nov 19, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Hungary national football team

2-0

Ramsey (15', 47')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Ryan Giggs hails 'greatest night of his life' as Wales qualify for Euro 2020

Ryan Giggs hails 'greatest night of his life' as Wales qualify for Euro 2020
© Reuters
The Wales manager was elated after his team booked their Euro 2020 place.

Wales boss Ryan Giggs has described his team's Euro 2020 qualification as "one of the greatest nights of my life".

Giggs looked on as his players clinched a place at next summer's showpiece thanks to Aaron Ramsey's double in a 2-0 victory over Hungary at Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales had to win in their quest for an automatic Euro 2020 place, and they duly delivered, backing up their achievement in reaching – and then excelling – at Euro 2016.

Aaron Ramsey's double delivered Wales to glory
Aaron Ramsey's double delivered Wales to glory (Nick Potts/PA)

Giggs followed his predecessor Chris Coleman in guiding Wales to a major championship, and he was understandably elated.

"It is a special, special night," Giggs said.

"The lads have showed great determination and quality and a never-give-up attitude. They deserve all the plaudits. There was no room for error, and the quality and concentration they have shown, they deserve it.

"It is one of the greatest nights of my life. Simple as that.

"I achieved a lot as a player, but it's different as a manager, the pressure you are under and you are helpless as a manager.

"I was never nervous as a player, but as a manager you are. Come game day, it is out of your hands."

Giggs paid tribute to Ramsey, who scored his first Wales goals since September last year – a first-half header followed by a calm close-range finish early in the second period.

"We have missed him," Giggs added. "We have some very good players, but they don't grow on trees – players who make the difference.

"Aaron tonight was the difference. I am really pleased for him."

Giggs was asked if he had won over sceptics, and he said: "I hope so. I'm struggling if it hasn't!

Giggs acknowledges the fans after the final whistle
Giggs acknowledges the fans after the final whistle (Nick Potts/PA)

"I asked the players who have been there and done it to climb that mountain again. A lot is made of the younger players, but you can't do it without the older players too.

"Wayne (Hennessey's) double save, Gareth (Bale) putting his body on the line, and it's not easy leaving out Ash (Ashley Williams) who is perhaps the greatest captain Wales have ever had.

"I set out to quality for a major championship, but more than that, to leave Welsh football in a better state than when I took over.

"This is just the beginning. We have seen a lot of young players over the last 18 months, and they can get better – they can definitely get better.

"It probably hasn't sunk in yet. The players can get better with the help of the more experienced lads who aren't over the hill by any stretch of the imagination.

Wales celebrate their achievement
Wales celebrate their achievement (Nick Potts/PA)

"I didn't think it was a fantastic performance. We showed grit and determination, but our quality on the ball can, and needs to be, better with the quality we possess.

"As a player, you want to play in major championships. My first memory of a major championship was 1982 (World Cup). It's different as a manager.

"This is different. It feels amazing – the group of players I have got and my staff.

"I am a relatively young coach, and I could not have done it without my staff. Together we did it.

"As a player, basically you look after yourself. You are quite selfish, you are. As a manager you have to manage everything, so it's a completely different kettle of fish.

"I didn't think about my playing career, it was all about getting Wales to another championship, as a manager."

Hungary now go into the play-offs for a place at Euro 2020 after seeing their hopes of automatic qualification end.

"We made too many mistakes," Hungary coach Marco Rossi said.

"The first goal was a big mistake. Wales absolutely deserved to win. They showed class.

"The guys tried to fight, but at this level it is not enough. "We are a double-faced team in terms of playing at home and away. It is difficult to explain. We have problems playing away."

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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Cyprus Cyprus00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Norway Norway00000
Q Scotland flag Scotland00000
Q Spain Spain00000

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France00000
2 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar00000
3 Greece Greece00000
Q Netherlands Netherlands00000
5 Ireland Rep. Ireland00000

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England00000
Q Italy Italy00000
3 Malta flag Malta00000
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia00000
5 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Armenia Armenia00000
Q Croatia Croatia00000
3 Latvia Latvia00000
Q Turkey Turkey00000
5 Wales flag Wales00000

Group E

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Q Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
3 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands00000
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova00000
5 Poland Poland00000

Group F

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Q Austria Austria00000
2 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan00000
Q Belgium Belgium00000
4 Estonia Estonia00000
5 Sweden Sweden00000

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Bulgaria Bulgaria00000
Q Hungary Hungary00000
3 Lithuania Lithuania00000
4 Montenegro Montenegro00000
Q Serbia Serbia00000

Group H

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Q Denmark Denmark00000
2 Finland Finland00000
3 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan00000
4 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland00000
5 San Marino flag San Marino00000
Q Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Andorra flag Andorra00000
2 Belarus Belarus00000
3 Israel Israel00000
4 Kosovo flag Kosovo00000
Q Romania Romania00000
Q Switzerland Switzerland00000

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina00000
2 Iceland Iceland00000
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein00000
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg00000
Q Portugal Portugal00000
Q Slovakia Slovakia00000


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