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Hughes sticks with Welsh fliers

Wales have named an unchanged 25-man squad for next month's EURO 2004™ qualifier against Italy.

Welsh eye upset
The Welsh, on an unbeaten six-match run, and buoyed by their opening Group 9 victory over Finland in Helsinki, will look to a mixture of experience and youthful exuberance to upset the Azzuri at the Millennium Stadium on 16 October.

Speed the skipper
Newcastle United FC midfield player Gary Speed, capped 69 times by his country, will again lead the team, who will also call on Manchester United FC winger Ryan Giggs and Tottenham Hotspur FC's swash-buckling youngster Simon Davies.

Capital players
Cardiff City FC's in-form marksman Robert Earnshaw is included too along with highly-rated teammate Danny Gabbidon, Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy and Celtic FC target man John Hartson - a goal scorer in Finland.

Hughes relish
Welsh coach Hughes admitted he was relishing the prospect of tackling section favourites Italy in front of a 72,000 sell-out crowd.

'Feel-good factor'
"There is much expectancy over this game," he said. "At the start of the group people felt the only question to be answered was who would come second to Italy. Some actually think we could come top of the section now - maybe that's a measure of the feel-good factor in Wales right now."

Wales squad
Jones, Crossley, Ward, Coyne, Melville, Page, Delaney, Barnard, Gabbidon, Weston, Speed, Pembridge, Savage, Davies, Robinson, Johnson, Trollope, Koumas, Evans, Giggs, Hartson, Blake, Bellamy, Taylor, Earnshaw.

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