Euro 2016 has been a memorable tournament for Wales. They reached their first ever semi-final appearance in a major tournament; the first home nation to do so since England in 1996.
Euro 2016 benefits Cardiff City
With Welsh attention now firmly looking at qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with their first qualifying match against Moldova on 5th September, in the meantime, Cardiff City begin their third successive season in the EFL Championship. The Bluebirds will be hoping for a stronger push for promotion to the Premier League. Here is how the success of Euro 2016 can help them.
Paul Trollope
The new Cardiff City Head Coach has been a key part of the FAW’s coaching team and the success that has followed at Euro 2016. The experience of coaching a young national team and assisting their progression to the semi-finals will no doubt inspire Trollope for the season ahead. The players too—although mainly English—will be heading into the campaign with a new sense of direction under Trollope.
Aron Gunnarsson
From one small nation another: Iceland and its population of just 331,873 managed to reach for the quarter-finals of Euro 2016. Captained by Cardiff City midfielder Aron Gunnarsson, the Icelandic team put in a brave performance to knock England out of the tournament during the last 16 stage.
Gunnarsson himself put in some solid performances that have attracted attention from all over Europe. If he does stay, he is likely to start far more games under Trollope than he did towards the end of Russell Slade’s tenure. His experience at Euro 2016 could also inspire the team from South Wales to a memorable 2016-2017 season.
New Signings
It would be a smart move for Cardiff City—lacking Welsh players—to sign up some of the stars of the tournament. Chris Gunter at right-back or right-wing-back has been linked with the club across social media and could be a quality signing. Players are often signed on form and Gunter would be a wise choice if Reading were willing to reach an agreement.
Hal Robson-Kanu, now famed for his Cruyff turn-and-shot against Belgium is without a club after leaving Reading in the summer and will no doubt be attracting attention. At the age of 27, Robson-Kanu will soon be reaching the prime age of a striker and could be another positive addition to the Trollope’s squad.
The Fans
Average attendances at Cardiff City hit a new-low at the Cardiff City Stadium during 2015-2016 fell to just 16,255 with a low of 12,729. With Vincent Tan reverting the club’s colours from red to the traditional blue and with a younger, more attack-minded Head Coach, fans may start to return to the CCS.
Wales’ success has followed a similar pattern. Only four years ago, they were hammered 6-1 by Serbia and attendances at that stage were poor. Now, the nation is once again united after a fairytale campaign at Euro 2016 and tens-of-thousands more have supported the national team—highlighted in the Principality Stadium’s sellout of 20,000 tickets in just 90 minutes, followed by a further 7,500 tickets in 30 minutes.
Welsh football is on the rise and with Wales on the map, Cardiff City and Paul Trollope will be hoping to tag on to the dreamland success that Wales have achieved.
See a list of all Cardiff City’s fixtures for 2016-2017 here.
