“It’s a good feeling. This is something I have been waiting for a long time. ”
Finally, Danny Ward pays patience. The Wales goalkeeper will play against Denmark in the 16-year-old in UEFA EURO 2020 on Saturday, in what will be his fourth start in a row in this summer’s tournament – an achievement that has been long under the 28-year-old.
For club and country, Ward has spent the majority of his career so far as a back-up. He made only three appearances during a six-year stay in Liverpool between 2012 and 2018, an enchantment delimited by loan transfers to Morecambe, Aberdeen and Huddersfield Town.
Since Ward signed for Leicester City 2018, Ward has only collected 14 excursions in all competitions and has yet to make his Premier League debut for the Foxes.
At the international level, the Wrexham – born shotgun’s ambition to become Wales’ No. 1 for a long time was also thwarted by Wayne Hennessey, the Dragon’s record holder with 96 mice. Hennessey’s starting spot had rarely been threatened before he suffered a thigh strain before a friendly against the United States in November last year, when Ward went in for his sixth start.
In Amsterdam on Saturday, Ward makes his 17th Wales appearance.
Ward makes a save against Italy / Mike Hewitt / Getty Images
“It’s nice to be able to go out and show people what I can do,” said the goalkeeper, whose number of 14 group pairs was only improved by Turkey’s Uğurcan Çakır. How can you not enjoy it? My attitude has always been about being No1. It’s really something I enjoy and enjoy.
“Wayne and [Wales’ third-choice custodian] Adam [Davies] has been amazing with me, he continued. “The support they have given me has been incredible – I can not speak loud enough about them. We continue to push ourselves. The friendship we have is something completely unique and special. ”
For Ward to go face to face – or glove to glove – with Leicester caretaker Kasper Schmeichel adds another special dimension to this weekend’s 16 meeting with Denmark. The Welshman has a strong relationship with his club colleague, but there is no room for emotion at Johan Cruijff ArenA.
Ward thrives as Wales’ leader in the tournament / Alberto Lingria – Pool / Getty Images
“Kasper is a good goalkeeper and Denmark is a good team,” said Ward of second place in Group B, which beat Wales at home and away in the UEFA Nations League 2018. “It will be tough, you have to respect people, but we have to believe in what we want to do. ”
Ward, part of the Welsh squad that reached the semi-finals of the UEFA EURO 2016, says that the Dragons’ current progress from Group A with four-time world champions Italy, a Swiss side ranked 13th in the world and pre-tournament dark horses Turkey, is ” bigger than people realize ”- but how far can Rob Pages’ team go?
“We want to be against someone,” Ward said. “We were written off a little before the tournament. We have many different players compared to five years ago, but we have made a good account of ourselves.
“We just enjoy it. That’s all we can do – keep having fun and make people at home proud. ”
