| Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Day-by-day TV listings – Full coverage details |
Wales midfielder Joe Allen is out of Monday’s World Cup opener against the United States with a hamstring injury.
Swansea City’s Allen was a major doubt having not played since September.
“We said from the start, we’re going to give every possible chance that we can to get him to play that first game. He’s probably not going to make it,” said Wales manager Robert Page.
“We could’ve pushed him, maybe, but if he breaks down then he’s definitely out of the tournament. Risk over reward.”
Page added: “Yes, we’d have liked him available for the first game, but we’re not going to push him to the point of completely losing him.”
After taking on the United States on Monday, Wales face Iran four days later and complete the group stage against neighbours England on Tuesday, 29 November.
Allen had Allen had hoped to be fit for their group opener after Swans boss Russell Martin expressed anger at the player’s medical treatment at the Championship club.
Martin had said Allen’s treatment “wasn’t good enough” but the 32-year-old, who has not played since 17 September, was still named in Wales’ squad for Qatar by boss Robert Page.
Allen is an important player for Wales, having played at the past two European Championships and earning a place in the official Uefa team of the tournament when Wales reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016.
Other than him, Wales have their entire 26-man World Cup squad to choose from for Monday’s match.
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