Wales plan to continue their rather strange pre-match ritual of lining up for lopsided team photographs when they take to the field for their World Cup qualifier against Serbia in Cardiff on Saturday. Chris Coleman’s players are ready to assemble in a new formation in front of the cameras as part of a joke and the belief that it brings them good fortune.
The bizarre team pictures started more by accident than design and go back several years, but of late the Wales players have made a conscious effort to break with the traditional six-plus-five setup for the shot that is taken just before kick-off.
Before the 2-2 draw with Austria in Vienna last month, Wales lined up for their team photo with four players at the front and seven at the back. They then took it a step further before the Georgia game three days later, when the back row consisted of only Ashley Williams and Sam Vokes standing either side of Wayne Hennessey. Wales, however, are not finished there. “You can go further than that, so let’s wait and see,” Joe Ledley said, smiling.
The Crystal Palace midfielder admitted that the idea came about by accident. “At first we didn’t look into it but then gradually a few photos got together and it was awful. So we just thought we may as well keep it the same. We don’t practise,” he said. “We just talk within the group and we decide what we’re going to do. We will probably continue it – it’s been lucky for us, so I don’t think we will have a proper photo.”
It was pointed out to Ledley that James Chester also had his hand on Dave Edwards’ knee in the last team photo. “I haven’t seen that,” Ledley said, looking a little surprised. “I think he’s taken it a bit too far. That wasn’t in the meeting.”
