Chris Coleman’s squad will prepare for their World Cup qualifier against Serbia on Saturday by watching Scotland’s game at Wembley, yet this time Jonny Williams has vowed to keep his mobile phone in his pocket after causing a storm by filming the Wales players celebrating England’s humiliating Euro 2016 defeat against Iceland in June.
Williams, who plays for Crystal Palace and is currently on loan at Ipswich Town, was the man responsible for capturing the footage of the Wales squad jumping around with glee at their team hotel after Iceland eliminated England. The material was supposed to remain private but it appeared on social media shortly after the final whistle, causing considerable embarrassment to Williams.
“That was a shame,” the 23-year-old midfielder said, reflecting on an episode that had a few people within the Football Association of Wales cringing. “I don’t know who leaked it, to be honest. But it killed me. I got a little bit of stick.”
Williams, who was born in Pembury in Kent and qualifies to play for Wales through his father, insists that there was never anything sinister behind his team-mates’ actions and claimed that it was more a case of the players expressing their delight and pride at being the only team from Britain to make it through to the quarter-finals at Euro 2016.
“It was a good laugh and I don’t think there are any hard feelings,” said Williams, who featured in four of Wales’ six matches in France, including the semi-final defeat against Portugal. “We were the last home nation to be left in the Euros and, of course, we are going to be happy. It was a surprise as well, as Iceland were a small national like ourselves and [so it was] fantastic for them. And it was a special moment for all of us. To win the group after losing to England, it was almost like getting our payback.”
After initially saying he was “not bothered” who wins at Wembley on Friday, Williams admitted that he will be supporting Scotland. He also has another reason for tuning in, mindful of the fact that Wales still have to face the Republic of Ireland twice in this qualifying campaign. “It will be similar to what we will expect against Ireland – we will watch it with that in mind, I think, as obviously when we play Ireland it will be a similar kind of atmosphere.”
There will, however, be one key difference to England’s game against Iceland should Scotland spring a surprise at Wembley. “I won’t be videoing it!” said Williams, smiling.
Williams accepts that the pressure will be on Wales 24 hours later, when they face Serbia in Cardiff in a match that has taken on greater significance on the back of last month’s 1-1 draw at home against Georgia. “We want to come top [of the group] and to do that we’re going to have to win our home games, especially against the ones who are going to be competing for the first spot so it’s a massive game – we all know that,” he said.
