WALES' WORLD CUP 2010 GROUP FIXTURES ANNOUNCED

The World Cup and Nelson Mandela looking

slightly younger and quicker than Robbie Fowler

but not as grey as Kevin McNaughton

The Group 4 countries, Wales included, met today in Frankfurt and made a surprisingly quick and early announcement of the fixture during this and next year for qualification to the finals in South Africa in 2010.

Toshack - never has someone looked so

happy to be going "Baku" Azerbaijan !

The campaign starts at home to Azerbaijan on September 6 this year. The group fixtures may take 13 months to complete but within 6 weeks, Wales will be nearly halfway through the campaign having played the best two sides in the group with visits to Russia and Germany and the worst two, according to rankings.

Indeed, the campaign could be full of hope and full of despair well ebeofre the end of 2008/09 season with 4 of the first 6 games at home.

Having been to Helsinki before, I'd love to go again but, coming at the end of the campaign, I can only hope there is still something to play for. For me, visiting Germany during Oktoberfest this year and seeign Wal;es play there sounds a trip to savour.

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Wales

2010 World Cup qualifiers dates

Group 4
6 September 2008 - Azerbaijan (Home)
10 September 2008 - Russia (Away)
11 October 2008 - Lichtenstein (Home)
15 October 2008 - Germany (Away)
28 March 2009 - Finland (Home)
1 April 2009 - Germany (Home)
6 June 2009 - Azerbaijan (Away)
9 September 2009 - Russia (Home)
10 October 2009 - Finland (Away)
14 October 2009 - Lichtenstein (Away)

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