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The Reason Why Wales Players Pose For Bizarre Team Photos Before Matches

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The Wales National Team have a history of posing badly for squad photos at major international tournaments, and the men’s team recently reminded everyone of that fact before their international friendly against Ghana.

Wales drew 1-1 with the African side, who have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, in Cardiff on Tuesday night. Caleb Yirenkyi put the visitors 1-0 up midway through the second half, but Lewis Koumas struck a last-gap equaliser for Craig Bellamy’s side.

Prior to kick-off, Wales’ players took part in their bizarre pre-match tradition of posing for their team photo in rather unusual fashion. See their awkward squad photo below:

It’s not just the men’s team who pose like this. Last summer, while making their long-awaited Women’s European Championship debut, Wales’ women’s team followed suit with their own peculiar team photo. See the picture below:

The chaotic pre-match squad photo has become part of tournament tradition for Wales these days, but some may not be aware of the origin story behind the random ritual.

It has been spotted at both women’s and men’s international tournaments since Euro 2016, when the men made it all the way to the semi-finals in France with the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale starring.

Story Behind Wales’ Bizarre Pre-Match Squad Photos

Wales players pose for a team group photo before the match
Wales players pose for a team group photo before the match

Speaking back in 2016 – when the images first started to go viral – Joe Ledley outlined that they noticed they were getting “lucky” whenever they took an unusual squad photo.

“We were just not very good at them. 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,” he said, as per Belfast Live.

“It’s been lucky for us too. It’s not really superstitious, but I don’t think we will have a proper photo.”

Jonny Williams backed up Ledley’s claims in 2016, adding: “I wasn’t there at the last game, but it looked on the TV like it’s got worse. I’ve been involved in a couple, but they were by accident, to be fair.

“I just don’t think we’re very good at them, and now we’re just doing it for banter I think, but I don’t know how much further we can go….unless we leave Wayne Hennessey on his own at the back!”

We won’t be seeing Wales’ strange team lineups at the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico because they failed to qualify for the showpiece international tournament. Bellamy’s men suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off semi-finals back in March. Their sights are now set on the UEFA Nations League, which gets underway in September.

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Arsenal in Talks to Sign Leicester City Winger Jeremy Monga

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Arsenal are showing an interest in signing one of the brightest young talents in England ahead of the summer transfer window, and he wants to join the club.

The Gunners enjoyed a phenomenal season, finally winning the Premier League after over 20 years.

Arsenal did miss out on lifting the Champions League, however, losing in the final on penalties. As a result, they won’t want to stand still with their recruitment.

The summer window is an opportunity for the Gunners to go to the next level once again, potentially pushing to win a European trophy.

It’s also a chance for them to invest in young talent from around the world, knowing they already have a squad capable of winning the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final.


Mikel Arteta


Fabrizio Romano: Arsenal Make Calls to Sign ‘World-Class’ Star for Mikel Arteta

Arsenal are preparing for a strong summer window.

Arsenal Eyeing Leicester Talent

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates Champions League semi-final win over Atletico Madrid

According to GIVEMESPORRT correspondent Ben Jacobs, Arsenal are in talks to sign Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga ahead of the summer transfer window.

The 16-year-old is attracting interest from a number of clubs, including from the Premier League, with the Foxes receiving as many as eight enquiries.

It’s claimed that Monga could cost in the region of £10m, while it’s possible that a deal could go to a tribunal to determine a fee, due to his age.

Monga Wants to Join

Jeremy Monga

According to reports, Arsenal are confident that they can secure the signature of Monga in the upcoming transfer window.

It’s also claimed that Monga does want to join Arsenal this summer, despite interest from other clubs such as Manchester United.

Monga, described as ‘generational’, is almost guaranteed to leave Leicester in the coming weeks after they were relegated from the Championship, with a host of Premier League clubs battling to secure his signature.

It appears Arsenal could be leading the race as they prepare to build a squad for the future after already winning the Premier League title.

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15 Worst Premier League Players in 25/26 Based on Stats

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There were a few standout performers in the 2025/26 Premier League season.

The likes of Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhães and David Raya were all brilliant as Arsenal’s 22-year wait for a Premier League title came to an end.

Erling Haaland was brilliant as he hit the back of the net 27 times. The Norwegian’s Man City teammates, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki, also excelled.

Elsewhere, Bruno Fernandes enjoyed a record-breaking campaign for Man Utd as he registered 21 assists, while Dominik Szobolszlai impressed despite a dismal season for Liverpool.

However, while the aforementioned names excelled, others failed to impress. The 15 worst players in the Premier League in the 25/26 have now been named, based on FotMob statistics.

15-11

Callum Wilson celebrates after scoring for West Ham United

Wolverhampton Wanderers had a dismal campaign. They managed to win just three matches and accumulate just 20 points as they finished rock-bottom.

It is, therefore, no surprise that three of their players feature among the worst players in England’s top tier in 2025/26: Rodrigo Gomes (6.43), Hwang Hee-chan (6.41) and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (6.40).

Leeds United signed Lukas Nmecha in the summer of 2025 hoping he could help them preserve their Premier League status. Leeds managed to do comfortably, but Nmecha himself didn’t have the best of campaigns.

The 11th worst player in the Premier League in 2025/26, according to statistics, was West Ham’s Callum Wilson. The 34-year-old features despite scoring seven times. He is searching for a new club this summer after departing the Hammers following the expiration of his contract.

15 worst players in the Premier League in 25/26 (15-11)

Rank

Player

Club

Nationality

Rating

15

Rodrigo Gomes

Wolves

Portugal

6.43

14

Lukas Nmecha

Leeds

Germany

6.42

13

Hwang Hee-chan

Wolves

South Korea

6.41

12

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde

Wolves

Haiti

6.40

11

Callum Wilson

West Ham

England

6.40

10-6

Anthony Elanga

Anthony Elanga was maginificent in the 2024/25 campaign as he inspired Nottingham Forest to a top six finish. His brilliance caught the attention of Newcastle United, who signed him for £55 million. He proved to be one of the worst signings of the season as he failed to find the back of the net and recorded just one assist in 32 matches.

Burnley suffered relegation back to the Championship with Loum Tchaouna (6.33) and Josh Laurent (6.31) both flattering to deceive. They were statistically the ninth-worst and seventh-worst players in England’s top tier respectively.

Rodrigo Muniz, who managed just one goal, and Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor also feature among the worst players in England’s top tier in 25/26.

15 worst players in the Premier League in 25/26 (10-6)

Rank

Player

Club

Nationality

Rating

10

Anthony Elanga

Newcastle

Sweden

6.39

9

Loum Tchaouna

Burnley

France

6.34

8

Rodrigo Muniz

Fulham

Brazil

6.33

7

Josh Laurent

Burnley

England

6.31

6

Wilson Isidor

Sunderland

Haiti

6.31

5-1

Tottenham attacker Randal Kolo Muani Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Jacob Bruun Larsen’s average of 6.30 places him among the five worst players in the Premier League this season.

Tottenham Hotspur signed Randal Kolo Muani on loan with the hopes he could fire them back to Europe. The north London side will be relieved the deal did not contain an obligation to make the switch permanent, with the Frenchman managing just one goal in England’s top tier.

Liam Delap’s performances for Ipswich Town during the 24/25 campaign attracted the attention of some of England’s top clubs. Chelsea won the race for his signature as he signed for the club in a £30m deal, only for him to have a disastrous campaign where he hit the back of the net just once.

Only two players in the Premier League were statistically worse than the Chelsea striker: Lyle Foster and Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Strand Larsen, who made the £55 million from Wolves to Crystal Palace in January, recorded an average rating of 6.23, the lowest of any player in the Premier League.

15 worst players in the Premier League in 25/26 (15-11)

Rank

Player

Club

Nationality

Rating

5

Jacob Bruun Larsen

Burnley

Denmark

6.30

4

Randal Kolo Muani

Tottenham Hotspur

France

6.30

3

Liam Delap

Chelsea

England

6.30

2

Lyle Foster

Burnley

South Africa

6.24

1

Jorgen Strand Larsen

Crystal Palace

Norway

6.23

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Man Utd in Talks to Sign Mateus Fernandes After Ederson, He Wants to Join

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Manchester United are in talks to sign West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes after reaching an agreement to sign Ederson from Atalanta, according to The Athletic.

Man United have been heavily linked with a move for Ederson for weeks now, with Athletic journalist David Ornstein confirming on Tuesday night that an agreement had been reached with Atalanta worth a €40.5m fixed fee, with a potential €4.5m extra in add-ons.

The Brazilian is set to sign a five-year deal to move to Old Trafford, with a move expected to be completed at the beginning of July after the Italian transfer window opens at the end of this month.

With reports suggesting that the Red Devils could look to add up to three central midfielders to their squad this summer, with Casemiro’s exit already confirmed and Manuel Ugarte expected to join him, INEOS are not done yet after the Ederson deal.

The club must now decide who their next target or targets are going to be, as they hunt a top-class replacement for Casemiro in the coming weeks.

United would love to land England international Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, but there are two stumbling blocks: his price tag and the fact that he prefers a move to Manchester City instead.

The Athletic: Man United Holding Talks to Sign Mateus Fernandes

West Ham United's Mateus Fernandes celebrates scoring vs Sunderland

One Premier League star who has come onto the radar of many of Europe’s biggest clubs is West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes.

The likes of the Red Devils were considering a move for the impressive 21-year-old even before the Irons’ relegation to the Championship, which has only provided an even bigger opportunity for his suitors.

The Athletic report that United have held talks with West Ham over a potential fee and the player over personal terms, with the Hammers having little choice but to cash in on their prized asset after slipping into England’s second tier.

Fernandes has been described as a ‘superstar’ by one scout, and separate reports believe they value him in excess of £80m. They may be forced to sell him for less than that given they are now a Championship club, however.

Separate reports claim that Fernandes is very keen to move to Old Trafford to link up with Portuguese compatriot Bruno.

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