Brooks inspired by Wales greats - (2025)

Bournemouth’s David Brooks hopes to feed off the world-class players in the Wales side as they prepare to face Slovakia in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier on Sunday (Wales 21/20, Slovakia 3/1, draw 23/10 – Match Betting).

The Dragons have been placed in Group E and will also play Croatia, Azerbaijan and Hungary for the right to take part in a tournament spread over 12 European countries (Wales 4/1 – Group Winner).

Slovakia kicked off their campaign on Thursday and sit top of the standing after beating Hungary 2-0 in Trnava, while Croatia’s 2-1 triumph over Azerbaijan in Zagreb sees them second in the table.

Ryan Giggs’ (pictured) men laboured to a 1-0 friendly victory over Trinidad and Tobago in Wrexham on Wednesday thanks to Ben Woodburn’s injury-time winner.

The men in red were without Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsay and it is players of that ability and standing in the game that Brooks hopes will rub off on him in the coming years.

“I play with the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, you feel like you’ve got the same ability as them and can impose yourself on the game,” he said.

“They are world-class players, they’ve played at the top level, so you do look up to them and take notes off them in training and in games, and when the advice comes you have to listen and absorb it into your own game.”

Having reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, Wales have a lot to live up to this time around and Brooks knows there will be no easy games.

“I think all our fixtures are tough, the group has quality throughout, so we will have to be at our best in every game,” he added.

Odds subject to change.