‘There were tears, but we are looking forward to it’

Wales vs. Liechtenstein: World Cup qualifier

Cardiff City Stadium Date: Friday, June 6th Kickoff: 19:45 BST

When Wales players were last together in March, David Brooks accepted the praises when he scored the 96th-minute equalizer in North Macedonia, keeping Craig Bellamy’s unbeaten start as head coach.

For entirely different reasons, Brooks received more congratulations when the Wales squad regrouped for this week’s World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium.

The couple’s baby is due on November 1 and their baby is expected to be born in a couple’s home earlier this week.

Given that questions were raised about whether this time would ever come, Brooks, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2021, finds the news particularly encouraging.

“I wanted to start a family for all of my life.” The 27-year-old claims that her wife and I both wanted children at some point.

You have those conversations, of course, and there are never any guarantees that I’ll be able to have children once I’ve been diagnosed. There was a chance it wouldn’t have been possible.

“But I think it came naturally,” I think. I was obviously very happy after receiving treatment because everything returned to normal. Although there were some tears, we are anticipating it a lot.

In October 2021, Brooks was diagnosed with Stage Two Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 24.

The attacking midfielder went through “dark times,” but he was declared cancer-free in May 2022 after receiving several months of chemotherapy.

Brooks acknowledges that he is now one of Wales’ “more senior lads” two years later.

Another great of the country has passed away as a result of Joe Allen’s retirement, and Aaron Ramsey, the camp’s captain, has been injured once more.

Brooks, who has 33 caps, says he enjoys the responsibility of playing for a squad that is rebuilding after losing Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, and Allen since the 2022 World Cup.

Bale is undoubtedly the greatest British player of all time, while Joe Allen is undoubtedly one of the greatest Welsh players ever, he continues.

They are undoubtedly a big miss, but there are many young talents emerging and many young people, including myself, have been waiting for the chance to showcase their talents.

Wales will face Cardiff City on Friday when they host the minnows of Liechtenstein for the ninth time since Bellamy took over.

Next Monday in Brussels, Wales will take on Belgium, one of Group J’s top seeds, with a tougher challenge ahead.

When North Macedonia advanced in added time in Skopje, Brooks almost scored his fifth international goal with the final kick of the game, which appeared to be the end of the unbeaten run.

He claims, “I’m not too fussed, but as long as it trickles over the line, it’s not one of my best efforts.”

It made the table look much better for us, according to the manager of North Macedonia, and it was a big goal.

As of right now, Wales leads North Macedonia in terms of goals scored, but Belgium has yet to play a game in the group.

A draw would have been a fantastic outcome in the past, and Wales may have looked at a heavyweight nation like Belgium with some trepidation in the future.

Wales will travel with anticipation rather than just hope under Bellamy, who rejects the idea that his side is an underdog.

Bellamy’s approach is described as “intense,” according to Brooks, but Wales’ players are eager to deliver for their boss.

He is obviously a very, very passionate person, especially in relation to Wales, Brooks goes on to say.

We want to work with him and integrate his system. We have a strong base, going unbeaten so far, and are now looking to strengthen it to become more dangerous and reduce the chances of concede goals.