Soccer

‘Cannes of the North’ the Euro 2016 destination for Wales

Chris Coleman’s squad will base themselves in Britanny ahead of their campaign

Wales players celebrate after Aaron Ramsey’s goal put them ahead against Andorra on their way to qualifying for Euro 2016. Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Mon Jan 11 2016 - 16:33

Wales will be based in Britanny at Euro 2016 this summer.

Chris Coleman’s squad will stay in the coastal resort of Dinard, which is known as the ‘Cannes of the North’ with its beaches and mild climate making it a popular holiday destination.

Gareth Bale and company will stay at the Novotel Thalassa Dinard, a spa resort which has hosted top European teams such as Paris St Germain and Bordeaux and will also be used by the France national team later this year.

The resort boasts an on-site fitness centre that includes three indoor swimming pools, steam room, gym and recuperation facilities and Wales will train at nearby Dinard FC.

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Manager Coleman has visited several training complexes in France over the last few months but plumped for Brittany despite its remote location.

The nearest finals venues are in Paris — almost 250 miles away — and Wales will travel further than any other team in the group stages with games at Bordeaux in the west, Lens in the north and Toulouse in the south.

But Wales’ base is only a 15-minute drive from Dinard Pleurtuit Saint-Malo Airport while Rennes airport is just over 40 miles away.

“It has world class spa and recuperation facilities and an exclusive self-contained wing that will house Chris Coleman’s squad and will create the best possible environment prior to and during UEFA Euro 2016,” said a Football Association of Wales statement.