Summer weddings and international tournament football have always had a habit of getting in the way of each other.
We’ve all got that one mate who agreed to get married in mid-June, somehow forgetting about the approaching tournament, and unless they choose to show a match at their reception (thanks Jamie), things can get awkward.
Jamie Vardy did the smart thing and got married more than a week before the start of the tournament, but Wales defender Chris Gunter isn’t quite as lucky.
The most-capped player in Chris Coleman’s squad isn’t even getting married himself – brother Marc is the one tying the knot, and Chris is the best man.
Marc Gunter is due to get married in Mexico on July 7, the South Wales Evening Post reports.
But he didn’t count on Wales reaching the semi-finals in France.
“[The wedding] was booked just after we qualified. He’s taken quite a lot of stick and it’s caused a couple of problems,” Chris told the paper back before the tournament began.
“He hasn’t moved his wedding and I’m supposed to be best man so I’m hoping that I can’t make it.”
Admittedly, major international tournaments aren’t normally likely to be a major consideration when booking a wedding as a Welshman, so this turn of events is especially unfortunate.
Chris Gunter was also best man at Aaron Ramsey’s wedding in June 2014 – in the middle of a World Cup for which Wales failed to qualify.
But group stage victories over Slovakia and Russia, followed by a 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland and a stunning comeback win against Belgium, mean Wales have a semi-final against Portugal to look forward to.
You can’t help but feel sorry for Marc Gunter, even if he showed a lack of faith in his brother and the rest of Chris Coleman’s squad.
