Wales see this evenings World Cup Qualifier in Tallinn as the best opportunity they have so far to get three points and pile even more pressure on the Czech Republic. This after an excellent 2-2 draw in Prague on Friday night. It should have been more.
Wales have slowly felt their way in to the qualifying group and have it all in their own hands for the run in for the World Cup in 2022. Leaders Belgium won’t be caught so Wales will want to finish second in their group, even if if they finish third they will more than likely gain a play off place. However, finishing second will most certainly give Rob Page’s side a more favourable draw in any play off.
We need to go for it from the first minute," said manager Robert Page. "The players you'll see on the pitch will be down to what we did at the back end of the game in Friday's 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic. You'll see our intent. "You'll see we'll have players on the pitch that can get us goals."We could be sat here with six points from the past two games, and instead we've got two and that's frustrating,"There's always room for improvement. We've given ourselves a chance, it's in our hands."
Page continued,"I don't think there will be too many surprises with team selection, the way we finished and how strong we were against the Czechs. "The chances we had when we dominated the game, we'll factor that in. We've set the bar high now and we have to match those standards game in, game out."
Wales have only lost twice in their past seventeen World Cup qualifiers, against Republic of Ireland in October 2017, and Belgium in March 2021. The significant change in fortunes for the national side in the last six years has been massive, not only for Welsh football but for the country as a whole. Wales qualified for the last two European Championships — reaching the semi-finals in 2016 and the last 16 this summer — but have not played at a World Cup since making their only appearance at the tournament in 1958.
Aaron Ramsey is determined to get his country to next years finals in Qatar. Ramsey will skipper Wales again in Tallinn with Gareth Bale sidelined by injury."We have been fortunate enough to experience two European Championships and they have been absolutely amazing. It would be a massive dream to hopefully tick off a World Cup. There is a long way to go, but if we can do that it would be sort of complete, wouldn’t it ? To qualify for a World Cup would be an amazing achievement. It’s probably more difficult to qualify than for the European Championships but all the players are ready. It’s the same for the younger boys too and a dream of theirs as well. You can see it in the way they played at the Euros this summer in getting out of the group. They are ready for it and it would be nice for us older boys as well.”
Sweden goalkeeper Kalle Svensson, assisted by full back Sven Axbom, saves a shot from John Charles during the 1958 group stage clash. The last time Wales qualified for a World Cup
Pele scored the only goal to knock Wales out in the 1958 Quarter Finals
The finals are getting much closer, so close now the Wales players, and the red wall can taste it. After tonight there are two more games for Wales to play, both at home. On November 13th against Belarus and then finally on November 16th against Belgium. Wales kick off in Tallinn at 7.45 pm, and the game is LIVE on Sky Sports Football. Alternatively you can listen to the game on Talk Sport 2.