• 2 years ago
As the Cymru UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifier squad has been announced, we preview the huge games for Wales - who need to win their remaining matches to qualify for the finals in Germany next year.
Transcript
00:00 As Wales are looking ahead to qualification for Euro 2024, the squad has been announced for the upcoming qualifiers and there's no doubt following their win over top seed Croatia in Cardiff, they'll be brimming with confidence.
00:16 James, looking at Wales' squad announcement for the next Euro 2024 qualifiers, huge games coming up, what are your thoughts on the squad announcement? Obviously, you're going to be brimming with confidence after that win against Croatia in Cardiff.
00:34 Absolutely, it's a massive win, one of the biggest wins for Wales in the last few years, absolutely, because it hasn't been quite as plain sailing as six, seven years ago with the Euros and things, to kind of come back down to earth.
00:46 But this tournament, this qualifiers especially, will definitely come back down to earth. Some big losses early on, really being playing catch up. We needed that win against Croatia, they'll be huge for us now.
00:58 The next two games, if you can beat Croatia, you should be beating Armenia and Turkey. We didn't want them to be must-win games at the start of the competition, certainly not, I don't think.
01:08 But I don't see any reason why we can't win them both. These are winnable games for us. We've beaten Turkey over the last few years, they're definitely a bit more on form.
01:17 But, yeah, why not? Why not be confident for it now, after a rocky start, we're looking like we can get back into it.
01:24 And what are your thoughts just on Rob Page as the boss there? What are the thoughts and feelings around him and his tenure so far in charge of the side?
01:35 I don't think he thought he'd be the manager still now, after he was made temporary manager a few years ago. It's been up and down, took us to the World Cup, obviously a massive achievement.
01:45 Took us to the Euros as well. He has done these things, he has put things in place. But I think people wanted us to move forward, wanted to see more from Wales the last few years.
01:56 This campaign so far has not been strong. A horrendous loss against Armenia at home, only a few months ago. Conceding four goals against Armenia should be unheard of for Wales, especially the last few years.
02:11 And Brendan Johnson coming back into the side, how much of a boost can he offer? Obviously, proving the Premier League last season was fantastic at Nottingham Forest.
02:21 He's earned a move to Tottenham, he's back after injury, should surely be a huge boost for Wales now.
02:28 He's in and around the goal, he can be. He can help with those goals, assists and things like that. But Brendan Johnson will certainly be a massive, massive boost.
02:36 He offers so much, he's got a lot of pace, he's a great player and can hopefully do a lot in these last two games now coming forward.
02:45 Two wins will guarantee Cymru's qualification to the Euro 2024 finals in Germany next summer.
02:52 With the nation watching and looking to use some of the spirit that Gareth Bale left them with following his retirement, it guarantees an action-packed end to the qualifiers.
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