WALES’ disastrous back-to-back Euro 2024 defeats have all but ended their hopes of automatic qualification for Germany.
Successive June losses to Armenia (2-4) and Turkey (2-0) has left the dismal Dragons fourth in Group D with furious fans now calling for under-fire boss Robert Page to be sacked.
At the halfway stage of qualification, Wales are five points behind leaders Turkey with Armenia and Croatia also above them despite the World Cup semi-finalists playing two matches less.
Here, SunSport’s Phil Cadden assesses where it has all gone wrong for Wales and Page…
RESULTS
Wales had a positive start to this Euros campaign with four points in March but that only papered over widening cracks.
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The Dragons have won just once – a 1-0 home victory over Latvia – in their last 12 matches.
That Cardiff win was also their only clean sheet in this alarming slump.
Since a 4-0 hammering to Denmark at Euro 2020 two summers ago, Wales have won just six of their subsequent 24, the other wins coming against Belarus twice, Estonia, Austria and Ukraine.
To Page’s credit, he took over in difficult circumstances following Ryan Giggs’ arrest in 2020 and guided Wales to last November’s World Cup – a first global appearance since 1958.
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Another factor for some of the recent woeful run has been fixtures against superior opposition after being promoted to League A of the Nations League.
But, in truth, results and performances have been on the slide for some time and without the retired superstar Gareth Bale and Joe Allen there are major concerns over the quality and strength in depth of the team.
TACTICS
Page’s flops picked up just one point and scored once – a Bale penalty versus USA – in three group matches in Qatar.
The 48-year-old made changes as Nick Davies and Eric Ramsay replaced Tony Strudwick and Kit Symons on the coaching staff while Aaron Ramsey replaced Bale as captain.
But little has changed.
The shambolic 4-2 defeat to Armenia exposed Welsh weaknesses of defensive vulnerability and being overrun in midfield.
In Wales’ success under Chris Coleman, Giggs and Page’s early tenure, they played with a five-man defence and were difficult to beat through graft and team spirit plus Bale’s brilliance.
Page’s side must be better defensively to compete with Europe’s elite, they lack leaders and the age-old issue of not enough players playing in the Premier League.
While Brennan Johnson has impressed in the top-flight, he doesn’t have the X-factor all-time record goal scorer and cap-holder Bale had.
DISCIPLINE
Three red cards in Wales’ last six internationals points to ill-discipline. Wayne Hennessey was dismissed against Iran for a karate-kick on Mehdi Taremi.
Kieffer Moore was red carded after he kicked out at Armenia goalkeeper Ognjen Chancharevich,
And then Joe Morrell was sent off for an ugly studs-up challenge on Turkey’s Ferdi Kadioglu.
All three red cards were naive and poor decision-making.
QUALIFICATION
Page is spinning the line Wales must win all of their four remaining matches – Latvia away, Croatia home, Armenia away, Turkey home, to secure a top-two finish.
But that seems impossible based on their rank form.
The Dragons have not put four victories together since Giggs’ side in September 2020.
Wales started that run with wins over Azerbaijan and Hungary in November 2019 to reach Euro 2020.
Then success followed in the Nations League over Finland and Bulgaria 11 months later behind closed doors during Covid.
Remarkably, Wales could still qualify for Germany via a play-off courtesy of their previous Nations League record.
A home semi against Estonia next March is a possibility.
However, Wales aren’t winning enough matches to generate confidence.
PAGE’S FUTURE
The Football Association of Wales rewarded Page with a four-year deal last September after booking their World Cup place.
But Dragons fans have had enough and hammered chief executive Noel Mooney with ‘Page Out’ posts in reply to his tweet from the stands in Samsun on Monday night.
Coleman and Giggs also received criticism after poor results but former FAW chief Jonathan Ford stood firm.
Now Mooney as well as the FAW board and council members have a big decision to make.
Stick with Page or make a change ahead of the autumn?
Ex-Wales defender Danny Gabbidon reckons Page should be given the chance to finish off the campaign.
Coleman’s former-assistant Osian Roberts was asked after the Turkey defeat if he would consider a return should a vacancy arise and he said: “Who knows. In the future, you can never tell.”
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SunSport understands the ex-Crystal Palace No2 plans to follow Patrick Vieira in his next managerial post, with Leeds keen on the France World Cup winner.
Ex-Wales skipper Ashley Williams could also be a short-term option if the FAW axe Page.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
