Welsh players celebrate Ukraine’s 1-0 victory over long-awaited World Cup standings
Wales will “go head-to-head with anyone” at the 2022 World Cup, having built the belief from their performances at Euro 2016 and 2020, says manager Rob Page.
They reached the semifinals of Euro 2016 and advanced to the knockout stages from a difficult group at Euro 2020.
“We go with the confidence we have in any match,” said Page, with the World Cup set to begin in November.
“We played against the United States. We know they are a very strong team.
“We played against their European players in my first match (0-0 draw in November 2020).
“They [and Iran] they’re win-win games, and when you play against a national team, anything can happen.
“We’ll go face to face with anyone, wear it. That’s the attitude we have in this locker room.”
Page only “slept a little” after celebrating a famous 1-0 win over Ukraine at Cardiff City Stadium, which ensured that Wales would only take part in a second World Cup and the first in 64 years.
Speaking to Radio Wales Breakfast, Page added: “It’s one of those surreal moments where you wake up and realize you’re going to the World Cup. It’s amazing.
“Even in the final whistle last night, I was thinking ‘is it a cruel dream I’m having?’ But when you realize it’s the reality, go back to the hotel and celebrate with the players last night, then wake up this morning and realize again that we did.
“It’s such a proud time for the nation.”
Page is only the second coach to lead Wales to a World Cup, following in the footsteps of another product from the Rhondda Valley, Jimmy Murphy, who was in charge in 1958.
The 47-year-old former Port Vale and Northampton Page boss has enjoyed a spectacular stint at the helm since he left his assistant coaching role 19 months ago.
“It’s a special time for me personally and for my family,” added Page, who hails from Tylorstown.
“My mom and dad still live in the Rhondda. We’re all going to enjoy it, we’re in favor of it ourselves.”
The Qatar World Cup will be the third major tournament in Wales in six years after a series of qualifying failures that lasted almost six decades.
Wales have not lost a game at home since Robert Page took over
Chris Coleman was the manager who broke the cycle when he led Wales to Euro 2016.
Page was quick to praise Coleman and his predecessor, the late Gary Speed, after Gareth Bale’s deflected free-kick and a magnificent defensive display combined to see Wales defeat Ukraine.
“Something had to change when I finished playing international football if we were to give ourselves the best chance to qualify for the big tournaments and Gary did,” Page said.
“He took it to another level. Yesterday’s victory was for Gary and his family.
“Professionalism, how we approach games, how we had an identity as a nation and as a team [was down to Speed].
“Chris Coleman took it to another level and we saw it in the European Championships when we reached the semi-finals and we hit our weight en masse.
I inherited a group of players who love to play for their country. ”