Last but not least on group B, the “Dragons” make their second appearance in a World Cup. The last time the Welsh squad competed in the international tournament was in Sweden 1958, were they made a respectable debut and reached the quarter finals. Nowadays, Wales has been on the rise for the last decade, developing elite players who play in Europe’s most prestigious leagues.
A Pretty Decent Group To Fancy Their Chances
Wales will face-off against a very balanced group that can be full of surprises. The ‘Dragons’ will make their debut on Monday, November 21st against USA. The USMNT has struggled recently and this match will certainly be a must-win for the Welsh if they intend to make it out of the group stages. After that, they’ll be facing England, who come in as favourites of the group, but they’ve struggled recently as well, something that needs to be taken as an advantage by the ‘Dragons’, whom are very familiar with their fellow neighbours style of play. There is a real possibility for the Welsh to make it out of the group, and they could seal their ticket to the knockout stages with a tie against IR Iran.
Unexperienced Manager At The Helm
The Wales National Team is led by Rob Page, a Welsh former player, now turned manager of the senior team. The young gaffer took on the position in 2019, after Ryan Giggs was suspended. Page at the time was the assistant manager for Giggs, and had coached the Wales U21 team already. After taking on the senior position, Page led the team to a promotion to ‘League A’ in the UEFA Nations League. He also took this squad all the way to the quarter finals of the 2020 UEFA Euro, and managed to qualify for the World Cup in the most competitive confederation. We’ll see if he can manage his nerves, and make up for his null experience in a World Cup.
Former World Class Players
The ‘Dragons’ have played together for a long time, so they know each other really well. But this team is still very dependable on its stars, whom the years have taken their toll on, so they no longer play at the elite level they used to.
This team is led by former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale (captain), who recently made a move to LAFC in the MLS, where he has not been playing constantly as one would’ve imagined, but even then, a move to a less competitive league did not favour him at all. He can still make a difference in the World Cup, but it is not as likely as 5 years ago when he was on top of his game.
Another player that has seen better days, is former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who has struggled since leaving the Premier League. Ramsey has found a new opportunity on OGC Nice (League 1), so he will also try to feature as a leader of this squad, and try to find his footing in the tournament.
Other notable players in this team include Ben Davies (LB, Tottenham), Harry Wilson (Winger, Fulham), Joe Allen (CM, Swansea City).
Nothing To Lose For The Welsh
Wales doesn’t have an easy group in paper, but there is certainly an opportunity to transcend into the knockout stages if this team can take advantage of their rivals’ recent poor form. The chemistry this squad has forged throughout the years will also play a fundamental role, since Wales’ stars peaks are long behind. We wouldn’t write off the ‘Dragons’ just yet.
