Rob Page has revealed the Wales squad held a meeting to address “what needed to be said” after the Armenia debacle and discuss how to get their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign back on track against Turkey.
Wales endured a shock 4-2 defeat at home against Armenia on Friday but Page is adamant it was nothing more than a “massive bump” in the road for a young squad. Wales face Turkey in Samsun on Monday night, on the Black Sea, as Page seeks a reaction from his players and a much-needed victory.
“We had a group meeting yesterday [on Saturday] and addressed what needed to be said, we’ve put it to bed and full focus is on the challenge tomorrow evening and we’ll all be ready for it,” Page said.
“We have to bounce back straight away and all stick together. As long as we don’t get too carried away with positive performances and results like against Croatia [a 1-1 draw], too disappointed with defeats and keep a level head we’ll come through the other side and be OK. What I want is a reaction from the players, and that is in the performance. If they do that the result will take care of itself.
“We showed our potential in March [by taking four points from a possible six], we are still a young group so there are going to be inconsistencies, there are going to be bumps along the way. Friday was a massive bump, but now we stick together as a group. We will look to put it right tomorrow, but if we can’t get the win I want a level of performance that the supporters can be proud of and build on it.”
Wales are third in Group D, behind leaders Turkey and Croatia, who have played a game fewer owing to their involvement in the Nations League final. Page has conceded Wales probably need to win in Turkey to keep their hopes of qualifying from one of the two available places and acknowledges they have a chance to flip the narrative surrounding the team after one of the worst results in their recent history.
“That’s what happens when you win and lose games of football,” he said. “This is why I talk about the importance of staying moderated. It’s a long-term plan.
“We are in a transition. Since the World Cup there have been some senior players who have left, big characters in the changing room. We introduced a lot of youth, not just in the squad but in the team as well. We are going to have moments like we had the other night, it’s about how we manage those defeats and give a performance [against Turkey].”
Wales have won only one of their 11 matches since qualifying for the World Cup, at which they exited at the group stage, but Page insists statistics can be misleading. In that period they have faced Belgium and the Netherlands twice, as well as England. “Look at the opposition we’ve been playing. We’re a team in progression, a team in transition so we have to remind ourselves where on the journey we are.”
Wales will be without their first-choice striker Kieffer Moore after he was sent off against Armenia for a petulant kick at the goalkeeper Ognjen Cancarevic, while the Tottenham defender Ben Davies has withdrawn from the squad following the birth of his first child. Page said Davies’s absence was pre-arranged. “It is disappointing but it’s out of our control and we will make the changes that will make us competitive.”
Brennan Johnson could play as a centre-forward for Wales, who could also call on Millwall’s Tom Bradshaw, Swansea’s Liam Cullen or Nathan Broadhead, who rescued a point for Wales in Croatia on debut, to lead the line in Moore’s absence. Neco Williams will likely replace Davies in defence.
The centre-back pairing of Chris Mepham and Joe Rodon were criticised after the Armenia loss but Page insists his players can handle the flak. “They have been in football long enough to roll with the punches,” he said.
“We all know we fell short of the standards we set before. They are aware of it and we don’t need to talk about it any more. As individuals and as a group, we have an opportunity three days later to put it right. They will be raring to go.”
