Overjoyed Page admits he was emotional wreck
ROB Page admits he struggled to contain his emotions after Wales claimed a vital 1-1 draw with Belgium.
Kieffer Moore cancelled out Kevin De Bruyne’s opener at Cardiff City Stadium to ensure Wales will be at home in the World Cup play-off semifinals.
They will face one of Poland, North Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, Czech Republic or Austria in a single-leg semi-final in the Welsh capital in March. The draw takes place a week tomorrow Friday.
Page was visibly emotional after the draw with the Belgians, with every single member of Wales’s coaching staff and squad uniting to form a post-match huddle in the centre of the pitch.
And boss Page said the spirit among the current crop of Wales players is the best he’s ever experienced.
“I was a wreck. It was an emotional time of just telling the players how proud I am,” he said.
“A great moment for myself. If I could get you to understand the dynamics of that group of players in there, the camaraderie they’ve got, the team spirit, it’s unbelievable.
“It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. To be part of that makes me truly proud to lead them.”
Belgium have won 25 of their 28 qualifying matches under Roberto Martinez, with the other three ending level.
And after the draw in the Welsh capital, the former Swansea City, Everton and Wigan Athletic boss, who has studied on the Football Association of Wales coaching course, issued a touching message to the Red Dragons after they clinched a home semifinal play-off tie.
“We congratulate Wales, they finished second,” said the Spaniard.
“A fantastic atmosphere. We all wish that you have a fantastic draw in the play-offs.
“It’s fair to say when Wales are at home they’ve got an extra threat. It makes a big difference for Wales now to go into the play-offs and be able to play at home.
“I would say without the crowd that maybe we don’t concede that goal. Every time the ball goes into the box or every time the ball goes to a certain player’s feet, those emotions can give you an extra step.
“For us, that why it was so good to see our young players able to cope in that environment, and we can take a lot of information out of the way that we performed in such a beautiful, hostile atmosphere.”
The play-off draw takes place on November 26, with the fixtures themselves running from March 24 to March 29 next year.
The 12 teams will be drawn into three play-off paths, with the winner of each path earning a spot at the next World Cup.
The winner of both one-legged semi-finals in each path will face off in a final to determine the path winner.
The World Cup itself takes place in Qatar between November 21 and December 18 in 2022.