Page: It speaks for itself
Rob Page reckons there will be no need to make a rousing speech before kick- off given what’s at stake for his Wales players against Ukraine.
The winners of the playoff final will land a place at the World Cup finals in Qatar later this year.
And while Ukraine are desperate for a victory to lift their war- ravaged nation, Page’s players also have plenty of motivation as the Welsh look to qualify for a World Cup finals for the first time since 1958.
Wales boss Page said: “We won’t need to build them up, they’ll all understand the importance and the opportunity they have to go down in history.
“It’s important we play the game, not the occasion, that will be a key message.”
Connor Roberts will be looking to his big-name team-mates Gareth Bale
and Aaron Ramsey to see Wales to victory.
Neither has played much football this season for their clubs but defender Roberts said: “We have to play as well as we can all over the park and hope that Gaz, Rambo, whoever it may be, comes up trumps, score a few goals and we go home happy.
“Gareth has played in bigger games than all of us put together and, as a team-mate, I’ll be looking towards him to create something for us, to drag this country to the World Cup as he has dragged us to big moments many times over.
“I’ l l be as happy as anyone if he does it again.”
Burnley star Roberts also insists the Welsh players can’t afford to get caught up in the emotion surrounding Ukraine’s attempt to reach the World Cup against the odds.
He added: “It’s horrible what is happening to their country but this is a game of football.
“It ’ s Wales versus Ukraine and from the moment I step on that pitch nothing other than the job I have to do and the football game will be on my mind.”