ENDING REDS DREAM WAS RIGHT MOVE FOR HARRY Rhys speech ‘helped to inspire Wales win’
tion to life without talisman Gareth Bale. Indeed, there have been suggestions that the winger might well be the man to fill the Baleshaped hole in Wales’ front three, although Wilson himself is understandably reluctant to entertain any direct comparisons. Instead, he believes it’s down to the collective to help shoulder the burden of responsibility in light of Bale’s departure.
“I don’t think anyone was going to replace Gaz,” he said. “We knew when he left as team we had to step up because he was leaving such a hole in that team.
“He was our captain. Our leader. Our best player. To lose his goals and his influence on the team, there was going to be a big gap there. It’s not just me, a lot of players are playing really well at the moment. We’re all coming together.”
Wilson certainly looked at home alongside Brennan Johnson and David Brooks in the win over Finland,
and believes the current set-up has helped to further enhance the strengths of his game.
“I feel the way we’ve set up, especially the last few games, really suits me,” he added.
“Whether I’m playing on the left like I did the other night, or on the right. I feel like that position off the front man is a position I’m comfortable in.
“It allows me to come and get the ball and allows me to run in behind. Whether it’s Kieffer [Moore] flicking it on, I think that’s a position I play well. Gaz played that position a lot. So it’s up to us now to make sure we chip in with goals and assists.”
Looking ahead to the clash against Poland, a side Wales have only ever beaten once in their entire history, it’s clear there’s one name in particular that Wales are thinking about.
Robert Lewandowski didn’t actually find the net in the 5-1 win over Estonia, his record of 82 goals in 146 international outings means he remains the superstar of Polish football.
“Everyone knows how dangerous he is,” Wilson said. “The goals scored throughout his career. He might not be getting any younger but give him a chance and he scores.
“First and foremost we have to be solid at the back. Make sure we don’t give them many chances. Then when we’ve got the ball, we’ve got to hurt them going the other way.”
JORDAN JAMES has revealed how a passionate speech from actor Rhys Ifans inspired Wales to a Euro 2024 play-off victory over Finland.
Ifans rose to worldwide fame in the 1999 comedy film hit Notting Hill and is also known for roles in Harry Potter and Marvel’s Spider-Man movies.
The 56-year-old Twin Town actor spoke to Rob Page’s squad before their 4-1 play-off semi-final win against Finland on Thursday, telling them that “nothing unifies us in the way you do and makes us safe to show our pride and our sorrow”.
“It was unbelievable,” said Birmingham midfielder James. “I got goosebumps when he was talking. All the lads would say the same thing. It really touched the heart and showed how much this means to the fans and every Welsh person around the world. To have the backing of the fans is unbelievable and it helps us a lot.”
Wales return to the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday to play Poland with a place at Euro 2024 at stake. “We want to get to these big tournaments. We’re one game away and we can’t wait for it,” said James.
“The next game is massive, for everyone and the whole country. The manager told us to trust ourselves. We are good players.
“If we trust ourselves, play together, work hard for each other and use the fans to our advantage then it makes it easier. We can always get to the other side.”
James does not turn 20 until July but the teenager – who was heavily linked with Serie A club Atalanta during the January transfer window – has become a mainstay of the Wales midfield alongside Ethan Ampadu over the last six months.
He will win his 10th cap against Poland, but admits he did not even consider the prospect of playing at Euro 2024 during the last European Championship, three years ago.
“I was at home watching that on TV with my parents,” said James. “I wasn’t even hoping
I’d be at the next one. It wasn’t even in my head, so to be here and one game away is unbelievable.”
On playing alongside Ampadu, James added: “Ethan’s a top player, I’m inspired to be like him. To get 50 caps at 23 is something that I want to do.
“Hopefully I can follow in his footsteps and have the career that he is going to have. The more games you play with each other the better you are going to be. I’m starting to know what he is going to do with the ball so I can react off that.”