YOUNG SQUAD HUNGRY – PAGE
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ROBERT Page has embraced Wales having the third youngest squad at Euro 2020 by insisting his inexperienced players have the ambition and hunger to succeed.
Wales have an average age of 25 years, six months and 26 days – almost two years younger than the squad which reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016 in France.
Only England and Group A rivals Turkey have younger groups than Wales, with Gareth Southgate’s squad the second youngest at Euro 2020 with an average age of 25 years, three months and nine days.
“I have a great group and a very good mix,” interim boss Page said ahead of Wales’ tournament opener against Switzerland in Baku on Saturday.
“The older ones have got great character, temperament and personality. “But we’ve got young, ambitious and hungry players coming into the squad that want their jerseys. Nobody can rest on what they’ve done before. “There’s a good blend and on top of that they’re good characters. “I liken it to a club environment and that is hard to achieve when you’ve only got them for sporadic moments throughout the year.” There are eight survivors from Wales’ Euro 2016 squad in Page’s 26-man party – skipper Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies, Chris Gunter, Danny Ward, Joe Allen, Jonny Williams and Wayne Hennessey. Sixteen players have 20 caps or less, five have under 10 appearances and Cardiff midfielder Rubin Colwill made his debut against France last week. “There’s absolutely no fear with youngsters,” Page said. “You’ve seen that with Rubin, he belongs here. “Look at Joe Morrell’s performance against France. He was like ‘give me the ball’, he wanted to be the best player on the pitch. “We’ve got hungry players like that. It’s not just about having talented footballers. “It’s about the right characters as well and all our players have got that.” David Brooks has yet to hit the 20-cap mark since making his debut in November 2017. The 23-year-old Bournemouth midfielder has been blighted by injuries and underwent two ankle operations in 2019. But Brooks stepped up his fitness during Euro 2020 warm-up friendlies against France and Albania, winning his 18th cap in the latter on Saturday. “I am really excited for Brooksy,” Page said. “Some of the things he does in training just puts a smile on your face and I want the supporters to see that. “It’s been a frustrating couple of years for him. “But having a fit David Brooks is beneficial to us and we will get him on the grass as much as we can.”
THE Euros are just days away, but which team should Wales caretaker boss Rob Page pick for Saturday’s Group A opener with Switzerland in Baku?
Should he stick with five at the back, where does Kieffer Moore fit in, what about the Connor Roberts versus Neco Williams debate at full-back?
And who should play in goal? Our writers pick the Wales XI they’d like to see kick off the tournament against the Swiss...
PAUL ABBANDONATO Neco, Hennessey and Kieffer must play
I really don’t know what more Kieffer Moore could have done to start the Euros for Wales, although it looks like Rob Page will omit him in favour of a five at the back and false nine approach.
The front four picks itself for me – Moore, Gareth Bale and Dan James supplemented by mercurial playmaker Aaron Ramsey.
Joe Allen has been part of a struggling Stoke team for the last few years and may prove off the pace at Euros level, but he has plenty of Wales credit in the bank and should naturally start. He’s a proven tournament performer.
Ethan Ampadu, Joe Morrell or Dylan Levitt next to him? Probably Ampadu.
Most of the defence picks itself, although there is an argument for starting Ben Cabango ahead of Chris Mepham. Probably not, though.
The two issues are goalkeeper and right-back.
Danny Ward was brilliant against France and has seized his recent chance, but Wayne Hennessey has never let Wales down and his vast experience accrued over 96 caps will be vital for a young-looking defence when the heat is on during the tournament.
Connor Roberts has done nothing wrong for Wales, but young Liverpool ace Neco Williams is on another level and simply cannot be overlooked.
Paul’s team: Hennessey; N Williams, Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Ampadu, Allen, Ramsey; Bale, Moore, James.
MATHEW DAVIES
Kieffer gives Wales structure and Connor has to start
What did we learn from Wales’ two friendly matches against France and Albania this week? It’s difficult to ascertain, especially with the French game ruined as contest after Neco Williams’ red card.
It is extremely difficult to second-guess Page at the moment, such has been his tactical flexibility, which can be seen as both a positive and negative. We’ve seen Wales employ the 3-4-3 system in both friendlies but when they switched to 4-2-3-1 with Kieffer Moore in the mix they immediately looked more comfortable.
Danny Ward should start in goal – although Wayne Hennessey has never let anyone down. The back four would be Connor Roberts (or Neco Williams, it’s a toss-up decision), with the centre-backs being Joe Rodon and Chris Mepham, Page’s first-choice pairing. Ben Davies in at left-back completes the defensive line.
The midfield anchor duo should be Joe Allen and Ethan Ampadu. The Chelsea youngster started against Albania on the right of a back three. He is, in my opinion, far more effective in the centre of the park. Allen’s inclusion is selfexplanatory, but Joe Morrell has done well in recent games.
The attacking three of Daniel James, Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale is just delicious. Ramsey played in a false nine role against the eastern Europeans and it worked to a certain extent, but in a No.10 position he is the most effective player he can be. With Bale and James on the flanks, that is an attacking threat to savour.
Moore at centre-forward gives Wales structure, an out ball when they want to go long and someone who can hold up play to take the pressure off tired legs. As he’s proved for Cardiff City, he’s a menace in both boxes.
My only reservations over him will be European referees penalising him for aerial challenges. But, in the main, Wales look a better side when Moore is selected. Mat’s team: Ward; Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Ampadu, Allen; James, Ramsey, Bale; Moore.
TOM COLEMAN Aaron Ramsey not a nailed-on starter
Three at the back has certainly been the preferred system at the moment, but given that the France game was seen as very much a dress rehearsal for the Swiss, I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see Page drop to the 4-3-3 system that we saw in Nice.
OK, we didn’t really get to see it properly due to Neco Williams’ red card, but Page might well have seen enough to make up his mind on it.
At the back, the team picks itself.
As mentioned, Wayne Hennessey hasn’t ever let his country down, but Danny Ward looks to be the first choice under Page and, after his superb showing against France, I don’t expect that to change.
I think the back four will be largely the same, with Ben Davies coming in for Chris Gunter, with a more advanced Neco Williams dropping back into a makeshift back five if needed.
Before his red card, he was superb in man-marking Paul Pogba, so the Liverpool man could well have similar role to play here.
Joe Allen should start in the centre of midfield and, for me, will likely be partnered by Joe Morrell.
If he’s fully fit and firing, Ethan Ampadu would be my choice, but he looked rusty against the Albanians and might just start from the bench.
Kieffer Moore too will likely remain an impact player, given that Page would likely need to alter the system we saw in Nice in order to fully accommodate him, but I think his encouraging cameo against Albania will have done his chances of a start no harm at all.
Finally, and I never thought I’d ever say this, but for me the biggest call of the lot is Aaron Ramsey.
I don’t actually think he’s as nailed-on a starter as some might think. He was deployed as a false nine against Albania, a role he’s played on occasion for Juventus, but for me it didn’t really work.
I still think his best position is at number 10, but Wales haven’t played with one for a long time – although admittedly Ramsey’s long absence from the Wales squad has perhaps had a lot to do that.
On top of that, Wales have found a way to win without him. In the last 10 games Ramsey has missed, Wales have won seven of them.
Does he play central midfield? Perhaps, but again, it’s not really his best position. You want a player like Ramsey in and around the final third.
If he starts against the Swiss, Page will likely have to reconsider both his 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 systems, neither of which really accommodate a traditional number 10.
For me, on the eve of a tournament, that would be a bit of a gamble.
Tom’s team: