PAGE: WE’LL GIVE SUNDAY EVERYTHING
ROB PAGE insists it will be “business as usual” in the coming days as he prepares his nation for their biggest game for 64 years.
And while they tuned up for Sunday’s World Cup shootout against Ukraine in Cardiff with a Nations League defeat by Poland in Wroclaw, this was a makeshift side with Page omitting his big guns.
The Wales boss (below) said: “We want to keep the environment exactly the same. There’s nothing different about how we’re going to plan or train. We don’t need to create that added pressure. Don’t need it, don’t want it.
“We thrive on occasions like this, we’ve done it in the past and so it’s, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.
“We’ll be throwing everything we’ve got into winning that game.”
Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and Ben Davies were left out of the squad for the game, but Page said: “I made sure they were in the changingroom. They’re a massive influence on that group and I wanted them in there.”
Poland won thanks to goals from second-half substitutes Jakub Kaminski and Karol Swiderski (top).
But there were positives for Page and his makeshift team, with a lovely goal from Jonny Williams, the kind Robert Lewandowski would have been proud of, firing them into a deserved second-half lead.
Page said: “The experience those young players have had from playing against very good opposition will hold them in good stead down the line. I’m proud of them.”
Dan James caused the Poles problems with his pace early on but the home side carved out the best chances of the first half with Piotr Zielinski heading just wide.
Keeper Danny Ward had to save well from Lewandowski while Adam Buksa just failed to get on the end of a dangerous cross. James was unlucky with a wide effort.
Rabbi Matondo’s introduction at the break gave Wales a lift and, when the ball landed at Williams’ feet after a good run from his team-mate, he fired home a dipping drive.
Despite defeat, Wales had come through the game unscathed.
Bale penned an emotional farewell to Real Madrid yesterday as the curtain fell on his nine-year stay.
The Welshman, 32, who will receive an MBE today, leaves the Bernabeu with five Champions League winners’ medals and three La Liga winners’ medals.
Bale wrote: “I arrived here nine years ago to realise my dream of playing for Real Madrid.
“I can now look back, reflect and say with honesty that this dream became a reality and much, much more.
“To be part of this club’s history and to achieve what we achieved has been an incredible experience and one I will never forget.”
POLAND: Grabara 6, Beresznski 6, Glik 7, Bednarek 7, Puchacz 6 (Zalewski 59, 6), Klich 6 (Zurkowski 59, 6), Krychowiak 6 (Grosicki 80, 6), Goralski 6 (Kaminski 59, 7), Zielinski 6, Lewandowski 7, Buksa 6 (Swiderski 59, 7) WALES: Ward 6 (Hennessey 46, 6), Gunter 6, Mepham 7, Norrington-Davies 6, Levitt 6, Morrell 7, Smith 6, Burns 6 (N Williams 61, 6), J Williams 7 (Thomas 76, 6), Moore 6 (Harris 46, 6), James 6 (Matondo 46, 7)