Rob Page declared the final list of the 26-man squad for Wales making their way to Qatar to play the 2022 World Cup. The Dragons are entering international football’s greatest competition for the first time after 64 years. Sealing this historical qualification, Wales are not here just to make up the numbers but a squad aiming to fulfill ambition in the tournament.
History
The only other participation from Wales came in the 1958 edition after becoming a member of FIFA, football’s governing body. They finished in the quarterfinal stage in Sweden beaten by a Pele goal for Brazil. The narrow 1-0 loss was the only defeat they suffered throughout the tournament. Wales started with a respectful 1-1 draw against Hungary followed up with another 1-1 against Mexico and a goalless stalemate against the hosts Sweden. The three points landed them a playoff spot in the old format where they registered the first win of the tournament, a 2-1 success against Hungary to qualify for the last eight. Ivor Allchurch scored two of the four goals Wales scored in the tournament playing five matches. After a 64-year wait, the present generation of the Welsh squad will be tasting a World Cup stage.
Qualification
The qualification for Wales to the 2022 World Cup was dramatic and historical at the same time. The Cymru were grouped alongside a rifling Belgium side, finishing behind the Red Devils but achieving a point more than the Czech Republic for the playoff spots. There they face Austria in the semi-finals needing two stunners from Gareth Bale, one a show-stopping free kick, to elevate them to the final. Against Ukraine, it was a nervy affair considering the opposition was equally desperate to get to the World Cup with the war raging in their homeland. Despite their best efforts, the home support at the Cardiff Stadium was too much to handle as Bale once again launched a vicious free-kick that Andriy Yarmolenko inadvertently headed into his own net. 35-year-old Wayne Hennessey made a fascinating nine saves as the scores did not change after the ninety minutes leading to celebrations Wales have seen less in their football history.
Preparation for World Cup
Time in the qualifiers has been jubilant for Wales but the same thing cannot be said about their Nations League campaign. They came last in the group comprising Netherlands, Belgium and Poland with only one point gathered from six games. Rob Page’s side managed to score in all of those games and another positive take was the losses were more close calls rather than comfortable wins for the opposition. The tournament was also played in a congested schedule still only two wins in 2022 will concern the manager.
Wales 2022 FIFA World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Nottingham Forest), Danny Ward (Leicester City), Adam Davies (Sheffield United)
Defenders: Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspurs), Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Tom Lockyer (Luton Town), Joe Rodon (Stade Rennes, on loan from Tottenham Hotspurs), Chris Mepham (Bournemouth), Ethan Ampadu (Spezia, on loan from Chelsea), Chris Gunter (Wimbledon), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest), Connor Roberts (Burnley)
Midfielders: Sorba Thomas (Huddersfield Town), Joe Allen (Swansea City), Matthew Smith (MK Dons), Dylan Levitt (Dundee United), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joe Morrell (Portsmouth), Jonathan Williams (Swindon Town), Aaron Ramsey (Nice), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City)
Forwards: Gareth Bale (Los Angeles FC), Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth), Mark Harris (Cardiff City), Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest), Dan James (Fulham)
Coach: Rob Page
Now fully inserted as a head coach, Rob Page will be relying on Wales’s known heroes in Wayne Hennessey, Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey and above all Gareth Bale to take them out of a tough group in the 2022 World Cup. At a combined age of 32 with Bale being the oldest, the trio will be competing in their first-ever major FIFA tournament. Harry Wilson, Ethan Ampadu and Brennan Johnson will like to make the point at Qatar.
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Strength
The strength for Wales is to have the experience of the known trio still with the team. Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey can still produce their excellence in the middle of the park while Bale’s class for his nation is undisputed. For them, Wales entered their first ever major competition which was the Euros in 2016 and went to the semi-final of the competition. It shows how valuable those players are to bring mentality and spirit to the team. Additionally, credit goes to Rob Page who knows exactly what to bring out from this squad and as a result, they are competing in a FIFA tournament now after such a long time.
Weakness
As good as the veterans may be in their task, the midfield duo has not found the same success at their club with Aaron Ramsey’s injury trouble not allowing him to complete even 20 games for two years. His deficiency can be covered by other capable players in the midfield even if not in the same bracket but the team could really struggle if Gareth Bale is not in his groove. Bale also has a fair share of injuries and it is left to see his fitness in the tournament. He has declared himself ‘100% fit’ so this is welcoming news for the camp. Even if they click, the group they are in could suppress them in terms of quality from the others and those with more World Cup experiences than them.
Star Player: Gareth Bale
If Gareth Bale feels totally ready for the tournament with no injuries to bite, he will pull off jaw-dropping moments for his nation at the 2022 World Cup. It will be an occasion for him to laminate his name further in Welsh football history in his first and last FIFA tournament. Irrespective of the criticism he faced in his club career, Bale’s commitment to the national team is undoubted. The 3-year-old has always turned up in big games and especially in major competition to pull Wales out of trouble. He was the architect of Wales’s historical qualification to the tournament in Qatar itself with all of his strikes in the playoff proving crucial. Earlier in the Euros, the former Real Madrid player has been the inspiration to score in the decisive moment to send his national through. He also scored a crucial late equaliser to help Los Angeles eventually lift the MLS Cup despite not being that impactful throughout the season. He is a different kind of clutch player known to perform his task incredibly well. Wales will only wish he stays fit and in the form to guide further into the tournament.
Also Read | Belgium’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile and Uruguay’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile
How will Wales line up at the 2022 World Cup?
Rob Page will lead a Wales team in a World Cup after 15 editions wishing to make more history in the competition. The manager will use his three-man backline in the tournament as well, lining up with four in midfield and three up-front. Wayne Hennessey has made over 100 appearances for Wales, starting in the qualifiers and the Nations League, but has not been offered minutes at Nottingham Forest. Despite a rough start to the season, Danny Ward has improved and played all the games for Leicester City. So, it is a toss between experience and playing time which looking at the coach’s presence will be the former. Aaron Ramsey could start in midfield alongside Ethan Ampadu while Joe Allen could make an impact from the bench. Kieffar Moore is a towering presence up front and will help to hold the play and get his head to the crosses. Wales will not keep much possession with more agile opposition around so the direct-play option is feasible. Daniel James and star man, Gareth Bale will slot just behind them to bring their ethics to the team.
Opponents & Fixtures
USA vs Wales - 22 November 2022, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium (12:30 AM)
Wales vs Iran - 25 November 2022, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium (3:30 PM)
Wales vs England - 30 November 2022, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium (12:30 PM)
Wales will all their matches at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium starting with the pivotal match against the USMNT on 22 November. The Dragons will try to gain the upper hand in the tie against a talented opposition equally inexperienced yet want to make the World Cup return a charming one like theirs. The next game against Iran is also not an easy ride with the Asian team proving it difficult to score against even facing the top sides of the tournament. British football rivalry will be ignited in the last group stage game against England on 30th November. Wales will like to secure qualification by then if the other results are positive and will try to deny the Three Lions the top spot in the group.
Stance on Qatar
Wales Captain Gareth Bales has said the nation will shed light on the problems going on in the host country. 'We've spoken to the FAW [Football Association of Wales] and they've been speaking to Welsh government, who've been speaking to Qatar and Fifa, working on these issues. For us as players, we're fully behind and support everything we can do. Us as footballers, the most we can do is raise awareness and it's for people higher up to make those decisions and hopefully make change for the better', he quoted. Bale will also wear a One Love band as part of the campaign calling out the homosexuality laws in Qatar. We support everything in terms of the armband,' said Bale, 'We'll be doing everything and doing as much as we can to hopefully get change in the right way.' FAW is also considering safe houses for women and LGBTQ+ fans heading to World Cup in Qatar.
Prediction
Rob Page’s men have a very tough group in hand and one they would have wished to avoid. However, this is the World Cup they are taking part in. The tournament almost never provides easy routes for nations to have an advantage. The squad may be inexperienced at this stage but have a bundle of learnings from their last two European Championships. Like in euro 2016, Wales can prove to be a surprise element mainly if Gareth Bale produces the best version of himself. Anything can be touched if he is roaring but the group stage is their main barrier. The USA, rivals England and even Iran with their talents could be too much for the side to handle in the tournament.
