D-Day for Rob Web page: Tuesday’s Euro 2024 playoff towards Poland is an acid check for Wales… defeat would signify failure whereas a victory would see the supervisor obtain one thing none earlier than him might

Rob Web page is making ready for an evening in Cardiff that would make or break his time as Wales supervisor.

Beat Poland on Tuesday and Web page will obtain one thing no Wales boss has delivered — qualification for consecutive main tournaments. Although Web page led the workforce at Euro 2020, Ryan Giggs was in cost all through the qualifying marketing campaign.

Lose, and all of a sudden Web page’s future is up for debate once more. As a result of whenever you strip away the Purple Wall romance and renditions of Yma o Hyd, the plain reality is that Wales would have didn’t qualify for Euro 2024 regardless of all of the playing cards falling of their favour.

Regardless of trailing in third behind Turkey and Croatia of their group, Wales’ Nations League efficiency gave them a shot on the play-offs — the place they promptly landed two house ties. With Finland despatched, Wales tackle a Polish aspect who’re superior to the Finns however nonetheless beatable.

Although Wojciech Szczesny, Piotr Zielinski and Robert Lewandowski are higher than something Wales have to supply, the remainder of the XI is unspectacular and in Cardiff, Wales ought to beat them.

Poland don’t journey effectively, and their 1-0 win on the Cardiff Metropolis Stadium in September 2022 was one in every of solely two away from house since October 2020. The opposite was towards the Faroe Islands.

It might sound harsh, however defeat would signify failure for Web page. Web page’s relationship with Welsh FA chief government Noel Mooney has been strained ever since Mooney hinted final autumn that he might make a change if Wales missed out on Euro 2024.

Web page is effectively favored by the gamers however the 49-year-old — who has two years to run on his contract — has additionally had the rub of the inexperienced at essential moments. He inherited the aspect within the post-Giggs period they usually had been extraordinarily fortunate to squeeze previous Ukraine within the play-off for Qatar 2022 — and had been terrible on the finals. Then a third-place end was rewarded with two house play-offs and if Wales do attain Germany, they may fancy their possibilities of making the final 16.

The winners on Tuesday will go into Group D, alongside France, the Netherlands and Austria. Victory over Austria could be sufficient to take Wales into the knockout phases as the most effective third-placed groups.

Wales supporters may have been happy to listen to Web page so bullish. ‘We’re in a wholesome place as a result of we’ve obtained everyone taking part in usually for his or her golf equipment,’ stated Web page. ‘The hole within the World Cup play-offs in 2022 [between the Austria semi-final in March and Ukraine final in June] suited us as a result of we had senior gamers who weren’t taking part in membership soccer, in Aaron [Ramsey], in Gareth [Bale]. That hole helped us. If it had been 4 or 5 days later, we’d have struggled a bit.

‘Now we’re in a distinct place as a result of we’ve obtained a youthful squad, a fitter squad, we’ve obtained gamers who’re taking part in usually. Poland can be a troublesome sport and we respect what they’re all about.

‘Nonetheless, we all know if we carry our A-game like we did towards Croatia [who Wales beat 2-1 last October] and tonight, the consequence will handle itself. We all know what we now have to do. We’ve had a style of main tournaments and we fairly prefer it.

‘We’ve been there, picked the resort and obtained the coaching floor. We simply want another consequence to get throughout the road.’

It has been fascinating to observe Wales within the post-Bale period, and with Aaron Ramsey typically unavailable — although the Cardiff midfielder was on the bench on Thursday.

Bale is arguably the most effective participant within the historical past of Welsh soccer however his absence has allowed others to flourish. Now Web page can develop a system to favour the collective.

The wobbly space of the workforce is the defence. Goalkeeper Danny Ward’s solely aggressive soccer is for his nation and centre again Chris Mepham seems badly off form. If he struggled towards Finland’s Teemu Pukki, what occurs when he has to face Lewandowski?

Wales will financial institution on the entrance three of David Brooks, Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson to repeat their spectacular shows towards Finland.

‘It’s a workforce with loads of firepower,’ stated Brooks. ‘Dan James and Kieffer Moore have been in good type however had been each on the bench towards Finland. There are targets all through the workforce and whoever performs can be a risk.’