Rob Page: There are opportunities to ‘step up to the plate’ against Croatia

Page’s new-look squad begin their campaign with a tricky double header against the World Cup semi-finalists, before welcoming Latvia to the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The qualifier will be the first match since the retirement of talisman Gareth Bale, whilst veteran campaigners of the previous two European adventures Joe Allen and Chris Gunter have also hung up their boots at international level.

Page though believes that although it will be tough to replace Wales’ record goal scorer and his experienced teammates, the campaign provides a chance for the next generation of stars to stake their claim in the side.

One of those is 21-year-old Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson. The Championship young player of the season for 2022 has continued his progression into the Premier League with seven goals and a series of eye-catching displays for ex-Swansea City boss Steve Cooper’s Reds.

With 18 caps to his name, emphasis will be on Johnson to add to his two strikes for his country and fill the big shoes of Bale as Wales’ main attacking threat. A development Page thinks will have to be managed to nurture the country’s budding starlet.

“Brennan is a top player. He’s arguably one of the best counter-attacking centre-forwards in the Premier League at this moment,” said Page.

“We know he is capable of scoring goals, his pace is an unbelievable asset and threat, so we will continue to develop him and take that pressure off him. He just has to enjoy his football.

“There’s no expectations from us, he just needs to keep playing how he has been, and he will continue to create chances.

“His journey in the last two years since we brought him up to the first team has been really impressive. But we have to manage that with young players.

“Some of the opposition defenders he will play against are not as good as what he is facing week in, week out in the Premier League. Top players deal with pressure. He will be fine with that.

“Gareth was one on his own, world-class, absolutely. Brennan still has a lot of developing and improving to do. He is showing great potential at this moment, but we can’t compare him to Gareth. They are different types of players.”

Group favourites Croatia, at the opposite side of the spectrum to Wales, will be a daunting prospect for Page’s side.

Boasting a star-studded experienced lineup led by iconic 37-year-old Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, Zlatko Dalić’s side on their day can mix with the best.

Modric, the four-time Champion’s League winner is still very much the star man dictating play for his side as he has done over an international career that has seen 162 caps and four World Cup tournament finals experiences.

Under new captain Aaron Ramsey, Wales will be entering the beginning of a new era. With the loss of retirements and the high-profile withdrawals through injury this week of the likes of Tottenham defender Ben Davies and Wayne Hennessey, the starting lineup will have an unfamiliar youthful feel to recent times. 

With the chance to upset their more fancied rivals, however, Page believing the opportunity will be there for the taking.

“It’s not just Brennan that has to come in now and step up to the plate, it’s an opportunity for the others around him to take that responsibility,” continued Page

“It’s still the same journey we are on, it’s just that some of the players have retired.

“We want success. The biggest thing for us now is we don’t just hope with the question, ‘can we qualify?’.

“We believe we can. The biggest thing has to be the mindset in the changing room.”

Wales squad for EURO 2024 qualifiers versus Croatia and Lativa

Goalkeepers: Danny Ward, Adam Davies, Tom King

Defenders: Neco Williams, Ben Cabango, Oliver Cooper, Tom Lockyer, Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham, Ethan Ampadu, Connor Roberts, Morgan Fox

Midfielders: Sorba Thomas, Jordan James, Nathan Broadhead, Wesley Burns, Aaron Ramsay (captain), Joe Morrell, Harry Wilson

Forwards: Daniel James, Kieffer Moore, Luke Harris, Brennan Johnson, Tom Bradshaw, Liam Cullen, Mark Harris

Lead image: Action Plus Sports Images / Alamy)