Wales who are the highest ranked side in the group at 29 in the current FIFA World Rankings, avoided some of League B’s higher-ranked teams. However, they would once again be pitted against a young and talented Turkish side, who finished above both Wales and World Cup semi-finalists Croatia in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Rob Page’s side have been placed in Group B4 where they will also face home and away ties against Iceland and Montenegro. Both nations have struggled in recent years dropping to 70 and 71 in the World, however, posses a breadth of talent plying their trade across the four major European Leagues.
The Dragons were relegated into the second tier of the competition after finishing bottom of Group A4 in the 2022-23 edition after picking up just one point from a group with European giants Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands.
If Wales can top the group after playing all three nations home and away later this year they will earn promotion and an automatic route back to League A at the first attempt.
Wales head-coach Page speaking after the defeat would be upbeat about his sides chances.
“I think it’s a positive group. We’re quite pleased with it,” said Page.
“We know all about Turkey off the back of playing them recently. I thought our home performance was very good and, on another day, we could have won the game.
“Away from home we went down to 10 men after 40 minutes and, without that, the result would have been different. So we know all about them.
“With regards to the other teams, we’ll have to do a little bit more digging and get some work for our analysts.
“If we give the performances we gave against Croatia and Turkey at home, the results should take care of themselves. We’re pretty confident.”
[Lead image: Football Association of Wales]
Discover more from Swansea Bay News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
