Former Swans winger Dan James says Wales proved their doubters wrong when they beat Norway last month. He also expects Erling Haaland and his team-mates to come out fighting in Oslo on Saturday.
James, 29, came through the Swans academy and played for the club between 2016 and 2019. He is now a regular in Daniel Farke’s Leeds United squad in the Premier League, and is in line for his 69th cap at the Ullevaal Stadion (5pm kick-off).
James scored as Craig Bellamy’s side came from behind in Cardiff to beat the World Cup quarter-finalists, the biggest win of Bellamy’s reign. It also ended a run of six games without a win.
‘We lost our identity a little bit’
James admits Wales had lost their way before that night. He said: “The manager said it, and we all knew it, we haven’t performed to our best.”
He added: “As a team, we lost our identity a little bit. People had started talking and writing us off a little bit, but I think we showed our reaction, and people saw.”
The result kept Wales’ hopes of staying in the top tier of the Nations League alive, and James said: “That win over Norway was so important to keep us in the group and we showed what we were about.”
Norway on their worst run in a decade
Norway go into Saturday on their worst run of form for ten years, and are in danger of dropping out of the European elite they once looked ready to challenge.
Their defeat by Portugal last time out was their first home loss in 12 competitive matches. They have not lost four in a row since 2016.
Only veteran goalkeeper Orjan Nyland and Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth, now fit again, remain from that side.
James expects a reaction from the hosts, and said: “They’re a great nation and, at home especially, they’ve been brilliant.”
He added: “They’re a very hard team to beat, and I think after having that win in Cardiff it’s something that they’ve had to take and they’ll be even more up for this game.”
Wales won’t be fixating on them, though, and James said: “We won’t look to them too much.”
He continued: “They’ve got great players, they’ve got a great squad and have been great at home, but we have full belief.”
Euro 2028 seeding at stake
A win in Oslo would leave Wales within touching distance of third place in the group. They would then need a point against Portugal in Cardiff in their final game, or for other results to go their way.
Third place would probably still mean a play-off to stay in League A. It would, though, guarantee Wales a place in pot one for qualifying for Euro 2028, which Wales are co-hosting.
James said the squad know what is at stake: “We’re all aware of where we want to finish and how important it is going into Euro qualifiers.”
He added: “We have it in the back of our minds, but we can’t put pressure on ourselves; the only thing to know is that if we perform, we can do it.”
These are the games Wales want, he said: “We know we have two very important games against teams we want to be playing against.”
He went on: “If we want to get to major finals and go far in tournaments, we have to be able to compete against these teams, and the manager always reiterates that.”
Cabango the only current Swan
Swansea City captain Ben Cabango is again the only current Swan in Bellamy’s 26-man squad. He was also the only Swan named for the opening games in September.
Ben Davies, Connor Roberts, Liam Cullen and Josh Sheehan also came through the Swansea academy, like James.
The Wales squad for Norway and Portugal
Goalkeepers: Karl Darlow (Manchester United), Danny Ward (Wrexham), Joe Duncan (Southend United, on loan from Bristol City).
Defenders: Jay Dasilva (Coventry City), Jayden Lienou (Leeds United), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Mepham (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Rodon (Leeds United), Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest), Connor Roberts (Burnley).
Midfielders: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United), Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers), Kai Andrews (Oxford United, on loan from Coventry City), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City), Joel Colwill (Cardiff City).
Forwards: Harry Wilson (Leeds United), Liam Cullen (Leicester City), Cian Ashford (Cardiff City), Brennan Johnson (Everton), Sorba Thomas (Hull City), Lewis Koumas (Liverpool), Kieffer Moore (Wrexham), Mark Harris (Oxford United), Dan James (Leeds United), David Brooks (Bournemouth).
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