Wales skipper Aaron Ramsey says forget Armenia shocker ahead of crunch Euro 2024 qualifier in Turkey
AARON RAMSEY has called for unity as Wales try to dig themselves out of Euro 2024 trouble.
Friday’s shambolic 4-2 defeat to Armenia was greeted with boos from Dragons fans as the pressure increases on under-fire boss Robert Page ahead of tonight’s qualifier in Turkey.
The embarrassing home loss was a major blow to Wales’ hopes of qualifying for the finals in Germany next year.
And it triggered a team meeting on Saturday in a bid to address the crisis.
Page’s lads lie third in Group D behind the Turks and Croatia.
Captain Ramsey said: “Everybody is disappointed.
“The boys have been low but there’s a chance for us to make things right. It’s about how we respond.
“We have to stick together as a team and nation. We have to work hard and believe in each other that we can go on and qualify and get to Germany. That’s the goal.
“We don’t need any outside noise or negativity. We all need to be on the same page. If we do, we will get there.”
Page’s tactics came under scrutiny as the humiliation against a side ranked 71 places below in 97th exposed defensive vulnerability and big holes in midfield – both weaknesses at last year’s World Cup.
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Nice midfielder Ramsey, 32, called Friday’s shock defeat in Cardiff ‘naive’ and is desperate for his team-mates to learn from their mistakes in Samsun.
Ramsey added: “We realised what we did wrong. The distances were too big. We need to be more compact.
“It’s not just the midfield. Everyone has to take responsibility for that, whether it’s the back line or the front line dropping off. It’s up to the players to do that.
“Hopefully we can show we can learn and become a better team from it. We want to show what we’re capable of and make the nation proud.”
Page branded the Armenia defeat ‘a bump in the road’ but defended his side’s woeful record of just one win in their last 11 matches.
Page said: “Look at the opposition we’ve been playing. If we were playing England, Holland or Belgium six or seven years ago it might have been more than the close defeats in the 95th minute.
“We’re a team in transition so we have to put our foot on the ball and remind ourselves where on the journey we are.
“We’re still a young group and there’s going to be inconsistencies and bumps in the road. Friday was a massive bump. We’re not turning now.
“We had a group meeting and addressed what needed to be said.
“We have to get both sides of the game spot on because if we don’t then we run the risk of results and performances like Friday.
“I want a positive reaction from the players and that’s in the level of the performance. If we don’t win then I want a performance that gives the supporters something to be proud of.”
Wales are without striker Kieffer Moore, who is banned following his red card for an off-the-ball clash with Armenia’s keeper Ognjen Chancharevich.
And Spurs defender Ben Davies did not travel to Turkey due to the
birth of his first child.