Wales boss defends selection despite the shambolic Euro 2024 qualifying loss to Armenia
UNDER-FIRE Robert Page defended his team selection despite the shambolic Euro 2024 defeat to Armenia.
But the pressure is building on the Wales boss following a woeful run of just one win in 11 matches.
And Friday’s embarrassing loss resulting in Page’s flops being booed off at full-time.
Page is under contract until 2026 after signing a four-year deal last September.
He picked an attacking line-up including Kieffer Moore, Brennan Johnson, Dan James and Harry Wilson which was exposed by the Armenians.
Fuming Dragons fans questioned the tactical approach by the hosts as skipper Aaron Ramsey and midfield partner Ethan Ampadu were overrun.
Then the visitors – ranked 97th in the world – ran riot to capitalise on open spaces and terrible defending at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The same issues of failing to be compact and show defensive responsibility were apparent during Wales’ World Cup flop in Qatar against USA, Iran and England.
And the holes have only got bigger without the retired Joe Allen.
But when asked after the 4-2 home humiliation if Page would pick the same all-out attacking team if he had his time again, he said: “Yes, I would.
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“When you are playing a home game which is on paper a winnable game then you want to go for it.
“I could have played with two sitting midfielders, of course I could have left an attack-minded player out and I probably would have been criticised for that if we had lost.
“I’ve gone with what I thought was right and I wouldn’t change that.”
The Welsh support have also been alarmed at Page’s in-game management amid criticism that the Dragons chief takes too long to make substitutions.
Page did concede he should have ‘maybe made some changes sooner’ when he added: “The rule of thumb is you don’t make changes when you are defending a corner or throw-in into your box.
“You can’t throw somebody into the deep end like that. You wait until there is a break in play but unfortunately they got the third goal by then.”
Wales’ hopes of a third successive Euros finals appearance are in the balance after dropping to third spot in Group D behind new leaders Turkey and Croatia.
And Page knows he needs an instant reaction – and three points to ease the pressure on him – to keep their dream alive of reaching Germany next year when they face the Turks in tomorrow’s (Mon) qualifier.
SunSport understands Football Association of Wales chiefs are not planning any talks on Page’s future before the Samsun showdown.
But Page and Wales’ task in Turkey has been made harder with striker Moore suspended following his red card for kicking out on Armenia goalkeeper Ognjen Chancharevich.
Page said: “We probably do need to win now. Of course, we will take a point away from home.
“But our intentions are to win every game and it’s no different on Monday.
“We had a great start in March but there’s no bad teams now. Turkey had to score in the 96th minute to win in Latvia.
“Teams are going toe-to-toe. But we didn’t underestimate Armenia. We knew they would be a threat.
“We had a game plan, started well in the first 10 minutes but they grew in confidence after we scored and took charge of the ball which was frustrating. We will watch it back and learn from it.
“The positive is we’ve got a game on Monday where we can put it right. We will have meetings and I’ll speak to the players individually.
“We have addressed them as a group and we have to go to work again. We have 48 hours to turn it around.”
Meanwhile, David Brooks spoke of his pride after ending a two-year Wales absence following his cancer battle.
Brooks, whose last Dragons cap came at the Euro 2020 finals two summers ago, received a standing ovation from a sell-out 32,000 crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Brooks said: “I’m immensely proud. I had family in the crowd and some back home.
“It’s been a long two years and to finally put the Wales shirt on again was special.
“Thank you to all the fans, especially the reception when I came on. I could hear every single one of them.”
Wales boss Robert Page added: “I’m really pleased for him. It was the only positive thing. He’s just class. Every time he got the ball he looked forward.”
With Moore suspended for tomorrow’s trip to Turkey, Brooks could play a bigger role.
Brooks added: “If we win that, we go back into a position of power. We all know what we want to achieve.
“We want to get to the major tournaments, and these are the games we have to do it in. We have two days to get over it and get back to work.
“People will be starting to doubt us, but we have got to go and try and put in a performance to prove all those people wrong.”