Updated “ Wales to play Poland in play-off final “

WALES BEAT FINLAND 4-1 AND WILL PLAY POLAND IN THE PLAY-OFF FINAL

That game will be held at CCS on Tuesday night.

The winner will qualify for Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.





FULL TIME:

WALES 4-1 FINLAND




WALES STARTING 11

Danny Ward
Connor Roberts
Chris Mepham
Joe Rodon
Ben Davies
Neco Williams
Ethan Ampadu
Jordan James
Harry Wilson
David Brooks
Brennan Johnson

WALES SUBSTITUTES

Wayne Hennessey
Tom King
Morgan Fox
Jay Dasilva
Aaron Ramsey
Josh Sheehan
Charlie Savage
Rabbi Matondo
Dan James
Kieffer Moore
Liam Cullen
Nathan Broadhead





Wales play the first of potentially two huge game this weekend on Thursday night at CCS.

That is against Finland in the Euro 2024 qualifying play-off semi final, kicking off at 7.45pm.

It is live on S4C and ViaPlay Sports.


Should they win, then Wales will play either Poland or Estonia in the final - which would also be at CCS on Tuesday.

The winner of that final will qualify for the summer’s tournament.

Poland and Estonia also play their semi final at the same time on Thursday.


There are two Cardiff City players in the Wales squad - Aaron Ramsey and Rubin Colwill.



WALES SQUAD

Goalkeepers

Wayne Hennessey (Nottingham Forest)
Danny Ward (Leicester City)
Tom King (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Adam Davies (Sheffield United)

Defenders

Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur)
Joe Rodon (Leeds United)
Chris Mepham (Bournemouth)
Morgan Fox (QPR)
Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest)
Jay DaSilva (Coventry City)
Connor Roberts (Leeds United)
Wes Burns (Ipswich Town)

Midfielders

Ethan Ampadu (Leeds United)
Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers)
Dylan Levitt (Hibernian)
Jordan James (Birmingham City)
Charlie Savage (Reading)
Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff City)

Forwards

Harry Wilson (Fulham)
Nathan Broadhead (Ipswich Town)
Rabbi Matondo (Rangers)
David Brooks (Southampton)
Daniel James (Leeds United)
Liam Cullen (Swansea City)
Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City)
Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur)
Kieffer Moore (Ipswich Town)

Euro 2024 play-offs: Ethan Ampadu to become youngest Wales player to 50 caps -

"That's the player you should be excited about."

Ethan Ampadu had just walked behind Ashley Williams in a stadium corridor in Chisinau as the then Wales captain gave his firm declaration of a future star.

With a nod of the head in the direction of the dreadlocked 16-year-old strolling past, the man who skippered Wales to the 2016 European Championship semi-finals the previous summer was unequivocal.

"That's the guy who's going to replace me," Williams said, without a hint of worry time may prove him wrong.

While Liverpool youngster Ben Woodburn grabbed headlines for a goal and assist in World Cup qualifying, Williams was anointing an unused sub as his natural heir as Wales centre-back and leader. For good reason.

Ampadu's position may still be under debate, defender for club, midfielder for country, but his status in Wales' new generation is not.

He has already reached two major championships and is almost certain to start Thursday's Euro 2024 play-off semi-final against Finland in Cardiff - the winners play Poland or Estonia five days later for a place in Germany this summer.

In doing so - at 23 years, six months and eight days - he will become the youngest Welshman to reach 50 caps, with manager Rob Page as adamant as Williams that Ampadu is a Wales captain in waiting.

Just to clarify, if we get through the final is on Tuesday 26th.

Page and the team seem confident from the football feast show last night. C'mon boys, do us proud.

Two games at home all in Wales hands.

Wales can beat both.

Just to clarify, if we get through the final is on Tuesday 26th.

You are right of course

I originally said the final would be on Sunday, corrected it now.

If he plays Rambo as a no6 it will show he as not got a clue about the players.... Rambo is a no10 always has been

Euro 2024 qualifying play-off semi-final: Wales v Finland -

Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Thursday, 21 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: Live on S4C, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text

Highlights: Match of the Day Wales, BBC One Wales from 22:40 and later on demand

Wales will be one win away from Euro 2024 if they beat Finland in their home play-off semi-final on Thursday.

Victory will set up a one-leg play-off final at Cardiff City Stadium against Poland or Estonia on Tuesday.

Having failed to qualify for a major tournament between 1958 and 2016, Wales are aiming to reach their fourth out of five - and a third successive Euros.

"There's everything to play for but we're fully prepared for it," said Wales manager Robert Page.

"It's quite a relaxed environment and that's not because we're blase about it or taking things for granted.

"We're in good form at this moment in time, most of the squad are playing football for their clubs, training has been excellent.

"We have gone through similar experiences with the pressure of the play-off situations against Austria and Ukraine [to qualify for the 2022 World Cup], and the difficulty surrounding that.

"We are all quite relaxed but not underestimating the challenge."

Wales are still in the midst of the most successful period in their history, albeit perhaps at the tail end of their absolute peak following the departures of some notable players.

This has been their first qualifying campaign since the retirement of Gareth Bale - arguably the greatest player in Wales' history - and other key figures such as Joe Allen.

Such a period of adjustment has brought with it some turbulence, including a humiliating home defeat against Armenia last June and other poor results which put Page under pressure at times.

His players rallied superbly to beat World Cup semi-finalists Croatia last October but, ultimately, Wales still missed out on automatic qualification after finishing behind Turkey and Croatia in their group.

Luckily for Page and his players, however, their performance in the Nations League over recent years secured them the back-up option of a play-off place.

"We have lost one of the world's best players with Gareth," said Page.

"There's been enough in the squad to put us in a position where we are two wins away from qualifying for the fourth time [out of five major tournaments].

"Of course he's going to be missed on and off the pitch but it gives others an opportunity, like Harry Wilson, probably a bit-part player when Gareth was at his peak.

"Now 'H' has made a stake for a starting position again and, with what he's doing at club level, has earnt that right. Others have taken that opportunity with both hands and are relishing that challenge."

Finland also finished third in their group, with Denmark and Slovenia taking the automatic qualification spots.

The Finns are aiming to qualify for only their second major tournament, having made it to the group stage of Euro 2020.

Are we having a guess the score poll?

0 - 3.

One off game, need to just go at them and give it all for 90 minutes, hopefully Page will not go all defensive in this one.

Are we having a guess the score poll?

0 - 3.

If he plays an attacking team, we should beat Finland.

But if he doesn’t, your prediction will probably be closer.


Finland missing Kenneth Taylor, one of their best players.

If he plays Rambo as a no6 it will show he as not got a clue about the players.... Rambo is a no10 always has been

If he plays Rambo at all it shows that Rambo picks the Wales team.

WALES STARTING 11

Danny Ward
Connor Roberts
Chris Mepham
Joe Rodon
Ben Davies
Neco Williams
Ethan Ampadu
Jordan James
Harry Wilson
David Brooks
Brennan Johnson

WALES SUBSTITUTES

Wayne Hennessey
Tom King
Morgan Fox
Jay Dasilva
Aaron Ramsey
Josh Sheehan
Charlie Savage
Rabbi Matondo
Dan James
Kieffer Moore
Liam Cullen
Nathan Broadhead

They are quite physical, I thought Moore would be a starter. BJ is not a 9

Amazed Moore is no starting.

Mr bulut is here just said hya to him and told him He's watching wrong team.....

Colwill not in the match day squad. I feel for the lad, he's having his best season to date yet neither Bulut or Page seem to want to give him a real chance.

Really hope I'm wrong, but I see us starting the match frantically before ceding control and constantly hoofing the ball to nobody and losing possession. Then at half time Moore will inevitably be taken on to play the target man our limited tactics desperately need.

Mr bulut is here just said hya to him and told him He's watching wrong team.....

The new First Minister also in attendance.

GOAL

David Brooks puts us ahead after just three minutes

Forgot how much i love (miss) direct football

That was very well taken, made it look easy. If that had been a CCFC player it would have ended up in row ZZ.

Mr bulut is here just said hya to him and told him He's watching wrong team.....

The new First Minister also in attendance.

Born Guessing is probably cheering the wrong team. Doesn't know his arse from his elbow.

Finland looking dangerous when attacking & they're seeing most of the ball since the goal. Hopefully we score a second before they score an equaliser.

outmanned in midfeild

Looking like the winner will definitely play Poland

Poland 1-0 up and Estonia down to ten men

GOAL

Neco Williams doubles the lead


Clever free kick from the edge of the box with Wilson laying it off for Williams to score

Quality free kick. Nice to see some flair and creativity on the CCS pitch haha