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Wales 4-1 Finland: David Brooks and Brennan Johnson strike early in every single 50 % as hosts move a phase nearer to qualifying for Euro 2024… with Rob Page’s side to experience Poland in engage in-off remaining in Cardiff

Wales 4-1 Finland: David Brooks and Brennan Johnson strike early in every single 50 % as hosts move a phase nearer to qualifying for Euro 2024… with Rob Page’s side to experience Poland in engage in-off remaining in Cardiff


Brash Rob Web page issued a defiant concept to Robert Lewandowski and Poland as Wales moved within 90 minutes of a position at Euro 2024 by sweeping aside Finland.

Lewandowski’s men stand amongst Wales and qualification for a 3rd straight event and Website page is complete of assurance.

‘Bring it on,’ mentioned Webpage. ‘I cannot wait for Tuesday. What more motivation do we need to have than to be one get absent from a further important match? The boys will be prepared.

‘We have a youthful, fitter squad than right before and we have a hell of a likelihood to qualify. We have a whole lot of younger players but they also have a lot of working experience now. If we can reproduce how we played from Croatia and Turkey in the group, the end result will take treatment of by itself.

‘We’ve been there, picked the lodge and got the coaching ground. We’re completely ready to go to Germany. We just need one particular a lot more result to get across the line.’

Wales 4-1 Finland: David Brooks and Brennan Johnson strike early in every single 50 % as hosts move a phase nearer to qualifying for Euro 2024… with Rob Page’s side to experience Poland in engage in-off remaining in Cardiff

Wales manager Rob Web page issued a defiant information to Poland after brushing apart Finland

David Brooks gave Wales the perfect start as he scored the opening goal in the third minute

David Brooks gave Wales the perfect start off as he scored the opening objective in the 3rd minute

The midfielder volleyed in on the rebound after Harry Wilson's shot was saved by the keeper

The midfielder volleyed in on the rebound after Harry Wilson’s shot was saved by the keeper

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Nonetheless this recreation was as substantially an indictment of UEFA’s bloated 24-staff match as it was a celebration of Website page and his gamers. These days it feels tougher to miss out on international competitions than it does to access them.

Objectives from David Brooks, Neco Williams, Brennan Johnson and substitute Dan James were being enough to see Wales still how a team as inadequate as Finland can get this close to reaching the Finals beggars perception. They briefly gave by themselves a prospect when Teemu Pukki scored just ahead of half-time still threw that away by conceding the 3rd a lot less than two minutes after the crack.

Pukki, Glen Kamara and Nikolai Alho aside, the Finns appeared no improved than a League A person crew. By generating spots accessible through both of those qualifying and the Nations League, UEFA threat devaluing their elite tournament.

Take into consideration this: Wales concluded 3rd in their team behind Turkey and Croatia, nonetheless entered the engage in-offs thanks to Nations League performances and landed a household tie against Markku Kanerva’s plodders. Poland are a a lot more durable proposition but if Wales qualify, it will have been not so a great deal by means of the back again door as beneath the backyard garden gate and by way of the cat flap. Not that they will treatment.

In front of the Cardiff group, you would be brave to again versus them despatching Poland, too. The dwelling admirers have been in outstanding voice here, delivering all the previous hits to make an ambiance that would intimidate teams far better than Finland.

Wales enthusiasts are accustomed to staying put by the wringer by their team but this time they seized the guide just about quickly. Harry Wilson performed a 1-two with Ethan Ampadu and even though Lukas Hradecky palmed absent his shot, the ball fell correctly for Brooks to volley into an unguarded web.

Neco Williams doubled Wales' lead with a beautiful curling free-kick in the 38th minute

Neco Williams doubled Wales’ guide with a beautiful curling no cost-kick in the 38th minute

Finland were given a lifeline when Teemu Pukki finished calmly shortly before the break

Finland have been presented a lifeline when Teemu Pukki completed calmly shortly prior to the break

With Brooks, Wilson and Johnson a cell entrance three, Wales have been at their most efficient when breaking on the Finns.

However Wales did change off at the again occasionally. Daniel Hakans volleyed Ahlo’s knock-down over and Pukki was permitted to run on to a simple ball in excess of the leading from Robert Ivanov, only to steer his effort too shut to Danny Ward.

MATCH Details

Soon before the 50 percent-hour, Hakans trod on the ball when teed up in a fantastic position and the comply with-up from Joel Pohjanpalo was blocked. At the other stop, Wilson noticed a 30-property hard work pushed absent prior to Chris Mepham’s misplaced move fell straight to Pukki, who could not get edge.

Times later, Wales ended up two up. Johnson was introduced down on the edge of the box, Wilson established up Williams from the cost-free-kick and the Nottingham Forest person observed the prime corner.

By now Wales have to have felt they experienced 1 foot in the enjoy-off closing but soon they have been bracing them selves for a challenging 2nd 50 percent. Pohjanpalo turned Ahlo’s move into the route of Pukki and the former Norwich gentleman slid the ball earlier Ward to deliver his group back into the match.

However the residence side’s nerves ended up calmed scarcely a moment in the next half. Wilson’s absolutely free-kick was nodded back again throughout purpose by Ampadu and even though Brooks miskicked, Johnson was performed onside and tapped in from two yards.

Their two-aim cushion restored, Wales understood there would be a great deal of area on the break and Wilson may well have scored a fourth soon just after Kieffer Moore experienced replaced Brooks up entrance. The Fulham guy drifted inside on to his still left foot and just skipped the focus on from 20 yards.

Even while they had a lot of height at the back, Finland were oddly susceptible from established parts and so it proved yet again in the 80th moment as Hradecky acquired equally fingers to Davies’ header but could not cease it creeping over the line. 

The Finns shame was spared when the aim was disallowed for a foul following a VAR examine but this was hardly ever likely to adjust the final result. And positive more than enough, the fourth arrived when James robbed a dawdling Miro Tenho, rounded Hradecky and slotted home.

Brennan Johnson restored the two-goal advantage by scoring 90 seconds into the second half

Brennan Johnson restored the two-intention gain by scoring 90 seconds into the next fifty percent

Ben Davies headed home for Wales but it was ruled out for offside following a VAR review

Ben Davies headed home for Wales but it was dominated out for offside adhering to a VAR evaluate

Substitute Dan James added a late fourth on his 50th cap to seal an impressive victory

Substitute Dan James extra a late fourth on his 50th cap to seal an outstanding victory

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