As Wales prepare to make their World Cup return, a party atmosphere is brewing that was 64 years in the making as Welsh fans get ready to leave behind decades of footballing bad luck, near misses and agonising disappointment.
On Monday, for the first time since 1958, the side led by Rob Page will play in the World Cup finals when they face the United States in Al Rayyan. A victory for either side on Monday could decide one of Group B’s two qualifiers, with England fancied as heavy favourites to advance as group winners.
Spearheaded by Gareth Bale, Wales will be out to echo their recent successes at European level, having reached the Euro 2016 semi-finals and the last 16 at Euro 2020.
Manager Rob Page called up nine Premier League-based players to his World Cup squad — which US coach Gregg Berhalter said the Americans must not underestimate, despite Wales’s preparations being hampered by injuries to key players including Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey.
“When I look at their squad, it’s basically a Premier League squad,” Berhalter told reporters.
The US team endured a rocky run-up to Qatar and failed to score in September friendlies against Japan and Saudi Arabia, but Berhalter’s youthful albeit unproven squad will look to silence critics when they return to the World Cup stage after eight years.
The Americans will be entering the contest with a rare clean bill of health with most of their first-choice squad healthy and available, and Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Weston McKennie will all be out to leave their mark in their first World Cup appearance.
Written with inputs from Reuters
