Wales players celebrate 1-0 victory over Ukraine, ending the country’s long wait for the World Cup
Wales will go against each other at the 2022 World Cup, after building faith from their performances at Euro 2016 and 2020, says manager Rob Page.
They reached the semifinals of Euro 2016 and moved on to the elimination phases of a difficult group of Euro 2020.
“We are going with the confidence we had in every game,” Paige said, as the World Cup began in November.
“We played against the United States. We know that they are a really strong team.
“We played against their European players in my first match (0-0 in November 2020).
“They [and Iran] are winning games and when you play against a home team, anything can happen.
“We will go from fifth to fifth with everyone – do it. That’s the attitude we have in this locker room. “
Paige only “slept a little” after celebrating the famous 1-0 victory over Ukraine at the stadium in Cardiff City, which ensures that Wales will participate only in the second World Cup and the first in 64 years.
Speaking to Radio Wales Breakfast, Paige added: “It’s one of those surreal moments when you wake up and realize we’re going to the World Cup. This is amazing.
“Even at the last judge’s signal last night, I thought it was a cruel dream I had.” But then, when you realize it’s a reality, go back to the hotel and celebrate with the players last night, then wake up this morning and realize again that we did.
“It’s such a proud moment for the nation.”
Paige is only the second manager to direct Wales to the World Cup, following in the footsteps of another Ronda Valley product, Jimmy Murphy, who headed in 1958.
Former Port Vale and Northampton boss Paige, 47, is enjoying a spectacular time at the helm since retiring as assistant coach 19 months ago.
“This is a special moment for me personally and for my family,” added Page, who is from Tylerstown.
“My mother and father still live in Ronda. We will all be happy – we are supporters ourselves.”
The World Cup in Qatar will be the third major tournament in Wales in six years after a series of failures in qualifying for almost six decades.
Wales have not lost a home game since Robert Page took the reins
Chris Coleman was the manager who interrupted the cycle when he took Wales to Euro 2016.
Paige was quick to praise Coleman, as well as his predecessor, the late Gary Speed, after Gareth Bale’s free kick and superb defensive defense combined to see Wales beat Ukraine.
“Something had to change when I finished international football if we wanted to give ourselves the best chance of qualifying for major tournaments, and Gary did that,” Paige said.
“He took him to another level. That victory last night was for Gary and his family.
“Professionalism, the way we approach the games, how we had an identity as a nation and as a team [was down to Speed].
“Chris Coleman took it to another level and we saw that in the euro when we reached the semi-finals and hit our weight en masse.
I inherited a group of players who absolutely love to play for their country. ”
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