Fresh off qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar, Wales interim head coach Rob Page started the mind games by stating that their first game against the U.S. men’s national team is a “winnable” one.
Page made the comment on Sunday following the team’s 1-0 win over Ukraine which placed them into Group B along with the U.S., England, and Iran. The team will be making their return to the big tournament after a 62-year wait.
Speaking on their group, the coach, who has been leading the team in the place of Ryan Giggs since November 2020, provided some analysis on each opponent.
“We have played against the USA. We know they are a really strong outfit. We played against their European-based players, in my first game,” Page said when talking about their 0-0 friendly back in November 2020. “They [and Iran] are winnable games and, when you play against a home nations team, anything can happen.”
“We will go toe to toe with anybody – bring it on. That’s the attitude we have got in that changing room.”
Wales has been on the rise as of late. The team, nicknamed the Dragons, made their return to regional competition when they reached the semifinals of Euro 2016. They would then qualify for Euro 2020 in which they reached the next round out of a tough group that comprised of Turkey and Switzerland.
This could be an evenly matched game between the U.S. and Wales as they are ranked 15th and 18th respectively in the FIFA rankings.
The two face off in the Group B opener of the World Cup on November 21.
