Rob Page has revealed Wales hero Nathan Broadhead was in tears after scoring a last-gasp equaliser on his debut against Croatia. Wales were heading to an opening defeat in Euro 2024 qualifying after Andrej Kramaric had given the World Cup semi-finalists a 28th-minute lead in Split. But Ipswich striker Broadhead, winning his first cap as a 64th-minute substitute, levelled in the third minute of stoppage time after Chris Mepham had flicked on Connor Roberts’ long throw to secure a 1-1 draw for Wales.

Rob Page admits he watched Sky Sports News all summer waiting for the news that never came. “I was watching after the World Cup, waiting for it to be announced that Luka Modric had retired,” says the Wales manager. “But he didn’t retire, so we have to make sure we’re at our very best.”

The last time Ben Foster came to Wales, he was forced to watch himself being waved at on his own camera after having a goal put past him. That was two years ago when then Swansea City striker Jamal Lowe struck twice against Foster, before waving into the former Watford keeper’s GoPro camera he keep at the back of the net.

Swansea midfielder Ollie Cooper says “incredible footballer” Luka Modric has inspired him but insisted he would not be daunted should he make his Wales debut against the Croatia star. Cooper could cap a rapid rise on Saturday when Wales start their Euro 2024 qualification campaign against the World Cup semi-finalists in Split.

Chris Mepham believes Wales can cope without the likes of Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, Joe Allen and Johnny Williams when they usher in ‘a new era’ in Croatia this weekend. The four retirees will be watching from the sidelines as Rob Page’s new look side kick-off their latest European campaign in Zagreb. Latvia – Tuesday’s opponents at the Cardiff City Stadium – Armenia and Turkey complete the Group D line-up, with the top two teams qualifying automatically for the finals in Germany.

David Brooks is set to get a Wales recall this summer after returning to action following cancer treatment. Brooks returned to the pitch on Saturday 535 days after his last game, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute in Bournemouth’s 3-0 Premier League defeat at Aston Villa. The 25-year-old was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma in October 2021 and revealed he was cancer-free last May.

Wales boss Rob Page says Brennan Johnson will handle the pressure of being compared to Gareth Bale. The retirement of former skipper Bale – the men’s team’s record goalscorer and most capped player – in January has left Wales with a huge void to fill for the forthcoming Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

New captain Aaron Ramsey wants Wales’ young generation to create their own history after the departures of Gareth Bale and other talismanic figures. Nice star Ramsey has taken over the captaincy for the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign after Bale ended his illustrious career in January. Chris Gunter, Joe Allen and Jonny Williams, also part of the Wales squad who reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, have retired from the international scene as manager Rob Page ushers in a new era for Welsh football.

Aaron Ramsey is focused on joining Wales’ 100-cap club after being appointed skipper a decade after the “hurt” of losing the captaincy. Ramsey has been given the armband ahead of Euro 2024 qualifiers against Croatia and Latvia, replacing Gareth Bale who retired from football in January having won a record 111 caps for the Wales men’s team.

Aaron Ramsey has been named as Wales captain following the retirement of Gareth Bale. The 32-year-old midfielder, who has won 78 caps, will lead his country for the first time in the forthcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Croatia and Latvia later this month. Ramsey will spearhead a youthful looking 24-man squad named by boss Rob Page on Tuesday.

Wales manager Rob Page has left the country in suspense after delaying confirming his new captain in succession to Gareth Bale. Page has named a 24-man squad for the opening two qualifiers of Euro 2024, against Croatia and Latvia, but without specifying who will be his skipper. Former regular matchwinner and talisman Bale took off the armband for the last time at the World Cup last year and announced his retirement from football in January.

David Brooks’ return to first team duty felt a privilege for the man who selected him for club action last weekend. The Wales international was picked on the bench by Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neil for his team’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool last Saturday. It was Brooks’ first inclusion in a match day squad for 525 days after his recovery from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.