Robert Page insists relegation from the top tier of the Nations League on Sunday is softened by the prospect of looking forward to Wales’ first World Cup since 1958 in two months’ time. A 1-0 defeat to Poland in Cardiff on Sunday night condemned Page’s men to finishing bottom of a group also containing Belgium and the Netherlands. Wales’ four Nations League games in June were split either side of a vital World Cup qualifying play-off against Ukraine, which forced Page to rest a number of key players for their 2-1 defeat in Poland to start the group.

Wayne Hennessey says Wales are heading to Qatar to win the World Cup – but firstly they want to get the Nations League job done against Poland. Wales will end a 64-year wait to play at the World Cup in November, making their first finals appearance since 1958 when they were beaten by Brazil in the last eight. They will play in the same group as England, Iran and the United States, with bookmakers having them around 150-1 outsiders to win the trophy.

Gareth Bale is determined to ensure Wales don’t follow England out of the Nations League trap door. Wales must beat Poland at home on Sunday evening to remain in League A of the biennial competition. Bale has not played 90 minutes since a World Cup qualifier against Estonia last September, but the Wales captain has declared himself fit for the must-win contest at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Robert Page insists Wales will forget about the World Cup on Sunday to try and stay in the top tier of the Nations League. Wales remain bottom of League A4 after losing 2-1 to Belgium on Thursday. But Poland’s 2-0 home defeat to Holland means Wales can climb off the bottom by beating the Poles in Cardiff on Sunday.

By Gareth James Wales manager Robert Page admits he is “dreading” selecting his World Cup squad because of the competition for places. Page’s side play their final games ahead of the World Cup this week, with their Nations League programme ending with fixtures away to Belgium on Thursday night and at home to Poland on […]

JOE Rodon has revealed he had to get away from Tottenham and the Premier League in order to fully grasp his World Cup dream with Wales. The Wales defender – who will form a central pillar for his country at the tournament in Qatar in November – will play his first international as a French-based player on Thursday night. Rodon left Spurs in the August transfer window to join Rennes on loan, but will now pull on a Wales shirt to earn his 29th cap against Belgium in Brussels on Thursday night in a Nations League match that is live on S4C.

Matty Jones has been announced as the new Wales U21 head coach. The former Wales midfielder, who has worked with the FAW at U18 level and with manager Gemma Grainger and the women’s national side, will take up the role immediately and be in charge for a friendly against Austria later this month. Jones is a is a UEFA pro licence holder who has also worked for Swansea City as their U23 academy team manager.

Luke Harris has been told the door is open for him to cap an incredible rise by going to the World Cup with Wales The 17-year-old Fulham star has been named in manager Robert Page’s squad for the first time for the upcoming Nations League games against Belgium and Poland next week. But such is the precocious talent of the teenage midfielder – who has only one senior Carabao Cup appearance to his name – that Page reckons the youngster could yet force his way into the squad for the tournament in Qatar in November.

Wales manager Rob Page plans to recruit Michael Sheen to his World Cup campaign after the Hollywood actor’s rousing team talk went viral on social media. Page has revealed he intends to invite Sheen into camp after being urged to do so by his players, who were among the 13 million viewers of the clip. The star of football movie The Damned United gave a thunderous motivational speech at the weekend on the Sky TV sport quiz panel show, a League Of Their Own.

Robert Page has pinpointed qualification for the 2024 Euros and 2026 World Cup as his targets after being confirmed as the long-term manager of Wales. The man who took over from Ryan Giggs has signed a new four-year contract to continue in the job, two months before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when Wales will make just their second appearance at the finals. The new deal means Page will be in charge for Wales’ 2024 European Championship and 2026 World Cup qualifying campaigns.

Wales will have to overcome Bosnia-Herzegovina and then Switzerland if they are to reach the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals. The play-offs draw – which took place on Friday in Switzerland – is a favourable one for Wales, with a home tie first against the Bosnians on October 6. Should they win that semi-final game, they would then travel to Switzerland for the final five days later to face the Swiss for a possible place at next year’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Angharad James achieved two milestones this week – both of which underline how youth is powering the surge of interest in women’s football in Wales. Firstly, she won her 100th cap for her country and become the youngest to reach that landmark when Wales drew 0-0 with Slovenia to make the World Cup play-offs on Tuesday night. Secondly, the 28-year-old was part of a team that smashed the record for an attendance for a women’s football match in Wales, with over 12,741 turning up for the game at Cardiff City Stadium,