Roberto Mancini’s Italy – who overcame Wales in the group stages – have been heralded as “Invincibles” after beating England to win Euro 2020 at Wembley. The Azzurri were crowned champions of Europe following a tense penalty shoot-out, which confirmed the men in blue’s unbeaten run in the competition. Monday’s back pages across the sporting world were awash with tributes to Italy, and their newfound status as the cream of Europe.

It’s been a week of bruised self-reflection for Welsh football after the heavy defeat to Denmark knocked Wales out of the Euros at the last 16 stage. A lot of people have had their say. But there is one voice who should be heard and acted upon in Welsh football rather more often, says Fraser Watson. The dream was over, Wales eliminated, and the post-mortem was striking sympathetic chords. The harsh realities of being dismantled by Denmark had subsided amidst talk of unfair travel schedules, dubious red cards, over-achievement, and the perspective provided by another summer of dining at Europe’s top table.

Robert Page is set to hold talks over his future following Wales’ exit from Euro 2020. The caretaker manager was in charge for the tournament with manager Ryan Giggs on leave and due to face trial in January. Giggs has been accused of deliberately headbutting his ex-girlfriend and controlling her throughout their relationship, charges which he denies.

Gareth Bale has vowed to continue to play for Wales until he retires. The clarification – which came in a post-match interview after Wales’ exit from Euro 2020 following a 4-0 thrashing by Denmark – still leaves his immediate playing future open to question. But at least the Wales captain – who had earlier walked out of a BBC interview when asked about his future – seemed to indicate with S4C that he wants to hang around until next year’s World Cup.

When Wales take on Denmark in the last 16 of Euro 2020 on Saturday, they will have the backing of what is now a football nation. They will also have the solid support of the school where Ben Davies and Rubin Colwill both started their sporting journey. It was not always like that, though, as Owen Morgan recalls. The images of Ben Davies and Rubin Colwill in matches, and training, with Wales at Euro 2020 fill me with a strange mixture of burning pride and utter amazement. As a fellow former pupil of Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur, I am obviously thrilled to see them on such a stage.

Former Wales manager Mark Hughes has backed his old team to withstand the wave of emotion carrying opponents Denmark into their Euro 2020 knockout clash on Saturday. Hughes believes the Danes have become everyone’s second favourite team because of the outpouring of sympathy since the cardiac arrest suffered by their star and talisman, Christian Eriksen. But the manager who took Wales to the brink of qualification for Euro 2004, reckons Wales have both the spirit and match-winning players to pull through in Amsterdam, in a game which is live on S4C.

Wales striker Kieffer Moore believes he is an easy target for referees at Euro 2020 because of his size.The 6ft 5in Cardiff City striker was on the bench for Wales’ final group game in Rome as he was on a booking, and manager Robert Page was aware another yellow card would rule Moore out of their last-16 tie against Denmark on Saturday. Moore was eventually sent on with Welsh backs to the wall and an attacking outlet needed following Ethan Ampadu’s 55th-minute dismissal, but Page told the forward “to jump with no arms” against Italy.

A colossus, passionate and a leader are all words that describe this ever improving Welshman. So far at Euro 2020, Wales have put in a series of committed performances and the contributions of a certain Joe Rodon typify all of those qualities. Fraser Watson believes that Rodon’s defensive contributions may be a long lasting memory of Wales at this year’s major tournament. 

Ben Davies wants to make more mad memories in Amsterdam as he looks forward to Wales’ clash with Denmark in the last 16 round of Euro 2020. The Danes booked their spot as Wales next’ opponents on Saturday with an emotional 4-1 victory over Russia in front of their vibrant fans in Copenhagen on Monday night  – summoning every ounce of passion and motivation in the wake of Christian Eriksen’s collapse with a cardiac arrest in their opening fixture. Denmark finished with only three points, but Belgium’s defeat of Finland meant the Danes clinched second place in their group on goal difference and they will now go to the Johan Cruyff Arena to battle Wales for a place in the quarter-finals.

Gareth Bale expressed his pride after Wales made the knockout stage of Euro 2020. Wales went down to a 1-0 defeat to Italy in Rome on Sunday but finished second in Group A, above Switzerland on goal difference. Ethan Ampadu was shown a straight red card for his late challenge on Federico Bernardeschi and Wales played the final 35 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico with 10 men.

Gareth Bale believes Wales could benefit from a knockout Euro 2020 game at Wembley. Wales have not yet qualified for the round of 16, but they play Italy in Rome on Sunday knowing victory would see them top Group A and set up a Wembley date against probably either Austria or Ukraine. Italy will take that Wembley spot by avoiding defeat to Wales who, if they finish second in the group, will head to Amsterdam and meet the runners-up of Group B – most likely Denmark, Finland, or Russia.

Wales take on Italy in Rome on Sunday, with qualification for the last 16 of Euro 2020 already highly probable, barring a string of freak results. But the captain, Gareth Bale, insists his team are capable of the victory that would seem them top their group – giving further evidence of the wisdom of promoting Robert Page to interim manager, as Graham Thomas reports. Robert Page’s success in taking Wales to the threshold of qualification for the knockout stages of the Euros has come as no surprise to the man who made the call to appoint him. Kieran O’Connor – president of the Football Association of Wales – believes the decision to turn to Page as caretaker manager in the absence of Ryan Giggs has already been vindicated.