Qatar World Cup 2022: The 26 Welsh players carrying the country's hopes
Robert Page has nominated 26 players to represent Wales at their first FIFA World Cup in 64 years. The squad has nine active Premier League players and eight Championship players. There are two League One players, two from League Two, one from the Scottish Premiership and four currently playing club football abroad: captains Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu. Qatar FIFA World Cup fans can buy England Vs Wales Tickets from our website.
Here, BBC Wales profiles the people who will carry the nation’s hopes in Qatar.
Wayne Hennessey
Age: 35 Appearance: 106 Goals: 0
The Nottingham Forest goalkeeper, who has made only one EFL Cup appearance this season, joined from Burnley last summer, although he has hindered few club performances in the past.
Hennessey was second only to Danny Ward at Euro 2020 but is his favourite to start in Qatar after retaking the number 1 shirt.
Danny Ward
Age: 29 Appearance: 26 Goals: 0
The former Liverpool goalkeeper is finally getting some regular playing time at Leicester City following the summer departure of Kasper Schmeichel and is beginning to blossom after a difficult start to the season for the Foxes.
Ward played his part in Leicester City’s move out of the relegation zone and played for Wales in the last major.
Adam Davies
Age: 30 Appearance: 4 Goals: 0
Davies made three appearances for Sheffield United in October, his first club football game since joining the Stoke Blades in January last year.
Davies, who was selected for Salford’s Tom King, represented Wales in the Nations League last summer, but it would be a surprise if he sees a move from Qatar.
Ben Cabango
Age: 22 Appearance: 5 Goals: 0
Swansea City defender Cabango has not played for the national team since Robert Page took charge of Wales, but visited Qatar due to his consistent form over the past few seasons.
Cabango, a strong centre-back with growing confidence on the ball, was part of Wales’ Euro 2020 squad despite his absence.
Tom Lockyer
Age: 25 Appearance: 14 Goals: 0
Luton Town centre-back Tom Lockyer is one of the most surprising additions to Rob Page’s roster.
The 27-year-old is a regular for Luton, who is seventh in the Championship’s defensive record this season, but can’t be left behind with more established players in Qatar.
Ben Davies
Age: 29 Looks: 74 Goals: 1
Davies, a senior member of the Wales squad and a key defender, is in good form for Tottenham en route to the World Cup.
Able to play as a left-back or in the centre of defence, Davies has been a fixture at Euro 2016 and Euro 2020 and is expected to once again be a central figure for Qatar. FIFA World Cup 2022 fans can buy Wales Football World Cup Tickets from our website.
Chris Gunter
Age: 33 Appearance: 109 Goals: 0
He may be playing club football in League Two these days, but because of his influence and stature in the Welsh squad, Gunter will always be present at Page’s 26-man party for Qatar.
The veteran right-back – the male player with the most limits in Wales – is likely to play little in this game, but rarely disappoints his country when asked.
Chris Mepham
Age: 25 Appearance: 33 Goals: 0
The centre-back entered the World Cup in arguably the best club form of his career and has been a fixture in the Premier League for Bournemouth this season.
Mepham, who has made three appearances at Euro 2020, is also mature for the Welsh side and can look forward to the start of the game against the United States.
Conor Roberts
Age: 27 Looks: 41 Goals: 3
Roberts hasn’t always been in Burnley’s starting lineup lately – despite his regular play – but it would be a shock if he didn’t make a big difference to his country.
Roberts’ athleticism, energy and ability to run ahead make him an essential part of Page’s team.
Joe Roden
Age: 25 Appearance: 30 Goals: 0
Rodon may have struggled to make his mark at Tottenham – hence his loan to French club Rennes – but the former Swansea centre-back has always impressed Wales.
Rodon, a fringe figure for Spurs, has won football this season in Ligue 1 and the Europa League, en route to Qatar.
Neco Williams
Age: 21 Looks: 23 Goals: 2
Williams thrived at Fulham last season, helping them win promotion to the Premier League on loan from Liverpool, leading to a big-money move to Nottingham Forest last summer.
Now accustomed to playing top-class football on a regular basis, fullback Williams is another man who looks like a good start when Wales takes to the field against the Americans.
Joe Allen
Age: 32 Appearance: 72 Goals: 2
Part of a generation of top artists who have won three majors in the past six years, Allen is one of Page’s key players.
It is therefore of great concern that the midfielder has not played since September due to a hamstring problem.
Ethan Ampadu
Age: 22 Appearance: 37 Goals: 0
Both defensively and in midfield, Ampadu can look forward to a bigger role in Qatar than at Euro 2020, where he started just one game for Wales.
So far this season, he has played regularly for Spezia, which is struggling in Serie A and has played regularly at the World Cup.
Dylan Levitt
Age: 21 Appearance: 13 Goals: 0
More than two years after his international debut, Levitt is unsure of a World Cup appearance, despite his Euro 2020 appearance and a recent Welsh regulator.
The midfielder, who got a permanent contract with Dundee United last summer, was voted Player of the Year by the club’s supporters last season when he was hired from Manchester United.
Joe Morrell
Age: 25 Appearance: 30 Goals: 0
Morrell continues to struggle to establish himself at the club level, having been in and out of Portsmouth so far this season, but he is another player who has rarely let Wales down.
Wales has started all four Euro 2020 matches and Joe Allen could once again play a major role amid doubts about his fitness. Qatar World Cup 2022 fans can buy FIFA World Cup Tickets from our website.
Aaron Ramsey
Age: 31 Looks: 75 Goals: 20
Alongside Gareth Bale, Ramsay is a star in the Wales squad. A series of injury issues have limited his impact of late, but he will certainly play an important role if Page’s side is to impress in Qatar.
He has played 15 games for Nice since joining the French club after leaving Juventus last summer, although there were only four league starts and he scored just one goal.
Matt Smith
Age: 22 Appearance: 19 Goals: 0
Manchester City’s youth team were named to the Euro 2020 roster for a second Grand Slam title but was unable to play.
The midfielder’s chances are likely to be limited again, although he has already played against number one fighters MK Dons this season.
Sorba Thomas
Age: 23 Appearance: 6 Goals: 0
Wanderer Thomas is ready for the World Cup after a few years of playing non-league football and working as a scaffolder.
It has been a difficult season for title contenders Huddersfield Town so far, but 23-year-old Thomas has provided an impressive six assists.
Jonny Williams
Age: 29 Looks: 32 Goals: 2
Williams, who has scored six goals so far this season for hopeful League Two promotion Swindon Town, will join them in 2021 after being released from Cardiff City.
He’s had limited minutes in the Welsh shirt of late, but the popular Williams is known for impressing in the dressing room even when he’s not playing.
Gareth Bale
Age: 33 Looks: 108 Goals: 40
A talisman to Wales and a key figure in recent success, the country has struggled for decades for a place at the top of football.
Bell has proven time and again that when he adapts and fires, he has the ability to change games at the highest level. Wales must hope he is fit and ready to fire as they prepare for their first FIFA World Cup in 64 years.
Rubin Colwill
Age: 20 Looks: 7 Goals: 1
Despite injuries, this season, Wales’ shock inclusion in their Euro 2020 roster has once again received the nod from Page.
Colwill, an attacking midfielder who has proven he can open doors for teams, has not scored or assisted in 2022-23 and has not played since Wales lost to Poland in September.
Mark Harris
Age: 23 Appearance: 5 Goals: 0
Harris has scored three goals for Cardiff City in his first major appearance this season.
Despite his limited opportunities, the striker has a little impact internationally.
Daniel James
Age: 24 Looks: 38 Goals: 5
On Page’s Welsh side, former Manchester United winger James will certainly play an important role in Qatar.
James is a hard worker who poses a significant threat on the counter-attack, although he has yet to score this season as he is loaned out to Fulham from Leeds United.
Brennan Johnson
Age: 21 Appearance: 15 Goals: 2
Like Daniel James, Johnson is a player who can intimidate opponents with his speed and bluntness.
Johnson, like his club, has found life a little difficult in the Premier League after making a stunning contribution to Nottingham Forest’s title-winning success in 2021-22, but he has proven himself in his relatively short career at Wales’s level.
Kieffer Moore
Age: 30 Looks: 29 Goals: 9
First the European Championship and now the World Cup for the one-time saviours who played for England C in the non-competition period.
Moore’s strength and aerial presence meant he was unlike any other striker under Page’s command, and the Bournemouth striker has proven to be a very useful asset since his first call-up to Wales in 2019.
Harry Wilson
Age: 25 Looks: 38 Goals: 5
Considering Wilson is only 25 years old, it is remarkable to consider that his international debut was ten years ago.
Whether he’s a starter or a substitute, the talented attacking midfielder can look forward to a job in Qatar, where his return to Fulham in October after a serious knee injury sparked speculation about his Football World Cup entry.
Eticketing.co is the best website for All Sports events. Football World Cup 2022 fans can buy Qatar World Cup Tickets from our website.
Comments
Post a Comment