Euro 2028: Hosting games 'incredible' for Wales, says national manager Robert Page

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Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey in action against Spain at the Principality Stadium in 2018Image source, Getty Images
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The Principality Stadium is among 10 venues included in the UK & Ireland's Euro 2028 bid

Wales boss Robert Page says staging Euro 2028 games will be "incredible" for Welsh football.

The UK and Republic of Ireland will bid unopposed for the finals after Turkey withdrew to focus on a joint bid with Italy for Euro 2032.

Cardiff's Principality Stadium is one of 10 grounds chosen for the bid.

"We'll speak in more detail about it when it's absolutely confirmed but of course, it's going to be absolutely fantastic for Welsh football," he said.

"That level of standard being played in our country and give supporters the opportunity to go and see great teams play is a great bonus. It will be incredible."

There is uncertainty, should the UK and the Republic of Ireland's bid be approved, whether all five host countries would gain automatic qualification for the finals.

Uefa say no more than two host nations can be granted automatic qualifying spots for the tournament finals.

"I don't know a lot about qualification and how it would work," Page added.

"It's unclear what the situation would be around automatic qualification as I can't see them having five countries automatically qualifying, so that is something we want to find out about and discuss."

For now, qualification for Euro 2024 is Page's focus and facing Croatia in Cardiff four days after a friendly against Gibraltar in Wrexham on Wednesday 11 October.

Wales will be without key players Aaron Ramsey and Brennan Johnson for the two games due to injuries but Page said their absence gives other players an opportunity to step up.

"It's disappointing to have both those players out but we've got players like DJ [Dan James], Kieffer [Moore], Brooksy [David Brooks] and Harry Wilson. We are quite strong in those positions.

"We saw the influence Brooksy had when he came on against Latvia and the importance he played replacing Rambo that night, scoring the all important second goal for us.

"Kieffer has not playing as many minutes but we know what his record is like when he puts on the Welsh jersey.

"We'll still be ok, but of course they're big players that we're going to miss."

Despite September's 2-0 win in Latvia, Wales are fourth in Group D, three points behind joint leaders Turkey and Croatia as they aim to reach next summer's European Championship in Germany.

Wales, beaten by Armenia and Turkey in June, need a positive result against unbeaten Croatia to keep automatic qualification hopes alive.

"We're back in it, we're absolutely back in it," Page said of his side's hopes of automatic qualification.

"We were all disappointed with June but we reacted in such a positive way.

"There were so many positives to come out of the friendly against South Korea. Defensively we put right the wrongs of June.

"There were a couple of uncomfortable meetings where the players held their hands up and said 'we need to step up to the plate' and they did against a very good South Korea team.

"So we're off the back of two clean sheets and they've reacted in a positive way.

"We need to continue creating chances but be more ruthless in our final actions."

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