Wales: What next for Rob Page, the squad and FAW after Euro 2024 play-off heartache?
- Published
'I want to continue building on what we've already started'
Wales' failure to make it to Euro 2024 after play-off defeat against Poland has caused plenty of conversation across Welsh football.
Missing out on a major tournament for the first time since 2018 will come as a financial blow for the Football Association of Wales (FAW).
So as fans try to come to terms with the cruel disappointment of Tuesday's penalty shootout defeat at the Cardiff City Stadium, BBC Sport Wales assesses what happens now for Welsh football.
What next for the manager?
Rob Page reiterated he was "absolutely" the man to take this Wales team into their next qualifying cycle, and FAW president Steve Williams has said he will remain in charge.
"His contract runs to the end of the World Cup and that is how we continue to work," said Williams.
Nonetheless, a section of the Wales fanbase have been critical of the former defender, although players have again stressed their support both in public and private.
FAW chief executive Noel Mooney has previously spoken about the need for Page to win games, leading to open tensions between team and the hierarchy, though both parties have since stated they have cleared the air.
Page's performance - if not his position - will be reviewed as part of a standard campaign post-mortem, including input from technical director David Adams, who Page insisted he had a "great relationship" with on Tuesday night.
Rob Page managed Wales at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup
What next for the team?
Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the US, Canada and Mexico, starts in 12 months' time.
But before then Wales have a Nations League campaign to contend with.
Having been relegated to League B, Wales will face Iceland, Montenegro and Turkey - who beat them to automatic Euro 2024 qualification - with fixtures running from September to November 2024.
Given that Wales reached the Euro 2024 play-offs courtesy of their Nations League ranking, it will be a vital two months with the standings again counting towards play-off places for the World Cup.
With 16 World Cup places up for grabs to European nations, only the 12 group winners qualify automatically, with the runners-up and four sides from the Nations League making up the play-offs.
Before the Nations League begins, Wales face Slovakia in Trnava in a friendly on 9 June - and could arrange a further home fixture, though it will no longer be a Euros warm-up.
What next for the players?
Wales lost Gareth Bale, Joe Allen, Jonny Williams and Chris Gunter in the wake of the 2022 World Cup.
Whether any others now opt to call it a day remains to be seen.
Only three of the squad selected for the play-offs are older than 30, including 37-year-old Wayne Hennessey - the squad's longest-serving player, 31-year-old Kieffer Moore and captain Aaron Ramsey, who will be 35 by the time of the 2026 World Cup.
There have been no suggestions from Ramsey as yet that he intends to call it a day and he has remained a key figure in the camp despite missing the past six games through either injury or lack of match fitness.
Despite being named in the squad for the play-off fixtures, he was not called from the bench and will now return to Cardiff City to try to finish a frustrating season with a flourish, having not started a game since September.
He has a year left on the deal at his boyhood club and being close to home to help deliver for Wales has been a motivating factor. He may well want to try to spearhead one final push for his country, but would have to hope his body grants him the chance to do so.
In terms of the younger generation, the transition Page often talks about means there are several players who are young enough - and with plenty of experience - to go again.
Rob Page said this month that he sees Ethan Ampadu as a future Wales captain
Ethan Ampadu will be only be 27 by the time of the next Euros, which are to be staged in the UK and Ireland, while Jordan James has been a shining light having broken into the Wales side.
Charlie Savage, Joe Low and Rubin Colwill are among those who have been called upon by Page having been part of the under-21 set-up - where Matty Jones' side are in contention to qualify for the European Championship - while excitement is growing around Liverpool youngster Lewis Koumas.
The 18-year-old forward scored superbly on his under-21 debut last week and has already spoken of wanting to make the step up to the senior squad.
What next for the FAW?
Every side qualifying for this summer's European Championship was guaranteed an £8m pay-out from governing body Uefa, although the real cost of missing out is likely to be more with sponsorship and other associated spin-offs.
With the FAW committed to several spending projects including on grassroots, facilities and a new Cymru Premier investment package, failure to qualify will undoubtedly come as a blow.
Speaking after the semi-final win over Finland, the FAW's Williams said qualification was welcome rather than a necessity from a financial point of view.
But he did say that revenue from reaching the finals and greater sponsorship deals would have been put back into the association to help build for the future, as was the case with past tournament appearances.
Accounts details are due to be published shortly, with Williams saying turnover is "healthy", with a growth from both a business perspective and in terms of the game as a whole, with participation on the rise.
Many will be hoping investment plans will not be scaled back or suffer, with Williams saying he was hopeful the women's game would continue to flourish as the senior side prepare to start their European qualifying campaign under new manager Rhian Wilkinson next week.