Euro 2024 play-off final: Wales boss Robert Page’s turbulent story

Robert Page stands on the brink of history once more as Wales prepare for Tuesday’s Euro 2024 play-off final against Poland.

There is no doubting Page’s place in Welsh footballing lore as the manager who led Wales to their first World Cup for 64 years.

Since that crowning moment of his tenure, however, the former centre-back has found himself under pressure at times.

First there was the disappointment of Wales’ dismal performance at the World Cup itself, then the faltering qualifying Euro 2024 campaign which prompted Football Association of Wales bosses to openly question Page’s future.

The manager and his players have recovered well from that particularly tempestuous period to put themselves back in a position where they are one win away from qualifying for a third successive European Championship.

And considering what Page has withstood to get to this point, he will hope that victory over Poland at Cardiff City Stadium will, in the words of his players, silence the outside noise.

Unity in turbulent times

Turbulence is nothing new for Page, who was thrust into the spotlight as Wales’ caretaker boss in November 2020 when then manager Ryan Giggs stepped aside after he was arrested over allegations he assaulted his ex-girlfriend, of which the former Manchester United star was cleared in 2023.

Giggs had overseen qualification for Euro 2020 but, with the Covid-19 pandemic postponing the competition by a year, it was Page who led Wales at the tournament itself and guided them to the last 16.

His greatest achievement came during the following campaign in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, sealed with a momentous play-off final win over Ukraine in Cardiff.

It was a surreal moment for Page, a proud Welshman who had captained his country as a player. As a coach, his modest CV included spells at Port Vale and Northampton, so managing Wales at a World Cup was beyond his dreams.

Qatar itself was a sobering reality check. As Wales were knocked out in the group stage, the listless nature of their performances – particularly in the defeat by Iran – drew stinging criticism, while some fans started to turn on Page.

If the condemnation was tempered at that stage, it turned into a torrent last summer as Wales’ Euro 2024 qualifying campaign looked to be unravelling after successive defeats against Armenia and Turkey.

The home loss to Armenia was the nadir, a true embarrassment, and this time Page had to contend with the ire of pundits and former team-mates as well as supporters.

Victory in Latvia in September alleviated the pressure temporarily but, a month later, FAW chief executive Noel Mooney reignited the discussion by stating publicly that Page’s position was under review.

That seemed to light a fire in Page and his players, who produced one of their best performance in years to beat Croatia and revive Welsh hopes of qualifying.

Prior to the match, captain Ben Davies had described Mooney’s comments as “unhelpful” and, after the final whistle, the Spurs defender and his team-mate Connor Roberts were pictured making a ‘zip it’ gesture.

Harry Wilson, who scored both Wales goals in the 2-1 victory, was clearly riled in his post-match interview, and he still feels that stormy build-up to the match brought the players closer to Page.

“I just thought before a big game there was a lot of noise and things that didn’t need to be said when for us as players we just wanted to focus,” the Fulham playmaker said earlier this week.

“That could have been a big distraction. To deal with that and to have the young lads to step up the way they have, I think we’re in a really good place and the performance the other night [beating Finland 4-1 in the Euro 2024 play-off semi-final] shows how far we’ve come as a team.”

It was notable how relaxed Page and his players were in the days leading up to Thursday’s win over Finland; a far cry from October when the manager was close to tears before and after the Croatia match as he spoke about the support he had received from his squad and staff.

This time, there has been no sideshow for Wales to contend with; a calmer backdrop and the opportunity to focus serenely on the job in hand.

But should they encounter any difficulties between now and Tuesday’s latest date with destiny, the players have shown they have their manager’s back.

“It’s nice for the players to say that and I have got a great relationship with them and you saw my emotion,” said Page.

“I am an emotional guy. You saw that after the Croatia win and the staff turning up in the press conference before it.

“I know what we’ve got in the changing room. I know we’re all in it together and we all enjoy the way the way we want to play. I’ve got players that absolutely love it, thrive on it.

“We were all frustrated after last summer’s camp, and the reaction we’ve had since September onwards has been an incredible reaction from those players. That speaks volumes about them.”