ALL eyes are on Germany for the Euros but it won’t be the same without Wales fans being there.
Fan-tastic in France on their way to the semi-finals in 2016, there was a chorus of approval everywhere Welsh supporters went as Chris Coleman’s side lit up the tournament.
The superb support continued in Qatar in Wales’ first World Cup finals in 66 years but Rob Page’s Welsh Dragons lacked fire just as they did in a Euro 2024 qualifying campaign that ended in penalty shoot-out despair last March.
They were only one kick away from reaching this month’s finals and most Wales fans accepted that they did well to come so close to reaching the finals of another major tournament.
But instead of looking ahead with eager anticipation kicking off a World Cup campaign, Wales - and manager Page in particular - are under increased fire after two meaningless friendly fixtures at the end of an enduring season.
A patched-up Wales XI were embarrassingly held to a goal-less draw by international minnows Gibraltar. And worse was to follow where fans flew at Page after a 4-0 battering in Slovakia.
“They want me out. I completely understand,” said Page said after being booed after the final whistle.
“I clapped them with the players and when the players walked, I made a point of going over to the supporters and saying ‘it’s on me’.”
Whether Page is the man to lead Wales into battle next season remains to be seen.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the position would have been a lot more secure if Wales hadn’t felt the necessity to play two games just to fill in the gaps.
With world football making great attempts to protect players from being over-exerted, June friendlies for teams not involved in forthcoming finals are surely games that could be ticked off the list.
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