Harry Wilson’s Brace Propels Wales to Victory Against Croatia, Reviving Hopes for European Qualification

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Wales Defeat Croatia Thanks to Harry Wilson Double to Boost Euro 2024 Qualification Hopes

Wales secured a crucial victory over Croatia in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, with Harry Wilson stealing the show with a brilliant double to secure a 2-1 win. This victory marks the first time Wales has beaten the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists in eight games, providing a much-needed boost to their hopes of automatic qualification for the Euro 2024.

Coming into the match, Wales knew that victories in their final three group games were crucial to secure a top-two spot and avoid the play-offs in March. The win against Croatia puts them in second place, above Croatia, based on their better head-to-head record. Even though there is still work to be done in November, with matches against Armenia and group leaders Turkey, the victory over Croatia offers great encouragement for the Welsh team.

Encouragement for Manager Rob Page

The victory against Croatia also eases the pressure on manager Rob Page, who woke up to newspaper headlines linking Roy Keane to his job. Page had vowed to shut out external noise and focus on the task ahead, and this result will surely quiet the chatter. The win against Latvia last month had already given Wales a boost, but injuries to key players Aaron Ramsey and Brennan Johnson meant that replacements David Brooks and Kieffer Moore had to step up.

In Ramsey’s absence, Ben Davies took over the captaincy, as Harry Wilson celebrated his 50th cap. It is worth noting that exactly a decade ago, Wilson became Wales‘ youngest-ever player at the age of 16 years and 207 days, highlighting his long-standing contribution to the national team.

A Historic Victory

This victory is particularly significant for Wales, given their history against Croatia. Before this game, Wales had not won any of their seven previous encounters against Croatia. On the other hand, Croatia came into the match disappointed from their 1-0 loss to Turkey, the first-ever home defeat in European Championship qualification.

Croatia made three changes to their lineup, clearly unimpressed with their first-half performance. However, Wales took advantage of the visitors’ vulnerability and scored within two minutes of the second half. Danny Ward’s long punt forward caused chaos in the Croatia defense, with the ball eventually falling to Wilson, who calmly chipped it over the stranded goalkeeper to give Wales the lead.

Just moments later, Daniel James, who had come on as a substitute, delivered a cross that Wilson expertly glanced into the corner of the net, doubling Wales‘ lead. Although Croatia managed to pull one back through Mario Pasalic, Wales held on for a famous victory against the world’s sixth-ranked team.

Analysis and Outlook

This victory puts Wales in a strong position in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. The win against Croatia not only boosts their chances of automatic qualification but also demonstrates the team’s ability to compete against top-level opponents. The performance of Harry Wilson, in particular, was outstanding, showcasing his clinical finishing and overall contribution to the team.

Looking ahead, Wales still have work to do in their final two matches against Armenia and Turkey. These matches will be crucial in determining their fate in the qualifying campaign. However, with the confidence gained from the victory over Croatia, Wales should approach these matches with optimism and determination.

Manager Rob Page will surely hope to build on this success and further solidify Wales‘ position in the group. The team will need to maintain their focus and continue to deliver strong performances to secure their spot in Euro 2024.