Football: Ramsey backs Wales to prosper in post-Bale era
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Midfielder Aaron Ramsey is the new national captain, replacing former Real Madrid and Tottenham forward Bale.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
LONDON – Aaron Ramsey believes a new generation of Wales players can forge their own success after Gareth Bale’s retirement.
Midfielder Ramsey is the new national captain, replacing former Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur forward Bale, who called time on his career in January.
Bale, Wales’ record goalscorer and most-capped player, was not the only senior star to quit international football after the World Cup.
Chris Gunter, Joe Allen and Jonny Williams also retired from Wales duty after a golden era that included a run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals.
Wales manager Rob Page is ushering in a new era and Ramsey is confident there are enough emerging youngsters to keep his country in contention during the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
“Gareth, Joe, Jonny, Gunts have been instrumental for us over the years and will forever be a part of Welsh history,” Nice midfielder Ramsey, 32, said on Monday.
“We will be forever grateful for what they brought to this team, this nation, and we’ll miss those players around the place.
“But football is forever changing and there’ll be opportunities for these younger players to step up and show what they’re capable of. Hopefully now we can create our own history.”
Page’s new squad includes four uncapped players – Birmingham City midfielder Jordan James, 18; Ipswich Town forward Nathan Broadhead, 24; Swansea City midfielder Ollie Cooper, 23 and Fulham forward Luke Harris, 17.
Tottenham defender Ben Davies has been ruled out of the two qualifiers, and has been replaced by Stoke City’s Morgan Fox.
Wales are hoping to make a third successive appearance at the 2024 European Championship in Germany. They face Croatia in Split on Saturday before hosting Latvia next Tuesday. Armenia and Turkey complete the Group D line-up.
The qualifiers follow a poor 2022 World Cup campaign, which Ramsey described as disappointing, as they did not play to their level in Qatar.
Page’s side scored only once – via Bale in a 1-1 draw with the United States. They lost to Iran and England in their other two matches and finished bottom of their group in their first appearance at a World Cup since 1958. AFP
