Allen, with 72 caps, has been part of many of Wales’ success stories in the recent past, but a hamstring injury has kept him out of contention for Swansea City since mid-September. Manager Rob Page has included the 32-year-old in his shortlist of midfielders, with Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey both unsurprisingly included despite relatively little playing time this season.
Wales’ 26-man World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Nottingham Forest), Danny Ward (Leicester City), Adam Davies (Sheffield United). Defenders: Ben Davies (Tottenham) Ben Cabango (Swansea City), Tom Lockyer (Luton Town), Joe Rodon (Rennes, loan from Tottenham), Chris Mepham (Bournemouth), Ethan Ampadu (Spezia, loan from Chelsea), Chris Gunter (AFC Wimbledon ), Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest), Connor Roberts (Burnley). Means: Sorba Thomas (Huddersfield), Joe Allen (Swansea City), Matthew Smith (MK Dons), Dylan Levitt (Dundee Utd), Harry Wilson (Fulham), Joe Morrell (Portsmouth), Jonny Williams (Swindon Town), Aaron Ramsey (Nice ). ), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City). Front: Gareth Bale (Los Angeles FC), Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth), Mark Harris (Cardiff City), Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest), Dan James (Fulham, loan from Leeds). Bale has played just 327 minutes for Los Angeles FC since moving to Major League Soccer in July, but scored in last weekend’s MLS Cup penalty shootout win against the Philadelphia Union. “It doesn’t really bother me how fit Gareth Bale is,” Page told Sky Sports. “He’s come from the back to score a very important goal for LA, he’s back in the country and he’s fit. “Every time he comes on for us he’s always delivered so I’ve got no worries at all. With Joe Allen, we’re going to throw everything at him to give him the best chance to go into the first game. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Wales manager Rob Page believes this is the most squad depth his side have had in recent years at the World Cup. He has been involved with Wales for years and is very important to how we want to play. Ramsey scored on his Nice debut in August but has made just six starts for the Ligue 1 club since then. Elsewhere, Sheffield United goalkeeper Adam Davies has only received three caps but is again included as he was the third stopper behind Danny Ward and Wayne Hennessey at the delayed Euro 2020 Championship. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Wales manager Rob Page shares his thoughts on the fitness of Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale ahead of the World Cup. Page admits leaving Rhys Norrington-Davies and Tyler Roberts out of his World Cup squad were two of the toughest decisions he had to make. Norrington-Davies’ absence has been confirmed with a hamstring injury, while Roberts has just one goal in 12 appearances for QPR this season. “I had to speak to Rhys Norrington-Davies and he was devastated because this injury that has put him out is quite long-term, so I was there to support him,” he added. “He’s going to lose, but I took that out of my hands. “Tyler was hard because I know how much it means to him and he’s a great guy.” Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Actor Michael Sheen took part in the ‘A League of Their Own’ panel last week and gave an inspirational speech for the Welsh players ahead of the World Cup in November. Rangers winger Rabbis Matondo has missed the chance to score in 17 appearances for Scotland since his summer move from Schalke. Page explained why he chose to leave Matondo out, saying: “It’s been a frustrating time for him. I think he played his best football when he was in Belgium. “If he was playing week in, week out, scoring goals and creating chances like he was in Belgium, then it would be a very difficult decision for me.” Wales’ only previous World Cup finals appearance was in Sweden in 1958, where they lost to Brazil in the quarter-finals. Wales’ first match in Qatar is on Monday November 21 against the USA at 7pm. UK time on the second day of the tournament at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan. The same venue will host Wales’ second group game against Iran on Friday 25 November at 10am. as well as the final group game against England on Tuesday 29 November at 7pm. The knockout stage begins on Saturday, December 3rd.
“A page true to its word with a team with few surprises”
Sky Sports News senior reporter Geraint Hughes: “Well, Rob Page has said for the better part of the last fortnight, there will be no surprises, he’s been true to his word. “Page did the tried and tested thing and in doing so was loyal to the players who played for him in World Cup qualification and during the various Nations League campaigns. “I might as well start by confirming the collective sigh of relief across Wales when they saw Gareth Bale’s name on the squad list, but the hardest choice was probably that of Joe Allen. Two weeks ago, Rob Page told me Joe had less than a 10 percent chance of making the team, but in that time, Allen’s rehab has gone much better than expected, and he’s making the team. He is in the team, not only for his football experience and talent, but he is a wise head. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Former Wales player Neil Taylor believes Gareth Bale could do Superman things at this year’s World Cup and reveals why he thinks Joe Allen should go too. “Interestingly when I asked Page if Gareth Bale was fit enough to play three games every four days during the group stage, the Wales manager dismissed the question. does not matter. “Bale’s last few years at Real Madrid and now at LAFC have been about two things: getting Wales to the World Cup and being able to lead them to a World Cup. enough to take Wales to the World Cup. “I could clearly understand the difficulty Rob Page had in telling the players who weren’t selected that they had lost the game. He obviously didn’t like doing it. If he could, he would have taken a 30+ man squad to Qatar. , but He couldn’t.However, he wouldn’t take away his body language when talking about the players who lost, not only do they hurt, but you could feel that Paige was hurting too. “The announcement of the Wales squad was more than just an official statement of the 26 players going to Qatar, it was a celebration. It was a unique occasion, a unique day in fact. Wales have waited so long to be at a World Cup and With the current generation of players they have, they are determined not to miss the opportunity on the pitch, but also all the opportunities off the pitch.”
Earnshaw: Johnson can star in World Cup
Former Wales striker Robert Earnshaw on Sky Sports News: “It was interesting because Rob Page played the lone striker and he also played the front three with two wide guys staying on the flanks. “Sometimes it’s Gareth Bale on the right with Dan James on the left and Kiefer Moore in the middle. “Brennan Johnson has played recently so it will be interesting to see how he goes. Moore has been on the bench at times with Bale up front floating around and producing his magic. “I think this could be a tournament for Brennan Johnson as he’s now playing in the Premier League and I’ve seen him grow over the last couple of years. Now it’s about the next step and who will come out of the shadows to take the team forward as part of the next generation. “I feel like this could be Johnson.”
Bowen: Bale’s presence gives Wales confidence
Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Former Wales defender Mark Bowen has praised “special player” Gareth Bale and says the Los Angeles FC winger’s presence alone will give the team a huge boost. Former Wales international Mark Bowen on Sky Sports News: “The whole nation of Wales is very excited with two weeks away from the opening game. It’s been a long time coming, but there’s a lot of quiet anticipation. “It is the culmination of the way Welsh football has moved on in recent years since the famous Euro mission we had under Chris Coleman. “There’s been a little bit of expectation building over the years because we’ve realized we’ve got potentially a good, young squad with the stardust that Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey bring. We’ve got winners in the squad. The whole nation is certainly behind them. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player …
