{"id":23986,"date":"2024-03-13T07:31:15","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T11:31:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/aaron-ramsey-included-in-wales-squad-to-face-finland-in-european-championship-play-off-semi-finals-football-news\/13\/03\/2024\/"},"modified":"2024-03-13T07:31:15","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T11:31:15","slug":"aaron-ramsey-included-in-wales-squad-to-face-finland-in-european-championship-play-off-semi-finals-football-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/aaron-ramsey-included-in-wales-squad-to-face-finland-in-european-championship-play-off-semi-finals-football-news\/13\/03\/2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Aaron Ramsey included in Wales squad to face Finland in European Championship play-off semi-finals | Football News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Aaron Ramsey is a surprise inclusion in Wales’ 28-man squad to face Finland in the European Championship play-off semi-finals in Cardiff this month.<\/p>\n

Wales host Finland on March 21 in a bid to reach their fourth major tournament out of the last five. The winners of the tie will play Poland or Estonia at home in the play-off final on March 26 for the right to play at Euro 2024.<\/p>\n

Ramsey’s inclusion in Rob Page’s squad represents a massive U-turn as the midfielder sustained a calf injury last month shortly after a five-month lay-off with a damaged knee tendon.<\/p>\n

Cardiff manager Erol Bulut told Sky Sports l<\/em>ast month that the midfielder had ‘no chance’ – even the FAW said last week Ramsey would not be selected by Page as he couldn’t recover in time, so this selection is clearly a risk.<\/p>\n

Last weekend, when on co-commentary duty for Sky Sports at Cardiff City Stadium for the Bluebirds’ clash with Ipswich, Ramsey revealed he was making good progress with a return to full training in sight.<\/p>\n

“It’s coming along,” said Ramsey.<\/p>\n

“Hopefully I’ll be back on the grass next week. I’m optimistic and hopefully I’ll be back on that pitch as soon as possible.”<\/p>\n

Wales squad to face Finland<\/h3>\n

Goalkeepers: <\/strong>Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Tom King, Adam Davies.<\/p>\n

Defenders:<\/strong> Ben Davies, Joe Rodon, Joe Low, Chris Mepham, Ben Cabango, Neco Williams, Jay DaSilva, Connor Roberts, Wes Burns.<\/p>\n

Midfielders:<\/strong> Ethan Ampadu, Josh Sheehan, Dylan Levitt, Jordan James, Charlie Savage, Harry Wilson, Aaron Ramsey, David Brooks.<\/p>\n

Forwards: <\/strong>Nathan Broadhead, Rabbi Matondo, Daniel James, Liam Cullen, Rubin Colwill, Brennan Johnson, Kieffer Moore.<\/p>\n

Who is in the Euro 2024 play-offs?<\/h3>\n

In Path B, Israel face a semi-final against Iceland while Bosnia and Herzegovina will host Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Georgia take on fellow potential tournament debutants Luxembourg in Path C, while Kazakhstan travel to 2004 European champions Greece in the other semi-final of that route.<\/p>\n

Page believes Wales have a “great opportunity” to reach Euro 2024 after being handed two possible home ties in the qualification play-offs.<\/p>\n

Page was relieved to avoid a rematch with Ukraine, who his side beat in a play-off to qualify for last year’s World Cup, and insists Wales fear no-one in Cardiff.<\/p>\n

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Wales manager Rob Page speaks to Sky Sports after his side drew Finland in the Euro 2024 Play-Offs and believes the Welsh fans’ will play a key part in their chances of getting through. <\/span>
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“We tried to forecast the draw beforehand and we weren’t too far away,” said Page, whose team could also have been paired with Iceland at the last-four stage.<\/p>\n

“What’s important to us is that home draw in the final – we’ve got to get the job done (against Finland) first and foremost, of course we have.<\/p>\n

“We were probably wanting to avoid Ukraine as well so I think it’s gone to plan for us.<\/p>\n

“I don’t think any team in that group (Ukraine, Finland and Iceland) would have been wanting to play us. I was more nervous for the draw for the home tie for the final.<\/p>\n

“The form we’re in at the minute and with the ‘Red Wall’ at home, we’ll take anyone on in Cardiff.<\/p>\n

“It’s a great opportunity for us: we’re two wins at home away from another qualification to a major tournament. We’re hoping now for two big efforts.”<\/p>\n

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Sky Sports’ Geraint Hughes reflects on Wales’ 1-1 draw with Turkey that sees them miss out on automatic qualification for Euro 2024<\/span>
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Euro 2024 play-off draw in full<\/h3>\n

Play-off semi-finals<\/strong><\/p>\n

Path A<\/strong><\/p>\n

Poland vs Estonia<\/p>\n

Wales <\/strong>vs Finland<\/p>\n

Path B<\/strong><\/p>\n

Israel vs Iceland<\/p>\n

Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Ukraine<\/p>\n

Path C<\/strong><\/p>\n

Georgia vs Luxembourg<\/p>\n

Greece vs Kazakhstan<\/p>\n

Play-offs finals<\/strong><\/p>\n

Path A: Wales<\/strong>\/Finland vs Poland\/Estonia<\/p>\n

Path B: Bosnia-Herzegovina\/Ukraine vs Israel\/Iceland<\/p>\n

Path C: Georgia\/Luxembourg vs Greece\/Kazakhstan<\/p>\n

Wales had automatic qualification in their hands heading into the final two games, but ultimately fell short with closing 1-1 draws against Armenia and Turkey. Croatia and Turkey qualified as the top two in Group D.<\/p>\n

It has been a campaign of transition without talismanic captain Gareth Bale following his retirement in January and the loss of other key players such as midfielder Joe Allen.<\/p>\n

Wales began well with a bonus point away to World Cup semi-finalists Croatia – courtesy of Nathan Broadhead’s stoppage-time equaliser – and a narrow home win over Latvia.<\/p>\n

But a sour summer – back-to-beat defeats against Armenia and Turkey – would cost them dear, despite bouncing back with a 2-0 success in Latvia and a sensational 2-1 home victory over Croatia.<\/p>\n

Wales will have home advantage for the semi-final, which will be played at Cardiff City Stadium.<\/p>\n

That is a huge boost for Wales who have had some special nights in Cardiff in recent times, and beat both Austria and Ukraine there in the 2022 World Cup play-offs.<\/p>\n

Wales enter the play-offs with confidence after an unbeaten six-game run of three wins and three draws.<\/p>\n

Analysis: Dream draw for Wales<\/h3>\n
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Sky Sports News’ Geraint Hughes reacts to Wales’ Euro 2024 qualifying draw, which will first see them face Finland at home in the semi-final. <\/span>
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Sky Sports News’ senior reporter Geraint Hughes:<\/em><\/p>\n

“This couldn’t have worked out better for Wales in terms of the play-off draw. Being at home in the semi-finals they knew as a result of their successes over the years in the Nations League campaigns, and generally in UEFA competitions.<\/p>\n

Wales will be happy with [drawing Finland]. They did pretty well against them in the last World Cup qualifying campaign.<\/p>\n

“It then emerged they would face the winners of Poland or Estonia. And it will be a home game again if they were to beat Finland.<\/p>\n

“If you’re going on the form book, you would imagine it’ll be Poland. Wales’ record in competitive matches at home has been phenomenal.<\/p>\n

“They lost to Armenia, but you have to go a long way back to find the previous competitive home defeat at home and you can expect another well-out crowd, the Red Wall.<\/p>\n

“Wales will have the proverbial 12th man out on the pitch.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Aaron Ramsey is a surprise inclusion in Wales’ 28-man squad to face Finland in the European Championship play-off semi-finals in Cardiff this