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Rob Page welcomed Wales putting automatic qualification for Euro 2024 in their own hands after admitting he had been \u201cfighting fires\u201d before the stunning 2-1 victory over Croatia.<\/p>\n
Harry Wilson, winning his 50th cap, scored twice as Wales climbed above the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists in to second place in Group D.<\/p>\n
The two teams are tied on 10 points, six behind group leaders Turkey who secured qualification by beating Latvia 4-0 on Sunday. Wales are second by virtue of having a better head-to-head record against Croatia after also drawing 1-1 with them in Split in March.<\/p>\n
Wales\u2019 win over Croatia, ranked sixth in the world and 27 places above the Dragons, came after pre-match reports that manager Page\u2019s job could be in jeopardy.<\/p>\n
Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney had said earlier in the week that a \u201cserious review\u201d would take place on Page\u2019s position following the final group games against Armenia and Turkey next month. Page is currently just over 12 months into a four-year deal.<\/p>\n
Page said: \u201cI would say it\u2019s the best performance (of his three-year reign), I am immensely proud.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was unnecessary noise coming into it, with me fighting fires. I didn\u2019t need any player to speak, I see the players want to play for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a text from the chief executive today, before that, not for five weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to concentrate on the football, we are two games away from qualifying for another major tournament, a fourth in five.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe we can do it. We need to do the same (in November) as we did in this camp.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wales had never beaten Croatia in seven previous attempts, drawing three and losing four.<\/p>\n
But Wales had the better first-half chances \u2013 Dominik Livakovic denying Wilson and Neco Williams with smart saves \u2013 and took control after the break.<\/p>\n
Wilson raced on to David Brooks\u2019 pass to score with a splendid chip and then converted Daniel James\u2019 cross with a glancing header.<\/p>\n
Mario Pasalic ensured home anxiety 15 minutes from time with a close-range header, but Wales held on for a famous victory.<\/p>\n
Page said: \u201cIn all aspects, how we defended against an excellent team with one of the best midfields in the world was outstanding.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in a transition period where we\u2019ve lost one of the best players in the world (Gareth Bale). We are introducing young players to strengthen us and improve us.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeven of our 11 are not starting for their club. Chris Mepham\u2019s last game was against Latvia. Kieffer Moore isn\u2019t playing for his club.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut when they turn up for Wales they produce a performance like that. I am really proud of them as a group.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe players are an incredible bunch and it\u2019s in our hands now.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand not everyone is going to be a fan of mine, but when you have a group of players playing like that for you, it makes you immensely proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic believes the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists face a tough task to qualify automatically after successive defeats to Turkey and Wales.<\/p>\n
Dalic said: \u201cIt is going to be difficult. We understand it is not all in our hands any more. We have to believe that we are going to be able to turn this around.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just played both games without energy, we didn\u2019t play well, we didn\u2019t create any chances. Our opponent was more aggressive, tougher than us and we deserved to lose.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sign up to Miguel Delaney\u2019s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel\u2019s Delaney\u2019s free weekly newsletter Rob Page welcomed Wales putting automatic qualification for Euro 2024 in their own hands after admitting he had been \u201cfighting fires\u201d before the stunning 2-1 victory over Croatia. Harry Wilson, winning his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2522,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n