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Robert Page insists Wales must not read into Turkey's Italy defeat

Robert Page insists Wales must not read into Turkey's Italy defeat
© Reuters
Turkey were unbeaten in six games before losing their Euro 2020 opener.

Wales boss Robert Page has warned that Euro 2020 opponents Turkey are a lot better than their opening scoreline with Italy suggested.

Turkey were brushed aside 3-0 by Italy on the tournament's first night in Rome, offering Wales real hope that they can claim their first win of Euro 2020 in Baku on Wednesday.

But Turkey came into the competition on the back of a six-game unbeaten run and were highly fancied by many to do well at Euro 2020.

Italy Turkey Euro 2020 Soccer
Turkey slumped to a 3-0 defeat to Italy in their opening Euro 2020 game (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

"We've not just watched their game against Italy, we've watched games going back over recent months," said interim manager Page, whose Wales side began the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland.

"The personnel has changed, but we're up against a very good team.

"We've identified where they are good but it stops there, because we look at ourselves and we've got players who can hurt teams."

Skipper Gareth Bale and playmaker Aaron Ramsey both had quiet opening games in the heat of Baku on Saturday.

It was left to a combination from the Sky Bet Championship to rescue Wales a point as Luton midfielder Joe Morrell crossed for Cardiff striker Kieffer Moore to head home the equaliser.

Page said: "We've got a game plan we want to stick to, one that we think can cause Turkey problems.

"Any opposing manager that looks at that team sheet is going to respect what we've got out there and can pose them a threat.

"We got off to a positive start to get a point. To fall behind against a very good Swiss team – there's a lot of positives to come out of that.

Wales v Switzerland – UEFA Euro 2020 – Group A – Baku Olympic Stadium
Kieffer Moore celebrates after scoring Wales' equaliser against Switzerland on Saturday (PA Wire)

"In tournament football you have to find a way to win and we've shown we can do that.

"Turkey probably looked at the fixtures coming into the tournament and saw they had a very difficult opener against the favourites Italy.

"They'd be looking at our game to get the three points, and we're fully prepared for that.

"But we'll be going for the win, and if you get four points from two games, it sets us up nicely."

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Gareth Bale in action for Wales in November 2020
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Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
 
8pm
Quarter-Finals
Portugal
vs.
France
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
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Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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