MX23RW : Wednesday, December 18 14:36:00| >> :120:8624:8624:

Robert Page: 'Wales have had to overcome a logistical nightmare'

Robert Page: 'Wales have had to overcome a logistical nightmare'
© Reuters
Wales will play in Amsterdam in the round of 16 after having group games in Baku and Rome.

Robert Page admits Wales have overcome a logistical "nightmare" to reach the knockout stage of Euro 2020.

Wales booked their place in the round of 16 on Sunday despite losing 1-0 to Italy in Rome.

The Dragons finished above Switzerland on goal difference to take second place in Group A and now head to Amsterdam where Denmark, Finland or Russia will be waiting on Saturday.

Italy v Wales – UEFA Euro 2020 – Group A – Stadio Olimpico
Wales players and staff members celebrate reaching the last 16 of Euro 2020 with a post-match huddle in Rome (Marco Iacobucci/PA)

Wales are among the nations that have travelled the most miles at Euro 2020, having played their opening two games in the Azerbaijani capital Baku before moving on to Rome.

Interim boss Page said: "It's not been easy because we've had to go to Baku and then travel to Italy. Now we're going to have to go to Amsterdam.

"On paper it sounds like a great idea to have it all round Europe.

"But logistically it is an absolute nightmare – and throw Covid into the mix as well.

SOCCER Wales
PA Graphics

"The team we've got behind us that people don't see deserve a lot of credit.

"Covid makes the job harder. But it is what it is and we have to get on with it.

"We've got to prepare well to give us the best chance for Saturday."

Wales have chosen to stay in Rome before finalising their build-up plans for the round of 16.

Italy Wales Euro 2020 Soccer
Aaron Ramsey (left) has started Wales' three games at Euro 2020 despite coming into the tournament with concerns over his fitness (Alberto Lingria/AP)

Page has no injury issues with Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey brushing aside pre-tournament concerns over his fitness by starting three games in nine days.

"There have been questions over Aaron's fitness coming into the camp," Page said.

"To do what he's done, that was his third consecutive game (against Italy), is credit to him.

"I don't think he's played 90 minutes in a couple of years, but he played on Sunday off the back of two massive performances."

Euro 2020 Preview Package
Wales manager Ryan Giggs has been on leave from his position since November (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Page has been in charge since November with manager Ryan Giggs on leave from his position.

Giggs faces court charges of assaulting two women and controlling or coercive behaviour, which the former Manchester United star denies.

The 46-year-old Page was previously Giggs' assistant and his contribution in difficult circumstances has been hailed by Football Association of Wales president Kieran O'Connor.

"Rob has been superb, the players love him, I have never seen so many players laughing and joking at a training session," O'Connor told Sky Sports.

"He plans everything and he has a good team behind him as well. They are all experienced pros who know what they are doing.

"We've become, both as an association and as a country, a lot slicker in the last 10 years.

"We're seeing the progression from the under-15s up to the senior squad.

"The further we go in the competition, the more money we make, the more we can invest in grassroots football and the better we develop.

"In terms of how far we can go, the plan is to win it. We'll go as far as we possibly can."

ID:452195: cacheID:452195:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:10337:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Russia's Aleksei Miranchuk celebrates scoring against Finland at Euro 2020 on June 16, 2021
Read Next:
Euro 2020 day 11: Five teams bidding for last-16 progression
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!