Former Wales striker Rob Earnshaw is confident Rob Page’s side can take a significant step towards qualifying for Euro 2024 with victory over Finland tonight.
A Welsh win in Cardiff would propel them forward to a meeting with either Poland or Estonia on Tuesday with the winners of that tie securing a place in Germany this summer.
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The stakes could not be any higher but Earnshaw is confident a boisterous home crowd will give Wales the edge.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “It’s a big chance [to get to the European Championship]. It’s win or go home and I love that.
“Chances wise, I’m very confident for tonight. The last meeting against Finland was 0-0 and the last few meetings have been tight but, right now, this Wales team is better than a couple of years ago.
“I think they’ll beat Finland and then it’s on to the next one. Finland will be tough, competitive, all those things. But when the dragon is roaring and we are playing at home it’s different.”
“Everything we were and are and want to be. Everything.”
Ein popeth. Our Cymru ♥️#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/dB6rY8DU9y
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) March 20, 2024
With Gareth Bale, the talisman of the side that qualified for Euro 2016, Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, now retired, Wales have required an alternative creative spark and Earnshaw has pinpointed three players he believes can make an impact against Finland.
“Harry Wilson has been Wales’ best performer all the way through qualifying. He won the game against Croatia,” he added. “If we can give him the ball he will assist or score.
“I also like Brennan Johnson, he can be a match-winner. We have pace and creativity in the wide areas.
“We’ve also got Keiffer Moore in the middle.”