Will Page Try a New Tune for the Land of Song?

Wales manager Robert Page can relish a unique opportunity for Wales to make changes ahead of their final Group A game in Rome, with the the rarity of a relaxed build up to a competitive game, as his side sit nicely within Group A on four points.

Whilst qualification for the last 16 is still not guaranteed, it would be hard to foresee Wales not progressing to the knockout stages with their current total of four points.

Wales face a mighty Italian side who are many experts’ choice to win the whole tournament but, with the Azzurri also well placed at the top of the group, Page has the luxury of being able to shuffle his pack and keep his sharpest powder dry for battles ahead.

What choices then, does the Llwynypia-born boss have as he anticipates his exciting adventure in the Eternal City?

In goal, Danny Ward seems to have ousted Wayne Hennessey as Page’s first choice keeper. Despite neither custodian enjoying regular action at club level, both have served Wales proud on the international stage. Expect Page to stick with Ward in the interests of a settled side though.

I also expect few changes in defence, with Joe Rodon and Chris Mepham forming a solid central partnership. Connor Roberts should retain his full back spot after that late winner against Turkey, though we could see Ben Davies rested to avoid the risk of a second yellow card. Chris Gunter, Ben Cabango and Nico Williams will be ready if called upon.

In midfield, the ageing Joe Allen may benefit from a rest, while Aaron Ramsey could see out his return to Italy on the bench, if Page finds the chance to give his injury-plagued star some downtime hard to resist. He certainly has replacements for both in the shape of Ethan Ampadu and Harry Wilson.

Elsewhere, it would be a brave call to leave out skipper Gareth Bale, while Dan James has also made himself undroppable in recent games.

At centre forward though, Page faces his greatest dilemma.

Cardiff City’s Kieffer Moore is virtually irreplaceable at both club and country level. With 20 league goals last season for the Bluebirds, he has also scored important goals for the national side, not least of which was that crucial, blood-stained effort which saw the Welshmen rescue a vital point in their opening tie against Switzerland.

Moore has become so important for Wales, that dropping him seems almost unthinkable. His abrasive style and sheer physical presence though, means that he inevitably collects the odd yellow card. He already has one Yellow to his name in the tournament and, if Moore were to pick up another caution in a game which Wales don’t need to win, well, Page might have some explaining to do around why his star striker would be sitting out a knockout tie.

The problem facing Page though, is that he does not have a ready made replacement for Moore. It’s hard enough finding one, 20 goal, 6’4” striker, never mind two. Page elected to leave Sam Vokes and 2016 hero Hal Robson Kanu at home, so he could be contemplating Harry Wilson in a “false nine” role, a more forward position for Bale or even a dramatic call up for Cardiff City’s young Rubin Colwill.

Such dilemmas are a rare treat at international level of course as, for once, Page’s hands are not tied by injury or suspension. Quite how far into the tournament we travel before such factors come into play, of course, remains to be seen.

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