The mood in the Wales camp ahead of knock out tie with Denmark
Cardiff, Wales. 5th June 2021. Wales interim manager Rob Page thanks the fans at full time Wales v Albania friendly at the Cardiff City Stadium on the 5th June 2021. Credit: Lewis Mitchell/YCPD.
Key members of Wales’ coaching and playing staff have given their thoughts ahead of today’s EURO 2020 match with Denmark.
Manager Rob Page said: “We’ve done our homework on them already, we spent all day in the analysis room yesterday going over it and what we are up against is a very, very good outfit.
“First and foremost we’re glad that Christian Eriksen is recovering really, really well. Ben Davies is a close friend of his and he was cut up the night it was all unfolding. Football comes and goes for coaches, managers, players but your family is there for life and he’s back with them and that’s the most important thing.
“With regards to business on Saturday, we’re there to beat them, there’s no emotion from us with regards to that we are there to do a job and we will absolutely be ready for it.”
Forward Kieffer Moore told Sky Sports News that Wales can’t let the Ericksen situation affect their performance,
“I don’t think it could play a part in the game,
“What happened was devastating but to see him in good health now is amazing. That shouldn’t take anything from the way we set-up. It’s a horrible situation but we can’t let that affect us.”
Dan James credits the mental strength of the Danish team for finishing the game against Finland. With the Wales winger telling Sky Sports News,
“Obviously in the first game it was one that was very emotional for them.
“The mental state they must have been in and having to carry on that game, I honestly don’t know how they did it. Full credit to them.
“The support for Eriksen has been absolutely brilliant. Thankful for all the people who were there that day to help him and it’s absolutely brilliant that he’s in recovery now and he’s fully well.
“It’s going to be an emotional game for them but it’s one I’m sure they’re going to be fully ready for.”
No Wales Supporters at Johan Cruyff Arena
Wales will have the odds against them as Wales supporters will not be able to enter The Neverlands for the game. As Denmark is part of the EU Schengen travel area they will be able to.
A Dutch government spokesperson told ITV News: “Unfortunately, there is an entry ban in effect for people outside the EU/Schengen area.
“This is because we want to halt the introduction of variants of the coronavirus. Unless people fall into one of the exemption categories, fans cannot enter the Netherlands. There is no exemption for supporters.
“Because Denmark is within the EU, supporters can enter the Netherlands. However, they have to stick to the rules regarding quarantine and testing, as can be found on our website.
“The Dutch authorities strongly support the Danish and Welsh statements to stay home and watch the game in their own countries.”
This won’t be new for the Wales team having played their second game in Baku heavily outnumbered by Turkish fans. Page insists that his team will use this to their advantage.
“Yeah they will have supporters but Turkey had 30,000 fans and we beat them. So we’ll use it to our benefit and we can’t wait.”
“It’s all a little bit political isn’t it but at the end of the day it is what it is we can’t influence it, we’ve got to control what we can and all we have to worry about is the game.”
Dan James added that “its gutting” to not have The Red Wall there to support them: It’s obviously gutting not to have fans in a tournament like this.
“It’s something I’ve not been involved in before and listening to the stories of Euro 2016 and watching the games, it was absolutely brilliant to see fans there.
“We can’t make any excuses for the fans not being here. It’s something that’s been normal for the last year and a half now, so it is something all the players are used to.
“It’s something we can’t go into the game thinking about. We know they’re supporting from home, just like the other games.
“There may be more Danish fans there than Welsh fans, but it’s just like the Turkey game really and we won’t let that faze us.”
A quarter final match against either the Czech Republic or The Neverlands await the winners.
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)
