Rob Page calls on Wales to be more ruthless after Estonia shutout
Wales caretaker manager Rob Page on the touchline. Wales v Estonia in a 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier at the Cardiff City Stadium on the 8th September 2021. Credit: Lewis Mitchell
Wales need to be more ruthless according to Manager Rob Page after their 0-0 draw with Estonia. Wales were held to a draw by Estonia at Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday night. The home side unable to break down Estonia despite having 19 attempts on goal.
Estonia ranked 110th in the FIFA World Rankings came to Cardiff with a plan. To hold out the Welsh side and picked up their first point of the campaign. Estonia keeper Karl Hein pulling off six saves as Wales looked to score.
Speaking after the game Page said,
“I thought we started the game really well and should have scored after a minute. I asked them to start fast and they did that. When you play against teams who get behind the ball and protect the ball you have to finish your chances.”
The draw means Wales’ chances of topping the group look to be gone, meaning they are now looking to finish in second spot. Wales are now six points behind Group E leaders Belgium. Wales have two games in hand but would need to overturn Belgium’s +17 goal difference.
The squad were looking to pick up maximum points from these two games so for Page its a disappointing camp,
“Before the camp we looked at these as winnable games for us, we’ve only taken four points from six so its a disappointing camp for us.
“We created enough chances to win two games of football tonight, and like I said the only criticism is we’ve not been ruthless enough to finish those chances.
“We need to win as many games as we can”
Wales were unable to break down an Estonia team that Page believes came for one thing only, to hold out for a point. Page believing that his Wales team controlled the game from start to finish.
“We started brightly and I think we controlled the tempo of the game. I thought that we completely controlled it.
“They were here for just one thing, they were camping in their box and then launching it forward and try do us on the counter attack.”
“When we start that fast you got to score, punish teams.”
Wales will face too tough away games in November as they travel to the Czech Republic and Estonia. Wales are level on points with the Czech’s who have played a games more.
