Wales are set to take part in just their second-ever World Cup this year. They finished second in Group B behind Belgium before then beating Austria and Ukraine in the play-offs.
The only previous time Wales made it to the World Cup group stages was all the way back in 1958, eight years after they became a FIFA member. In that tournament they reached the quarter finals before being knocked out by Brazil.
With the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen coming towards the end of their careers, this could be the one big chance they get to make a mark on a World Cup while the uncertainty around the manager’s role amid Ryan Giggs’ ongoing court proceedings appears to be over after he officially stepped down from the role in June.
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Wales World Cup 2022 Tips
Read the latest Wales odds ahead of the World Cup, including their odds to win the tournament, odds to claim the golden boot, 101 Great Goals’ top tip and more 2022 World Cup predictions and tips.
Wales World Cup Predictions
World Cup betting tips
Wales have been drawn in a group with England, USA and Iran, and while it appears to be one of the friendlier groups, Wales will still face a tough ask to progress through to the knockouts. England are the runaway favourites to win the group, while the USA have the strongest set of players they have had for some time, meaning Wales are up against it if they wish to qualify.
Wales Golden Boot Prediction
World Cup betting tips
Gareth Bale has delivered time and again for Wales, and on the biggest stages of all. Having departed Real Madrid, his focus – whether you like it or not – is firmly on the Welsh national team and after his performances at Euro 2016 will once again be the talismanic figure on which Welsh fans place their hopes. They are unlikely however to progress far enough for him to compete.
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Manager
Robert Page
During that time, he managed 26 games, picking up 10 wins, nine draws and seven loses. He was then named as the permanent manager in June, 2022.
Page prefers to use a five-back formation, which makes sense given Wales do not have too much quality. The five-back also allows Page to use Ben Davies as a left-centre-back – a role he excels in for Tottenham.
Record
Total appearances: 1
First qualification: 1958
Most recent: 1958
Best achievement: Quarter-finals (1958)
World Ranking: 19
Overall record: P5, W1, D3, L1
Key players
Gareth Bale
Despite being 33 years of age and coming to the end of his career, Gareth Bales remains Wales’ best player. The forward is the country’s top scorer with 39 goals to his name – 12 more than legendary striker, Ian Rush.
He is also Wales’ captain and has scored some very important goals over the years, including netting a brace as Wales beat Austria 2-1 in a World Cup play-off match. Bale then provided the assist during the 1-0 win over Ukraine that send his country to Qatar.
Fan expectation for Wales in the World Cup
Evan from @welshfootball_ told 101: “After a 64 year wait, Cymru are back on the big stage. The entire nation has it’s eyes on Qatar, generations have waited for this moment and the squad are fired up for it just as much as the fans are.
“In my eyes, we’re a squad built on togetherness. Every player, everyone on the bench, the coaches and fans are in unison. When all are on form, we thrive, that’s ‘the Welsh way.’ But of course, we’ve got Bale.
“Despite being in the later stages of his playing days, the thing that eluded his career was playing for his nation at the World Cup. He played a pivotal role in getting us there, the brace against Austria in the semi-final and his strike resulting in an own goal against Ukraine in June made a whole country experience this for the first time. He’s going to be up for it next month.
“We’ve got a crop of emerging young talent in our squad, players who’ve risen through our youth set-up and are now being nurtured by our senior stars in the squad. Brennan Johnson is the stand out player for me out of these. Barring Poland in the Nations League, he’s got a goal contribution in every game he’s played at the senior level. Many see him as Bale’s heir and seeing the two of them in the squad is a privilege.”
101′s Wales World Cup Tip
Wales can be backed at 150/1 to win the World Cup with bet356 or at 6/1 to win their group.
Wales are in a group alongside England, USA and Iran, meaning there is a good chance they can clinch second spot and make it to the knockout rounds. However, them getting past the Round of 16 does seem very unlikely.
101’s Top Tip
Wales stats, fixtures and results
Follow our Wales page for the latest statistics, live odds, fixtures, results and match facts of every game at the World Cup.
