Dream to nightmare - how Page's Wales reign unravelled

When Wales’ travel astatine nan 2022 World Cup was ended by conclusion by England successful Qatar, head Rob Page and his players walked complete to their supporters and shared a infinitesimal of communal appreciation; disappointed their escapade was over, but proud to person been connected football’s grandest shape for nan first clip successful 64 years.

Page and his squad took nan aforesaid locomotion to nan balanced spot of a stadium successful Slovakia connected Sunday nighttime – but nan opposition successful reception could hardly person been starker.

Wales had conscionable been thrashed 4-0, 3 days aft they had been held to a humiliating tie by Gibraltar successful different friendly.

The 1,000 Welsh fans successful Trnava applauded their players but, erstwhile Page stepped guardant to connection a raised manus of apology, he was met pinch boos and vitriol.

It is simply a agelong clip since Wales supporters past turned connected a manager, truthful it felt important erstwhile they jeered Page and chanted for him to beryllium sacked aft Thursday’s dismal tie pinch Gibraltar.

When nan aforesaid point happened successful Slovakia – successful greater numbers and pinch much spot of emotion – Page seemed to person reached nan constituent of nary return.

These whitethorn person been friendlies, but this discontent had been brewing for immoderate time.

Strange arsenic it mightiness sound, you could trace nan commencement of Page’s diminution to nan top infinitesimal of his career.

By guiding Wales to their first World Cup since 1958, Page etched himself into Welsh shot lore.

It was a singular accomplishment for nan erstwhile Port Vale and Northampton Town boss, who had coped admirably erstwhile he was thrust into nan Wales occupation successful difficult circumstances pursuing Ryan Giggs’ departure.

Yet moreover earlier getting to Qatar, location had been immoderate concerning signs. Wales only won 2 of their 12 matches successful 2022, crucially nan World Cup play-off victories complete Austria and Ukraine.

Given really agelong Wales had been made to hold to play astatine a World Cup, group were consenting to look beyond wavering capacity levels. But successful Qatar, those issues caught up pinch Wales.

Page sewage his action and strategies incorrect successful nan opening tie pinch nan United States and, contempt saying “lessons had been learned” aft snatching a fortuitous point, he repeated nan aforesaid mistakes arsenic Wales fell to a woeful 2-0 conclusion against Iran which each but sealed their fate.

The harm had already been done by nan clip a listless 3-0 nonaccomplishment to England confirmed their group-stage exit.

Criticism of Page was starting to stitchery gait – peculiarly aft nan capitulation against Iran – but he could still cling to nan pridefulness of being nan first man to lead Wales astatine a World Cup for 64 years.

There was nary specified consolation six months later erstwhile Wales’ bid to suffice for Euro 2024 came disconnected nan rails.

They had really started promisingly, scoring an injury-time equaliser to tie successful Croatia earlier beating Latvia astatine home.

But past came nan nadir of Page’s reign, a shambolic 4-2 location conclusion by an Armenia broadside 71 places beneath Wales successful nan world rankings.

Fans and pundits reacted angrily, peculiarly aft Page described nan consequence arsenic a “slap” his squad mightiness person needed.

Scrutiny intensified past October erstwhile Football Association of Wales main executive Noel Mooney said nan head needed to support winning games to enactment successful his job, comments which vice-captain Ben Davies later described arsenic “unhelpful”.

A consequent unbeaten tally of 8 games – featuring an awesome 2-1 triumph complete Croatia – took immoderate of nan power disconnected Page.

But aft failing to suffice for Euro 2024 aft a play-off last conclusion by Poland successful March, doubts remained, moreover if FAW president Steve Williams offered contiguous and nationalist support.

Fans person tended to sound their frustrations astir Page online aliases distant from stadiums, wherever they person alternatively channelled their energies towards supporting nan team.

And though they still showed their appreciation to Wales’ players successful Portugal and Slovakia, supporters made their feelings known astir nan head pinch chants of “we want Page out” and, sarcastically, “in transition” – mocking Page’s repeated appeals for patience successful this post-Gareth Bale era.

It would beryllium different for immoderate relation to sack a head based connected friendlies, but these matches were not isolated incidents.

With Mooney and different influential figures astatine some games, specified pitiful results and performances – and, possibly arsenic significantly, nan fans’ guidance – tin only person weakened Page’s position.

The FAW’s decision-makers are not giving overmuch distant for now, but Page was utterly despondent successful Slovakia connected Sunday, seemingly resigned to nan truth that his days are numbered.

“They [fans] want maine out,” he said. “I wholly understand. I’ve sewage to enactment existent to myself and focused connected nan occupation successful hand.

"Everything other is retired of my control.”