A Heart-Wrenching Return: Wales' Captain Steps Up for Crucial World Cup Qualifiers
The drama unfolds as Wales prepares for its final World Cup qualifying battles, with a captain's comeback and a missing man's mystery.
In a thrilling turn of events, Wales' captain Ben Davies is back in action for the decisive World Cup qualifying group games against Liechtenstein and North Macedonia. Despite a month-long injury absence, Davies has been named in the squad, ready to lead his team once more.
But here's where it gets controversial... Davies' return comes at a time when regular captain Aaron Ramsey is once again missing. The 34-year-old midfielder has been plagued by fitness issues throughout the campaign and, amid reports of his departure from Mexican club Pumas UNAM, has not been selected.
Wales' head coach Craig Bellamy has shed some light on Ramsey's situation, stating that it's up to the player to clarify his circumstances. "It's not for me to talk about the clarity on that... To me, he's not available as he's still injured." Bellamy added, "I think we need to just say, 'look there are other things more important than football', and this is one of them."
And this is the part most people miss... Ramsey's absence is further complicated by the disappearance of his beloved dog Halo in Mexico. Bellamy acknowledged the difficulty of this period for Ramsey and his family, emphasizing the heart-wrenching nature of such a loss.
In Ramsey's absence, Davies steps up to lead the team, joined by Leeds United's fit-again winger Dan James. James, who missed last month's squad due to an ankle injury, is now ready to make his mark.
However, not all players are returning. Burnley's Connor Roberts, Wrexham's Danny Ward, and Ipswich Town's Wes Burns remain unavailable due to injuries. Wales will need to find their form quickly as they aim to secure a strong finish to their group campaign.
The stakes are high as Wales travels to face Liechtenstein, the bottom-ranked team in the pool, on November 15th. A win is crucial to guarantee a runners-up spot in Group J and secure home advantage in March's play-offs for next summer's finals. Wales then hosts North Macedonia in Cardiff three days later, a match that promises to be a nail-biter.
Liechtenstein, ranked 206th in the world, has yet to register a point or a goal in their six games so far. North Macedonia, with a game in hand, is currently three points ahead of Wales and has a six-goal advantage in goal difference. Wales must win both remaining fixtures to finish as group runners-up or, alternatively, secure a six-goal victory over Liechtenstein to guarantee a draw against North Macedonia would be enough.
While Wales has already secured a play-off place via the Nations League, finishing second in the group is essential to avoid being among the bottom seeds and the prospect of an away semi-final. The draw for the play-offs will take place on November 20th, with the one-legged semi-finals and finals scheduled for March.
So, what do you think? Will Wales' captain Davies lead his team to victory in these crucial games? And what impact will Ramsey's absence have on the team's performance? Join the discussion and share your thoughts in the comments below!
