Rob Page insisted Wales “are going places” and that there are “plenty more good times ahead” despite an agonising 5-4 penalty shootout defeat against Poland ending their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024.
Daniel James’s decisive spot‑kick was saved by the Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, but the Wales manager said he and his squad will rally around the Leeds winger.
A header by Ben Davies – captain with Aaron Ramsey an unused substitute – was disallowed for offside and Kieffer Moore also went close to scoring in the second half before an uneventful period of extra time at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Page’s side practised penalties on the eve of the Euro 2024 qualifying playoff final but James’s failure to beat Szczesny from the spot proved costly.
“It’s a cruel game, that’s what I’ve said to the players, one kick away from qualifying,” Page said.
“I’m absolutely gutted for them. It hurts. I thought we were the better team – my message to the players at half-time was we are the better team, we will win this game.
“It’s so disappointing but look how far we’ve come, there’s something good happening with this group. We rallied around Daniel James, he had the bravery to take that penalty, I am so proud of that group.”
Page, who signed a new contract before the World Cup in Qatar, is under contract until 2026. He said his full focus is “on building what we’ve already started and the transition we’re in”.
On the subject of his future, he said: “This team is going somewhere, they’re so disappointed that they haven’t qualified tonight.
“They’re hungry for it, there’s a lot more to come and plenty more good times ahead. We will be bigger and stronger for going through this horrible experience.
“We are going somewhere. There is something good happening with this group. We’ve got a really good group and we’re going places.”
