Wales is left with a lot to prove after a painful defeat to Armenia, according to sports journalist Ben Fisher. The Welsh team’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 suffered a setback after conceding four goals in a match against Armenia. This result takes their winning rate to just one game in eleven since qualifying for the World Cup 12 months ago.
Wales was expected to win the match against a team ranked much lower than them, but instead suffered a humiliating defeat. The team had allowed Armenia to incisively carve them open, which resulted in four fine goals. The starting lineup included only two players who finished the Premier League season as first-choice starters, with the goalkeeper and the centre-backs losing their places at their respective teams.
The defeat was a harsh reminder of the bruising days when Wales was nestled below Guatemala and Guyana in the Fifa rankings. However, this result has come as a shock to the nation that has come to expect much better due to their recent unprecedented success.
The inquest into the team’s poor performance was conducted before an afternoon flight to Samsun, Turkey, where they will face another make-or-break match for their Euro 2024 campaign. The Welsh team manager, Rob Page, tried to explain the humiliating defeat by stating that everyone had become starry-eyed. However, such excuses won’t make up for the team’s poor performance. Ramsey, the Wales captain, had warned before the match that Armenia could hurt teams.
It remains to be seen whether Wales can overcome their current setback and translate their recent success into a solid performance at the Euro 2024. The defeat against Armenia has brought the Welsh team back to the hard reality of their underdog days.
