How Far Can Wales Go at the Upcoming World Cup?

When the unfortunate Andriy Yarmolenko nodded into his own net after a wicked Gareth Bale freekick, Wales could finally return to the FIFA World Cup after 62 long years. But how far can the Dragons truly go? Oddschecker, which provides free offers for online casinos and sportsbooks, doesn’t rate Robert Page’s men’s chances very highly. Admittedly no one expects the FIFA World Cup trophy to be paraded around the streets of Cardiff a few days before Christmas, but Wales are priced alongside the likes of Serbia, Canada, and Ecuador in terms of outright betting.

That won’t bother Bale and co. one bit though. We all recall the summer of 2016 in France. During that European Championship campaign, Wales were also unfancied. They went on to top a group containing England, Russia, and Slovakia. After that, they edged out a 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland in the last 16, before the greatest result in the country’s history in the quarter-finals. That was, of course, the 3-1 victory over tournament favourites Belgium. Goals from captain Ashley Williams, Hal Robson-Kanu, and Sam Vokes were enough to seal a 3-1 victory over Roberto Martinez’s men, with the nation celebrating the victory long into the night.

Eventual winners Portugal would prove one step too far in the semifinal, cruising to a 2-0 victory. But is there anything stopping Wales from achieving a similar result in Qatar?

Getting out of the group should be the primary objective

Once again, Wales have been drawn alongside old rivals England in the group stages. The other two sides in Group B are Iran and USA. On paper, the draw could have been much worse. Admittedly, the Three Lions are the favourites to secure the top spot. But, Robert Page will be looking at the other two nations as beatable. To be fair, even England aren’t impenetrable. Wales gave them all they could handle at Euro 2016, even leading through Bale’s thunderous freekick at the halfway mark. It took Daniel Sturridge’s last gasp winner to break Welsh hearts, but don’t count them out on gaining revenge for that day in Lens.

Iran are the obvious weak link in the group, and victory against Dragan Skočić’s side is imperative if there is to be success.

The US, however, are a much trickier opponent. They boast the likes of Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic and Juventus’ Weston McKennie in their ranks, and they are expected to progress from the group stages at Wales’ expense. That fixture between the pair on the World Cup’s opening day is most definitely winnable though. And if Wales do win that game, it is highly likely that they will progress to the knockout stages.

Progress, and who knows where from there? 

If Wales can somehow make their way out of the group stages, it’s highly likely that it will be as group runners-up. That would probably set up a last-16 tussle with either Senegal or the Netherlands.

Senegal are the reigning champions of Africa, an honour they earned by defeating Mohamed Salah’s Egypt on penalties in Cameroon this winter to seal their first ever Africa Cup of Nations victory. Spearheaded by Bayern Munich’s new boy Sadio Mane, the Lions of Teranga would provide a stern test in the second round.

The Netherlands would also be quite the challenge. Wales, however, can take solace from the fact that the Oranje were eliminated at the same stage during last summer’s delayed European Championships. Second-half goals from Tomáš Holeš and Patrik Schick were enough to seal a 2-0 victory for the Czech Republic in Budapest and if the Red Dragons are to face Virgil Van Dijk and co, you can expect them to study that match in detail to prepare for the showdown.

Should Wales progress beyond the last 16, the tournament will have already been a rousing success. Anything further than that and we should all just enjoy the ride, as we all have already been doing throughout the last decade, the most successful era in the history of Welsh football.