Wales manager Rob Page highlighted the experience that his current players had at the 2022 World Cup as key to helping them to Tuesday’s play-off final against Poland.

Wales qualified for the 2022 World Cup, their first since 1958, but struggled in a difficult group, returning home having failed to win a single game.

Wales now have several younger members of the squad following the retirements of the likes of Gareth Bale and Chris Gunter with Jordan James, 19, and Neco Williams, 22, becoming regular starters.

Page believes that the age profile of the squad is ideal for what is a quick turnaround in games from Thursday’s 4-1 semi-final victory over Finland.

“We are in a healthier position with regards to the age and the lads we’ve got on the pitch,” said Page.

“Having younger legs does not guarantee that you will get positive results, but it gives us the best opportunity and I think by having a younger squad that brings athleticism.”

Page underlined the importance of the 2022 World Cup as not only a learning curve for his team but also an opportunity for himself to see what other successful international sides were doing well and transfer that to Wales.

“One of the biggest things we took from the World Cup was seeing some of the teams Canada, Morocco and USA’s midfield three, they were athletic,” said Page.

“And I think now you can see that, you know, having that in the back of our mind the athleticism that we need as well in Jordan James and Ethan [Ampadu] in the middle of the park. We are getting there.

“It’s still going to be a tough challenge. Don’t get me wrong, but we’re prepared for tough times.”

With the recent retirements of Jonny Williams, Chris Gunter, Joe Allen and Gareth Bale, Page has given younger players such as Harry Wilson and Ethan Ampadu increased leadership roles.

The Wales coach is proud that his young team have reached this stage without his country’s all time top scorer in Bale.

“You look back to the semi-final and final [of qualifying] for the World Cup. Gareth scored three goals,” said Page.

“Would we have qualified without the goals? No. Would Gareth have played in a World Cup without his teammates? No.

“It shows how far we’ve come in a short space of time. We are only one tournament past Gareth [Bale’s] retirement, and now we are one match away from qualifying.”

This current Wales squad is one that manager Rob Page is happy to call ‘his own’ now, having brought through talents like Jordan James and Neco Williams and saying goodbye to Bale and Allen.

However, he was keen to stress the importance of the work that previous manager Ryan Giggs did in working with Page while he oversaw the U21 team.

“When I took over from Ryan [Giggs], there was nothing wrong, the team were winning,” said Page.

“Ryan [Giggs] had implemented some great, great changes, and so it would have been foolish to make any drastic changes. I just continued the motion of success.

“Slowly along the way, we tweaked some of the personnel in the staff, some of the personnel in the playing squad, and the style in which we play has changed.”

Page and defender Ben Davies also expressed their confidence in the squad if tomorrow’s match does go to penalties.

“We’d be stupid not to [practice],” Page remarked.

“We know it’s a possibility and we’ve done some work on it. It does not take away our confidence. We believe we will get a positive result, but you would be foolish not to.

“Let’s hope it does not get there but we have been practicing all week,” said Davies.

“I don’t know what the lineup [of takers] is, but we have 11 pretty good takers at the moment!”

Finally, Page stressed the importance of playing the final at the Cardiff City Stadium in front of the Welsh faithful.

“We are 21 unbeaten in our last 23 at home and our supporters are massive for us,” said Page.

“They took the roof off with the anthem on Thursday and I say bring it on again Tuesday and let’s use that crowd to our benefit and get across the line.”