In case you somehow didn’t know, Wales play Finland tonight at the Cardiff City Stadium.

A win would leave Wales one victory away from Euro 2024 in Germany this Summer with that final game against the winner of Poland/Estonia and will again be at home for Wales in front of the red wall inside the Cardiff City stadium.

Wales go into the game tonight as huge favourites, ranked 29^th in the world, 31 places above their Scandinavian opponents.

However, the Finns do have threats. Teemu Pukki is a consistent scorer of big goals even though he may now be playing his football for Minnesota United in the MLS and not Delia Smith’s Canaries in the Championship.

Additionally, Wales’ opponents can call on midfield workhorse Glen Kamara, and Bayer Leverkusen captain Lukas Hradecky in goal.

Wales will be wary of taking them lightly even though they haven’t lost to the Finns in their last four meetings, including a 3-1 home win in November 2020.

In terms of team selection, Rob Page has his system which he trusts and there is a lot to say on continuity.

Three centre backs, 2 wing backs, 2 holding midfielders and three forwards has been a staple of his management.

You only need to look at the domestic form to see where Wales’ strengths lie.

Kieffer Moore, David Brooks, Harry Wilson, Brennan Johnson, Daniel James, Liam Cullen and Nathan Broadhead have all been scoring consistently for their respective sides in attack and performing well.

Not to forget that Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon have been a brilliant defensive partnership at the back for Leeds, keeping nine clean sheets in 12 games.

But Wales aren’t blessed with holding midfielders right now. Especially following Joe Allen’s retirement and his namesake, Joe Morrell’s injury, it leaves Ampadu, Jordan James and Josh Sheehan as the only recognised holding midfielders in tonight’s’ squad,

With Aaron Ramsey unlikely to be fit enough to start, it makes the selection of Ampadu and Jordan James in midfield a simple proposition and their form together, particularly in the 2-1 win over Croatia means they deserve their starting births.

So, what to do with the forwards and defence?

Page will opt for the extra solidity of a back three while simultaneously asking his wingbacks, likely Connor Roberts and Neco Williams, to push up high and wide.

What about opting for a back four of Roberts, Rodon, Ben Davies and Williams. This will allow Wales to accommodate an extra attacking player up front.

The question on which forwards to pick is a harder one.

Moore has to start. He is playing and scoring, six in his last 10 domestically, having dropped down to the Championship on loan from Bournemouth to Ipswich but also he has consistently come up big for Wales when it matters.

Additionally, with the expectation that Finland will sit back and let Wales have most of the ball, his aerial prowess in the box will be crucial.

Also, in the attacking four, it would be great to see Wilson and Johnson.

Wilson’s dead ball ability is supreme, and Wales only need to look at their last play-off wins against Austria and Ukraine to see how important free-kicks can be, while Johnson has that x-factor and has added goal involvements to his game.

Page may start with Daniel James over Johnson but perhaps Wilson and Moore especially.

Brooks can play off the right, allowing Roberts to overlap but also gives Wales a fluidity with Wilson, with both picking up dangerous positions between Finland’s attack and defence.

The final question is who’s in goal and with none of Wales’ four goalkeepers playing regularly it is a difficult question to answer. However, continuity is often key in that position and despite Wayne Hennessey’s heroics, let’s suggest Danny Ward.

Ward played Wales’ last two games against Armenia and Turkey and its expected for him to continue between the stick.

 

My team – (4-2-3-1) Ward; Roberts, Rodon, Davies, Williams; Ampadu, J James, Brooks, Wilson, Johnson; Moore.

Page’s team expected –  (3-4-2-1) Ward; Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Roberts, Ampadu, J James, Williams; Wilson, Johnson; Moore.