Euro 2024 play-offs: Collective Wales effort needed to fill Gareth Bale void - Harry Wilson
Last updated on .From the section Wales
| Euro 2024 qualifying play-off final: Wales v Poland |
|---|
| Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Tuesday, 26 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT |
| Coverage: Live on S4C, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text |
| Highlights: Match of the Day Wales, BBC One Wales from 22:40 and later on demand |
Harry Wilson says Wales will need a collective effort to fill the void left by Gareth Bale.
Wales face Poland in a Euro 2024 play-off final on Tuesday, the culmination of their first qualifying campaign since Bale, their all-time leading goalscorer and former captain, retired.
Manager Robert Page has referenced Wilson as a player who has taken on more responsibility in Bale's absence.
"I don't think anyone was going to replace Gaz [Bale]," said Wilson.
"We knew when he left as a team we had to step up because he was leaving such a hole in that team.
"He was our captain, our leader, our best player. To lose his goals and his influence on the team, there was going to be a big gap there.
"It's not just me, a lot of players are playing really well at the moment. We're all coming together."
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Wilson, who turned 27 on Friday, was one of Wales' star performers in their 4-1 win over Finland in Thursday's play-off semi-final.
The attacking midfielder had a hand in three of Wales' goals, having impressed during the regular group stage of qualifying as well.
Wilson has also been in fine form for Fulham, who have won three of their past four matches to consolidate their status as an established Premier League side.
"I feel I have moved to the next level," Wilson said. "The move to Fulham two and a half years ago now was a big one for me.
"I'd been on a lot of loans from Liverpool. Although my dream as a young lad was to make it into Liverpool's first team and play regularly, I knew that wasn't going to be the case.
"When I was 18, 19 and 20, I was trying to get into the team, but they had arguably the best front three in the world [Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino].
"So all the loans I went on really helped me to grow as a player and learn the game. It got to a stage in my life where I wanted to get settled from a personal side of things as well.
"So when the Fulham move came up, I spoke to [Fulham manager] Marco Silva on the phone and I just felt it was the right move.
"I feel it's been the perfect move for me and my game has gone to a new level.
"The Premier League is the best league in the world so to be playing regular football in a good team in that league means I can only get better."
'We must stop Lewandowski'
Having won comfortably against Finland, Wales will face tougher opposition in the form of Poland on Tuesday.
In Robert Lewandowski, the Poles have a talisman who carries their hopes like Bale used to for Wales.
The Barcelona striker has been one of the world's deadliest finishers for more than a decade and, although he is now 35, his 23 goals so far this season demonstrate he is still a potent threat.
"His hunger to score goals is the biggest thing," said Wilson.
"Everywhere he's been in his career he's scored, for club and for country. He's going to be their biggest threat.
"He might not be getting younger, but if we give him half a sniff at goal he's going to take it.
"First and foremost we need to make sure we stop him. We don't give him space and stop giving him any chances.
"If we do that, we're confident with the quality in our dressing room going the other way so we can really hurt them."
