Wales v Finland LIVE: Result and final score after Euro 2024 play-off semi-final
Wales took a major step towards this summer’s European Championship in Germany and now face Poland in Tuesday’s play-off final
Wales beat Finland tonight in the Euro 2024 play-off semi-finals as they bid to join England and Scotland in the tournament this summer. David Brooks, Neco Williams, Brennan Johnson and Dan James got on the scoresheet in a comprehensive 4-1 win.
Rob Page’s side have now qualified for a play-off final against Poland on Tuesday, also in Cardiff, after the Poles beat Estonia. The winner of that match will book their place at the Euros.
Wales qualified for both of the past two European Championships, memorably reaching the semi-finals in France in 2016 where they were beaten by eventual champions Portugal, before they were knocked out by Denmark in the round of 16 in the delayed Euro 2020. Wales also qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but failed to win a game and were knocked out in the group stage.
Follow all the latest reaction from Wales v Finland in their Euro 2024 play-off semi-final below.
Lockyer part of the Wales camp for Euro 2024 play-offs
Lockyer has since been fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator and conceded it is “out of his hands” if he will ever play again. But he will be part of Wales’ preparations as they bid to qualify for Euro 2024 and a third successive European Championship.
Page said: “I’ve had a good conversation with Locks and he’ll be a part of it. We don’t know what days or for how long yet. But he’s keen to come in and we’re keen to have him around the lads.
“I can only imagine how hard it was for Meps (Chris Mepham), Kieffer (Moore) and Brooksy (David Brooks) when they played that fixture and saw their mate on the floor like he was. I can only imagine how hard it would have been for them.
“They’ve had contact straight after and they’ve been in touch since, but it’ll be nice to have them all back in the group together. Forget football, just being together as good mates is powerful for them.”
Page backs Lockyer in urging CPR education
Rob Page has backed Tom Lockyer’s calls for people to learn CPR after his squad acquired lifesaving skills three months before their team-mate collapsed.
Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest during Luton’s Premier League game at Bournemouth in December and his heart stopped for two minutes and 40 seconds. The 29-year-old was saved as medics rushed to perform CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and provide early defibrillation.
Wales defender Lockyer has since supported the British Heart Foundation’s campaign for people to learn CPR skills, as well as raise funds for lifesaving research.
“The medical team came in and we did the class,” Page said of his squad undertaking a CPR and defibrillator training course in September that would take on special significance three months later.
“Tom is championing it at the minute, and rightly so. It just shows that there’s more to life than football.”
Ramsey was certainly the big talking point when the squad was announced. The 84-times capped Wales skipper suffered a knee injury in September and was out until February, making two substitute appearances for Cardiff before picking up a calf complaint.
Despite Ramsey playing only 72 minutes since 16 September, manager Rob Page named the 33-year-old midfielder in an intial 28-man squad as Wales seek to qualify for a third successive European Championship and fourth major tournament in five.
Ramsey, speaking to Sky Sports on Saturday about his playing return, said: “It’s coming along. Hopefully I’ll be back out on the grass next week. I’m optimistic and hopefully I’ll get back on that pitch as soon as possible.
These play-off games at home are vital. We’ve had so much success of late over the last four tournaments. The expectation is on us now to keep qualifying for these tournaments.”
Wales squad
A reminder of the group Rob Page has selected to steer Wales to the European Championship. Three players – Wes Burns, Ben Cabango and Joe Low – have had to pull through injury, while Aaron Ramsey was something of a controversial selection, given his ongoing fitness issues.
Goalkeepers: W Hennessey (Nottingham Forest), D Ward (Leicester), T King (Wolves),
Defenders: A Davies (Sheff Utd), B Davies (Tottenham), J Rodon (Leeds, on loan from Tottenham), C Mepham (Bournemouth), N Williams (Nottingham Forest), J Dasilva (Coventry), C Roberts (Leeds, on loan from Burnley).
Midfielders: E Ampadu (Leeds), J Sheehan (Bolton), D Levitt (Hibernian), J James (Birmingham), C Savage (Reading), A Ramsey (Cardiff, capt).
Forwards: H Wilson (Fulham), R Matondo (Rangers), D Brooks (Southampton, on loan from Bournemouth), D James (Leeds), N Broadhead (Ipswich), L Cullen (Swansea), R Colwill (Cardiff), B Johnson (Tottenham), K Moore (Ipswich, on loan from Bournemouth).
Finland team news
Inter Miami’s Robert Taylor has pulled out of the Finland squad, but Oliver Antman should make a return to international action after missing his side’s final four qualifying games due to injury. Marcus Forss is doubtful due to an injury issue.
Wales team news
Rob Page gave a surprise recall to captain Aaron Ramsey ahead of the play-offs, with the midfielder back available sooner than expected after injury and featuring for Cardiff City at the weekend. Wes Burns is a major doubt with a hamstring injury, and Ben Cabango and Joe Low have been forced to withdraw from Page’s squad. Ethan Ampadu and Daniel James could both win a 50th cap.
Wales v Finland – Euro 2024 play-off semi-final
Wales or Finland will move to within a game of a place at Euro 2024 as the two nations contest a play-off semi-final.
Three places are still up grabs at this summer’s tournament, with the winner of this one-legged clash setting up a meeting with either Poland or Estonia to secure their spot in Germany.
Wales missed out on progressing to the Euros directly after consecutive draws to conclude their qualifying efforts in Group D.
And while Rob Page’s side will be favourites on home soil, they will be wary of a Finland side with plenty of experienced figures to call upon.
Wales v Finland – Euro 2024 play-off semi-final
Follow all the latest updates as Wales take on Finland for a spot in one of the three Euro 2024 play-off finals next week.
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