Robert Page: Wales boss looks to future after Euro 2024 play-off final heartache
Last updated on .From the section Wales
At a moment like this, it was hard to look too far ahead. It was hard to look anywhere, in fact.
Robert Page stood with his players on the Cardiff City Stadium pitch, staring into space as they wondered how they might begin to digest what had just happened.
It hurts to miss out on a major tournament. The pain is greater when it happens in a play-off. Then the heartache is on another level when it is delivered on penalties.
"I'm absolutely gutted for them," Page said afterwards, his eyes still glazed.
"It's a horrible way to go out. It's a cruel game. I'm really disappointed right now but I'm really proud of them.
"That was the message in the changing room. For the campaign overall and the journey we're on, I couldn't be more proud.
"It's a horrible way to go out but hopefully we'll learn and become stronger for having gone through the horrible experiences of tonight."
You could see Page was still trying to make sense of it all as the words fell from his mouth.
Yet no matter how raw the emotions, at this level, you do not get much time to simply live in the moment.
When yours is a young squad with potential for the future and when your own position has been scrutinised like Page's has been, you are required to look ahead.
Page knew the questions about his future would come so, when he was asked if he would be the man to take this Wales team on, he said: "Absolutely.
"We're a team in transition and, while we're in transition, we're one penalty kick away from qualifying.
"We've got games in June, Nations League in the autumn and then the start of a World Cup qualifying campaign.
"So that's my full focus now, building on what we've already started and the transition we're in at this moment in time."
Wales were absent from major tournaments for 58 years following the 1958 World Cup but, since ending that drought with a mesmerising run to the semi-finals at Euro 2016, qualification has become the expectation rather than a mere pipedream.
It is with good reason when it comes European Championships. The expanded 24-team format and Nations League-assisted play-offs meant that, had Wales beaten Poland on Tuesday, more teams would have qualified from their original five-team qualifying group than would have failed to.
Even with the back-up route of the play-offs, though, Wales could not take advantage of their many reprieves.
The real damage was done during the regular campaign, when back-to-back defeats against Armenia and Turkey last summer left Welsh hopes of qualifying automatically in tatters.
The home loss to Armenia was particularly galling, an embarrassment in truth, and put Page under severe pressure.
Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney would later publicly state that Page's position was being reviewed. And although Wales recovered with a stirring victory over Croatia last October, they still missed out on automatic qualification after a disappointing draw in Armenia.
Now, with defeat against Poland confirming that Wales will not be in Germany this summer, Page's future will be a talking point once again.
"I've got a great relationship with Dave Adams, the technical director [of the FAW]. We've had our issues in the past, haven't we? It's been well documented," said Page.
"But everything's fine. Everything's great. I think they appreciate it. The board, the chief exec, the president, I think they see the journey we're on and what we're trying to do.
"In 12 months from retirement of senior players to introducing younger players and being one kick away from qualification. I think they see the work we're doing and the supporters do too."
Page is the only manager to have led Wales at two major tournaments and his contract runs until 2026.
Neither fact is a guarantee of job security, though, given how turbulent a campaign this has been, and following a deeply disappointing performance at the 2022 World Cup.
Page will continue to field questions about his future but, for the time being, he still believes he is the man to guide Wales through these challenging moments.
"I just know I've got a good group players, great staff, and we're going on the right path," he said.
"There are younger players to be introduced as well, so that's my next aim.
"They've said it in the changing room, they've said it on the pitch with Ben [Davies, Wales captain]. We're a good group and we're going places.
"We have learned lessons, I've learned lessons from the campaign overall. If we get our values right, with or without the ball, we're a force to be reckoned with.
"We're disappointed but we'll build on it."
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Really? Has Page forgotten the back-to-back defeats against Armenia and Turkey?
We failed to qualify not because of one penalty kick but because of Pages lack of tactical awareness
To be fair we won’t even notice that they won’t be there , unlucky chaps 👍
You’ve exceeded expectations during your time leading this proud nation of ours, but it’s time for somebody else to step in.
That draw in Armenia ruined your legacy.
Couldn't see the logic of persisting with Moore - if you're going to have a beanpole up front play to his strengths!
Couldn't understand hooking Johnson given he's tricky and skilful, probably one of the better players in the Wales team.
As for subbing Brookes, he was the best player on the pitch!
Same problem England have with Southgate.
NOT GOOD ENOUGH