Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick as Wales came from behind to beat Belarus 3-2 in the 2022 World Cup qualifying fixture on Sunday.
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Daniel James’ Euro 2020 experience has made the Wales winger all the more determined to get to the FIFA World Cup as the new Leeds United player looks to have a bang for the club and country. Wales came from behind to beat Belarus 3-2 in the 2022 World Cup qualifying fixture on Sunday, courtesy of Gareth Bale’s hat-trick. The Dragons are currently placed third in Group E with 6 points from 3 games. Few expect anything other than leaders Belgium running away with the top spot in Group E given their quality. However, there isn’t much separating second-placed Czech Republic and Wales. The Dragons are just one point adrift of the Czechs with two games in hand and therefore they believe they can surpass the Czech Republic and qualify via the play-offs.
Robert Page’s side will move to the second spot if they beat Estonia on Wednesday and James is confident they can reach their first World Cup since 1958. “I think just the experience of the Euros just makes us that kind of little bit more thirsty to go and qualify for the World Cup,” he told the PA news agency.
“It’s going to be a little bit tougher with the teams and obviously less qualify but it’s one as a team that we fully believe that we can do,” he added. Wales made it to the round of 16 of Euro 2020 from Group A consisting of eventual champions Italy, Turkey and Switzerland.
“We take a lot of positives out of (the Euros). I think most people didn’t think we were going to get out of the group and we fully believed that we could,” the national coach said.
“Don’t get me wrong, we were very disappointed after getting through that group to go out like that (4-0 loss to Denmark in the round of 16), but it’s one that we’ll learn from, take a lot from it because it was a lot of boys’ first major tournament, including myself. We’re just excited with these World Cup qualifiers coming up because, as I said before, having that experience of the Euros just makes us a little bit more wanting to qualify for the World Cup,” he added.
James, who recently switched from Manchester United to Leeds United has a big year ahead as he could play a vital role in Wales’ World Cup qualification.
“I’ve got to go in giving my all,” Yorkshire-born James said. “Now it’s just about enjoying this next chapter of my career and just how it unfolds. I obviously have my own personal goals which I keep to myself, but I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited to learn, getting to learn this new system and hopefully contribute to the team,” the winger added.
The 23-year-old would be keen to learn from Leeds’ highly experienced Argentine boss Marcelo Bielsa.
“I think, as you see, the players now who have played with them since the Championship, they’ve all improved as players,” said James, speaking as part of the McDonald’s Fun Football initiative. “If you ask them, they will definitely say that.”
“Obviously I spoke to Tyler (Roberts) and he’s learned so much that maybe it’s not even him being told, it’s kind of the sessions he’s done. Not just learning from speech, it’s visually. It’s my time. I’m 23 now going on 24 but at the end of my career, towards the end, I still want to keep learning every day and I think it’s important to do that,” he added.
Leeds, who had an impressive 2020-21 Premier League season, finishing ninth in the points table, will be looking to improve on that and James could certainly add more pace to their line-up.
“I haven’t spoke to anyone about (my position) but I’m happy to play anywhere in the team,” he said.
“I’m not going to go in and expect to walk into the team because it’s a great group of players, who are playing very well. But I think everyone in that team in the forward line can play anywhere so, yeah, for me I’ve played most positions, striker, left, right, and I’m happy to play any of them.”
