Cardiff was set ablaze when Harry Wilson set the stage for a thrilling 4-1 victory for Wales against Finland, shattering their defence in only a few opening minutes. Wilson unleashed a brilliant pass to Brennan Johnson from the left side of the field, some 30 yards away from the goal post. He then outmanoeuvred five Finnish players in a dynamic one-two play, received the pass at the box’s boundary and outfoxed Matti Peltola before shooting for the goal.
The audiences’ pulse rates rose alongside Wilson’s exhilarating sprint on the field, bringing relief to the expected tensions among spectators. David Brooks didn’t miss the chance to follow up on Wilson’s shot, swiftly volleying the rebound into the goal. Despite the game not being without its hiccups, this play was instrumental in guaranteeing Wales an exhilarating match schedule.
Future prospects are bright, with a high-stakes playoff final with Poland in the offing with the victor landing a coveted spot in the Euro 2024 finals held in Germany. The trio of Wilson, Johnson, and Brooks exhibited an impressive display of cooperation on the field, hinting at manager Rob Page’s recent remarks about the new face of the Wales team. The youthful players are eager and fit, providing a dynamism, energy and unpredictability that their mentor felt was lacking during their underwhelming group stage elimination at the Qatar World Cup.
Harry Wilson’s skills are widely recognised. He holds the record of being the youngest player for Wales when he took to the field at the age of 16 years and 207 days in a match against Belgium. He was highly talent-spotted by Liverpool at the tender age of eight. Following successful stints with Hull and Derby in the Championship which generated attention from the Premier League, he spent a season with Bournemouth. However, without leaving a marked impression at Anfield, he spent the following two seasons with Cardiff and Fulham in the second tier, eventually signing with Fulham.
Wilson seems to have found comfort both at Fulham and representing Wales on the football pitch. His stellar performance in their triumphant match against Croatia last October is non-forgettable. Wilson constantly pesters his opponents, beginning early on, demonstrating Wales’s strategic approach to exploit Finland with their swift and straight running. While Wilson has played as false 9 and an attacking midfielder for his home nation, he also shone from the left wing, a position formerly held exclusively by Gareth Bale. Page admits that Bale’s retirement has given peripheral players an opportunity to come to the fore.
“Harry is passionate about seizing control of the game,” Page expresses. “Given the imminent threat Brennan poses with his speed, there isn’t a defense in Europe that would choose to challenge them. The continual menace of Brennan, coupled with David Brooks’ intelligence, forms a formidable trio. All three relish our current tactic, and it shows. Harry’s consistency in the Premier League, playing a similar role for Fulham, unquestionably reveals this. They play with exuberance in their eyes.”
The dynamics of the Wales team have evolved to a point where Wilson, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Friday, was the penultimate eldest player on the pitch, trailing only behind Ben Davies. Davies, a 30-year-old defender playing for Tottenham, is one of the remaining members of the remarkable crew that made it to the semi-finals at Euro 2016. The remaining veterans from Chris Coleman’s time include Aaron Ramsey, the 33-year-old captain whose physical issues have sidelined his career, and Wayne Hennessey, 37, who holds the memory of a disappointing end to his last competitive international match. His catastrophic encounter with Iran’s Mehdi Taremi resulted in him being sent off and consequently, a detrimental loss for their World Cup bid.
In the previous playoff final, which saw Wales narrowly defeating Ukraine to qualify for the World Cup, it was Wilson who filled in for Bale that evening. Wilson was barely utilised during the postponed Euro 2020, a situation that led to great frustration, which was intensified when he got dismissed as Denmark overpowered Wales. On the other hand, the youngest squad member, 19-year-old midfielder Jordan James, observed the heartbreaking loss from his parent’s home. Five years prior, Wilson was a part of the 10,000 strong Welsh supporters who witnessed Bale and Hal Robson-Kanu secure victory against Slovakia in Bordeaux’s Stade de during the initial Euro 2016 match. Currently, Wilson is at the heart of a Welsh team with aspirations to qualify for a third consecutive Euro and their fourth significant tournament in half a decade.