In every campaign, you have a period when there are crucial games which you cannot afford to lose, writes Malcolm Allen.
And in a week’s time, we will have a lot clearer idea of whether our Euro 2020 dreams are still alive or not.
I will also add, that the future of Ryan Giggs as Wales manager will be under the microscope. His decisions will play a big part in how things will unfold over the next seven days.
One controversial one he has already made is the inclusion of Tom Lawrence.
This has been made a bit easier after Derby have played him in the last two league games. I’m all for giving people a second chance - (I’ve had about 10!) - and never knocking a man when he’s down, so I think he will have a part to play in the next two games – perhaps even start both matches; as long as he can put the court case on Tuesday after the Croatia game to one side and concentrate on the task in hand.
Ryan will have taken note of how many minutes the boys have played since the last camp, and he will already have is starting eleven for the Slovakia match in mind.
For sure, I think Ashley Williams, the captain and the lynchpin of Wales’ success over the past six years, will start.
Ash is in the twilight of his career and will know that this could be his last swansong for his country, by helping them qualify.
At 34, he would be too old for the next World Cup and you could say that for some of the others too, Gareth Bale to name one.
Everyone will feel the importance of the first of these two matches, away in Slovakia on Thursday night. We will have to be at our best, but knowing what’s at stake, I believe that we can and will win.
We need something to click. There is not a lot wrong and we have great quality in the team. But we need to bring it together on the night.
Once we get that rhythm and everyone is on the same wavelength, there would be no stopping us in our next four games.
Momentum is key going into the business end of the campaign. My prediction is we will win by the odd goal, like every result between the top four team in this group, and that would tee us up for the Croatia game perfectly.
I would take four points from both games right now, but anything less and in my eyes, we will be out of contention for the last two group games next month.
Malcolm Allen is a part of S4C’s Sgorio team. Sgorio are showing every one of Wales’ UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers live. Next up is Slovakia v Wales on Thursday 10 October from 7.25pm, before Wales v Croatia on Sunday 13 October from 7.15pm.
Sgorio will also show the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Scottish Challenge Cup clash between Partick Thistle and Connah’s Quay live on Saturday 12 October at 5pm. English commentary available.
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