| Venue: Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan Date: Saturday, 18 November Kick-off: 14:00 GMT |
| Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text. Highlights on Match of the Day Wales, BBC One Wales from 22:45 GMT and later on demand |
Wales will be one win away from qualifying for Euro 2024 if they triumph in Armenia on Saturday.
Their hopes looked remote when they lost back-to-back games in June, but Wales are now second in Group D after September’s win in Latvia and last month’s stunning victory over Croatia.
Beat Armenia and then Turkey on Tuesday and Wales will qualify automatically.
“The positivity has been incredible. Our full focus is on this game,” said manager Robert Page.
“We’re not even talking about Tuesday’s game.
“There’s enough experience in that changing room of big games, when you need big players step up for big games, and this is a big game for us.
“We’re coming off the back of one of the best performance we’ve ever had [against Croatia], certainly of my tenure.
“We can’t be complacent, we need consistency when it comes to that level of performance. If we do that, the result will look after itself.”
Wales’ qualifying campaign looked to be in disarray when they suffered back-to-back defeats against Armenia and Turkey in the summer.
Losing 4-2 at home to Armenia was particularly damaging, with Page later saying he was “haunted” by his side’s capitulation against a team then 71 places below them in the world rankings.
However, Wales revived their qualifying hopes with the victories over Latvia and Croatia leaving their destiny in their own hands.
If Page’s side finish outside Group D’s top two, they must rely on the play-offs in March, but the aim is undoubtedly to qualify automatically in order to reach a fourth major tournament out of five.
Injured captain Ramsey joins Wales in Yerevan
Although captain Aaron Ramsey remains unavailable with a knee injury, the Cardiff City midfielder is with the Wales squad in Armenia.
“Rambo’s travelled with the lads, which is brilliant,” Page said.
“It’s the presence around the changing room. I used to say it with Gareth [Bale, Wales’ former captain]. Aaron falls into the same category for me.
“The wealth of experience he’s got. Just being around young JJ (Jordan James), who can pick his brains on just about anything.
“He’s the captain and he’s been wanting to travel. He’s been with the group all week. He’s done his little bits of work that he’s needed to for Cardiff.
“He’s got a plan. He’s gone off and done his own bits today. We’ve had to find a training ground for him today. But he wants to be around the boys and I think that speaks volumes about what we’ve got as a group.”
Armenia, who are fourth in Group D and three points behind Wales, need to win their final two games in order to keep their Euro 2024 hopes alive. They end their campaign in Croatia on Tuesday.
“We are not favourites,” manager Oleksandr Petrakov said.
“It will be a totally different game to the one in Wales. History never repeats itself exactly.
“Even if we want it to, it doesn’t repeat itself. This will be a different game.”
Team news
With Ramsey still sidelined, Ben Davies will captain Wales, as he did in last month’s brilliant win over Croatia.
Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson is back following his return to fitness but faces a challenge trying to regain his starting place given how well the likes of David Brooks, Harry Wilson and Kieffer Moore played against Croatia.
“It’s probably the healthiest position we’ve been in,” Page said of player availability for this match.
“It’s good but it gives you the problem of who to start. We’re all looking forward to this game.”
Midfielder Joe Morrell is back from suspension, while wing-back Neco Williams and centre-back Chris Mepham are one booking away from a ban.
Full-backs Niall Huggins and Jay Dasilva could make their debuts after being called up to the squad for the first time.
Match facts
- Armenia are unbeaten in all three previous matches against Wales (one win, two draws).
- Wales’ only previous away game against Armenia was back in March 2001 in a World Cup qualifier, drawing 2-2 with John Hartson with scoring both goals.
- Having beaten Wales earlier in this European Championship qualifying campaign, Armenia are looking to record home and away wins against a nation in a single campaign for the first time since Euro 2012 qualifying, when they did so against both Slovakia and Andorra.
- Wales have won their past three games in all competitions, last recording a run of four consecutive victories between November 2019 and September 2020.
- Wales haven’t lost twice against a nation in a European Championship qualifying campaign since Euro 2012 qualifying, when they were beaten twice by England.
- Since winning five games in a row between November 2020 and March 2021, Armenia have won just four of their past 27 games in all competitions (seven draws, 16 defeats) and have lost their past three in a row.
- Daniel James has been involved in five goals in his past five appearances for Wales (one goal, four assists), averaging a goal or assist every 65 minutes. James has three assists in his past two games despite coming on as a substitute in both matches.
