Leeds defender Joe Rodon has been talking about Wales' crucial World Cup playoff clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Joe Rodon has revealed he and Leeds United teammate Ethan Ampadu have been discussing the changing expectations surrounding the Wales national team.
Rodon and Ampadu make up part of a Leeds quartet - alongside Dan James and Karl Darlow - who will look to help Wales reach their second successive FIFA World Cup in this international break, starting with a playoff semi-final against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Cardiff on Thursday.
Reaching another World Cup would make the latest step in a golden period for the Welsh national team, who have made the previous three major tournaments, the highlight undoubtedly being their semi-final berth at Euro 206.
Joe Rodon on huge Wales expectations
Gone are the days when Wales were qualifying minnows, regularly getting thumped by bigger nations and never really standing a chance of making the big stage.
The likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Ashley Williams paved the way for the current generation, but this latest group are more than holding their own. The Dragons finished second only to Belgium in their World Cup qualifying group and lost just two of eight games, while there was only a two-point gap between themselves and the Red Devils - who beat them 4-3 in Brussels and 4-2 in Cardiff in two close but, ultimately, decisive showdowns.
However, Wales will fully expect to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina to book their place in the qualifying final, where they’ll face either Italy or Northern Ireland for a place in North America this summer.
"Me and Ethan [Ampadu] were chatting about this the other day, the expectations have changed now,” said Leeds centre-back Rodon.
“Since the players paved the way for us with the unbelievable tournament in 2016 (when Wales reached the semi-finals of their first European Championship) it's just gradually got bigger. Wales are in that kind of bracket now where there is more pressure. You kind of expect to qualify for things.
“The World Cup is the biggest stage and to go there again, to really show what we are now and make an impact, would mean the world to me. There's a (playoff) semi-final and hopefully a final to be played. We'll give everything and hopefully put on a show and try to be successful for the country."
The current qualifying cycle mirrors that of the 2022 World Cup, where Wales finished second to Belgium, then beat Austria and Ukraine to book their place in Qatar. That sort of experience under immense pressure and expectation will surely be a positive for Rodon and his teammates as they seek to put some quality opposition away.
"Once you've lived it before, I think you're always going to carry it with you,” said the 28-year-old. “Quite a few of us were a part of those playoffs and I think it's only going to benefit the team. Hopefully, we can be the ones to lead the team this time.
“It was a big learning curve for all of us. It's the world's biggest stage. As a player it's hard to explain but if we do make it I think the mindset and everything will be completely different. It's probably the most nervous I've ever been as a player, representing my country in the World Cup. If we do have the opportunity, I'm sure we'll be a completely different team this time around."
"Once you've lived it before, I think you're always going to carry it with you. Quite a few of us were a part of those play-offs and I think it's only going to benefit the team. Hopefully we can be the ones to lead the team this time. It was a big learning curve for all of us. It's the world's biggest stage. As a player it's hard to explain but if we do make it I think the mindset and everything will be completely different. It's probably the most nervous I've ever been as a player, representing my country in the World Cup. If we do have the opportunity I'm sure we'll be a completely different team this time around.”
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