Wales World Cup 2022: Best players to watch out for
By Max Parsons
Wales at a World Cup is a sight that only people of a certain generation will be familiar with; November will bring with it the Dragons' first World Cup fixture for some 64 years.
The players that have got their country to this prestigious stage are already enshrined in Welsh legend and have the chance to grow their cult status in Qatar, embarking upon a group-stage campaign against England, the United States and Iran.
Led by former Welsh international Rob Page - who, in his 28 games in charge of his nation, has earned UEFA Nations League promotion, a knockout-stage finish at EURO 2020 and World Cup qualification - Wales boast unity and tenacity throughout their squad, with some thrilling entities complementing an established core.
Here, 90min delve into Page's potential squad and picks out five players to keep an eye on throughout the group stage and, hopefully, beyond.
- Wales manager at the 2022 World Cup: Who is Rob Page?
- Iran World Cup 2022: Best players to watch out for
Wayne Hennessey
Part of the old guard at the centre of the squad's emerging talent, Wayne Hennessey could reach 110 caps if Wales make it through to the final 16 in Qatar.
The 35-year-old might have been a peripheral figure in the Premier League for the best part of half a decade, but he's undoubtedly the main man between the sticks in the Cymru camp. Subdued off the pitch, the Welshman is a goalkeeper of gargantuan proportions when wearing the red of his country.
Not many will give him the credit he's due when Wales take the field in Qatar, but his man-of-the-match heroics against Ukraine in the play-off final, in which he made nine brilliant saves, were pivotal in getting them there in the first place.
Neco Williams
Likely to be a second Nottingham Forest representative in the Wales squad, Neco Williams has firmly established himself as a key member of the squad.
At just 21 years of age, the wing-back has been capped 23 times by his country and has even grabbed four goal involvements in the process. A left-sided player for the Dragons, Williams has consistently proven to be an electric presence that gets fans off their seats, putting in particularly thrilling displays against Austria and Ukraine in those fateful play-off bouts.
Rubin Colwill
Another youthful spark in Welsh football, 20-year-old Rubin Colwill isn't vastly experienced but has certainly inspired a lot of excitement among Welsh supporters.
An attacking midfielder that boasts height and physicality as well as agility and pace, the Cardiff City youngster has captured the imagination in his country's capital and hasn't done too badly on the international scene, either.
Competing with an array of talented midfield technicians, Colwill has amassed seven caps since his debut in June 2021, starting twice. With one goal to his name in just 237 minutes of international football already, expect him to make waves in Welsh football in the coming years - and potentially have a breakthrough performance at this winter's World Cup.
Brennan Johnson
Although he's impressed during his maiden campaign in the top flight, we really haven't seen the best of Brennan Johnson in the Premier League yet.
Brimming with energy and electricity, his pace, tenacity and quality struck fear into Championship defenders throughout the 2021/22 campaign, during which he began earning regular minutes for the Welsh national side.
The 21-year-old has already disrupted the Dragons' established forward line to make 15 appearances for his nation, scoring twice in that time. Johnson is now one of the first names in Page's squad and has started four of Wales' previous five games, making three goal contributions in the process.
Despite the infancy of his career, the exciting forward will assume a lot of Welsh hope on his shoulders in Qatar - and he certainly has the ability to deliver.
Gareth Bale
Only one man will shoulder the entire country's expectation, however - Welsh talisman, Welsh captain, Welsh hero, Gareth Bale.
The greatest footballer in his country's history, Bale has done everything for the sport in Wales. The nation's leading goalscorer with 40 strikes and likely to become their highest appearance-maker in Qatar, the Los Angeles FC man is magic personified in Welsh red.
The one to step up and produce decisive moments, like his stunning brace against Austria and fatal set piece against Ukraine to send Wales to the World Cup, Bale - although well past his prime - is the Welshman to look out for this winter.
