Euro 2024 play-off final: Wales fans nervy ahead of Poland tie

Nervous football fans have been gathering in Cardiff for Wales’ must-win game against Poland as they look to secure Euro 2024 qualification.

The winner will qualify for the tournament, which takes place in Germany in June and July.

“If we play like we did against Finland we have got a chance,” said Wales fan Curtis Walter, 26.

A Wales victory would cement their third consecutive European Championships, after qualifying for the 2016 and 2021 tournaments.

After last week’s match, Welsh fans are nervous but optimistic.

Despite his optimism, Curtis said he was worried about the threat posed by Poland captain, and star striker, Robert Lewandowski.

“If we can keep Lewandowski in check, it will be a close one,” he said.

Lewis Webster, 27, agreed, saying: “I think we have got a good chance.”

He urged Wales to “play like you have been playing”.

Conor Thomas, 27, was the most confident of the three, saying: “I think we can do it. We are expecting to get there.”

Hayley Hawker, a council worker who has taken the afternoon off to drive to the capital from Blackwood, joked that “it’s hard work being a Wales fan”.

She will be watching the game with Mike and Sharon Martin.

Mike, who has been going to Wales games for 60 years, described the past eight years, when Wales have reached two European Championships and a World Cup, as “fantastic”.

He added: “We have actually been to see Wales in the Millennium Stadium when there were 5,000 people watching – now we sell out a 30,000 stadium, which is great.”

The Welsh Red Wall fans have travelled across the continent following their team, sporting their signature bucket hats and covered with badges and pins from the countries they have visited.

They are now hoping to add a badge from Germany this summer.

The atmosphere was gradually building in central Cardiff on Tuesday afternoon, with supporters of both sides walking around town.

Getting in on the enthusiasm, Cardiff council said the city’s castle would be lit up in red on Tuesday night to support Rob Page’s men.

Some Polish fans who had gathered in Cardiff hours ahead of kick-off appeared less enthusiastic than their Welsh counterparts.

Pavel Gadk, 33, said he expected a 1-1 draw as the teams were “very similar”.

An avid follower of his national team, he took the day off work and flew from Poland on Tuesday morning.

Pavel said he was cautious of Wales’ strong home run at Cardiff City Stadium, where they have lost only one of their past 15 Euro qualifiers.

He said the home advantage for Wales could be the difference as it was “a difficult place to be and to play”.

One man who has split loyalties ahead of the game is Chris Orzechowski, co-owner of Pierogi, a Polish dumpling restaurant in Cardiff Market.

He said he was expecting to see “dragon fire” on the pitch.

“It’s hard for me because I’ve lived in Cardiff longer than I lived in Poland,” he said, adding that he had two tickets for the game and was going to support Poland.

“Last Thursday [against Finland] I was supporting the Wales team – I have a good laugh with all my Welsh friends about the game and I’m looking forward to it. We expect a hot atmosphere,” he said.

Chris said his restaurant normally sold about 1,500 pierogies in a single day but on Tuesday he expected to sell an extra about 2,500, boosted by travelling Poland fans.

“Like all Poland fans, they came here [to Cardiff] because they believe in the team and they want to support the team and be like an extra player on the pitch,” said Chris.

“We hope Lewandoski will score a couple of goals and we are going to win.”

Iwona Rdzanek, who also works at the restaurant, said many Poland fans who had visited were “very confident” they could win.