🔗 Share this article

The team's focus are squarely on the upcoming World Cup play-off draw as they prepare for learning their semifinal and potential final opponents.

After ended second in their qualification group following a decisive 7-1 win over North Macedonia – their largest win since 1978 – Wales will host the semi-final match on home soil.

They will play against either Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo or Ireland in that fixture on 26 March.

Former Wales striker Rob Earnshaw thinks the Welsh squad will welcome a tie against any opponent after their latest result at Cardiff City Stadium.

"I'm familiar with Craig Bellamy, we were teammates with him and his mentality is 'bring on whoever, it doesn't matter'," Earnshaw commented.

"A lot of supporters were wondering recently, 'do we really want Republic of Ireland because of that derby atmosphere?'. In my view a number of people were hesitant. But personally, that could be amazing.

"It's that type of situation, yes, we're ready for the Kosovans or Bosnia and the Albanians are decent and Republic of Ireland, of course, they are a strong team so they'll be tough.

"But the sense is that we'll take anyone right now and it doesn't matter, and much of that is down to Craig Bellamy."

Possible Playoff Semifinal Rivals Reviewed

The Welsh squad are placed 34th in the world rankings, with Albania 61st, Republic of Ireland 62nd, Bosnia-Herzegovina seventy-fifth and Kosovo 84th.

The Albanian national team enjoyed a strong qualifying run, with their only defeats coming at the hands of their group winners England, who secured full points without conceding a solitary goal.

Burnley's Armando Broja and Lazio's Elseid Hysaj are among the Red and Blacks's recognizable names, though it was ex- Inter Milan, Barcelona and Watford striker Rey Manaj who topped their goal tally in the qualifiers with 3 goals.

It is worth noting, the Albanians have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup, though they featured at Euro 2016 and Euro 2024, failing to reach the knockout stages on both occasions.

As Slovenia and Sweden endured torrid runs, with both failing to win a qualifying match, their group was a direct battle between Switzerland and Kosovo.

The Switzerland ended the six-match qualifiers 3 points ahead of the Kosovans, whose single loss was at the hands of the group winners.

The Kosovan squad feature former Manchester City goalkeeper Arijanet Muric and Mallorca's Vedat Muriqi – his nation's all-time top scorer – in a squad aiming for a first major tournament appearance.

They have never faced the Welsh team.

Bosnia lost just once in the qualifiers, and earned a points additional than Wales managed in their eight games, but nonetheless ended two points behind of their group winners Austria.

They were 13 minutes away from clinching a place at the World Cup, but Michael Gregoritsch's leveler for the Austrians meant the teams drew in the last game of qualification and Ralf Rangnick's team won the pool.

Wales have not managed to beat the Bosnian side in four attempts but experienced a unforgettable defeat against Zmajevi as they earned qualification for the 2016 European Championship under Chris Coleman despite the defeat.

Being his country's all-time top goalscorer and record appearance player, ex- Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko, now at Fiorentina, is unquestionably Bosnia-Herzegovina's key player.

The veteran was his squad's top scorer in qualifying with 5 goals.

Lastly, we have Republic of Ireland.

Having taken only a single point from their opening 3 qualifiers, Heimir Hallgrímsson's side stormed into the playoffs with back-to-back wins against Armenia, Portugal and Hungary.

Troy Parrott scored both goals against Euro 2016 winners Portugal before bagging a hat-trick – with the third goal arriving in the 96th minute – as the Irish surprised Hungary to take second spot in their group in thrilling style.

Key player Seamus Coleman played a vital role in his team's resurgence while Brentford keeper Caoimhin Kelleher has made the starting position his own.

The Republic of Ireland are without a win in their last four encounters with Wales, losing 3 of those, though James McClean broke the hearts of the Red Wall as Martin O'Neill's men won a decisive World Cup qualifying match at Cardiff City Stadium in 2017.