Ex-Arsenal star and Wales captain Aaron Ramsey to weigh up his international future after Euro 2024 heartbreak
AARON RAMSEY is considering his Wales future after their cruel Euro 2024 play-off exit.
The Dragons captain, 33, was an unused substitute and watched on as Dan James suffered penalty heartbreak in the 5-4 shootout loss to Poland in Cardiff on Tuesday night.
Dan James saw his penalty saved as Wales’ Euro 2024 qualification dreams were ended by Poland.Getty
Aaron Ramsey has had a brilliant Wales career, playing at three major tournaments but there are question marks over if he will carry on for the 2026 World Cup qualifiersGetty Images
The painful defeat ended Welsh hopes of qualifying for this summer’s finals in Germany.
Ramsey has won 84 caps and is sixth on the all-time list of goalscorers with a tally of 21 strikes.
But it is understood to be weighing up whether he will play on for his country in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The Cardiff midfielder has had an injury-plagued season with a knee injury keeping him out for five months.
After returning for two substitute appearances for the Bluebirds, Ramsey picked up a calf injury and was a doubt for the Euro play-offs.
He was named in Robert Page’s squad and played 20 minutes for Cardiff in the South Wales derby defeat to Swansea on March 16.
But Ramsey did not play a single minute either against Finland in last Thursday’s 4-1 win or the Poland defeat with Ben Davies taking over as captain.
Ramsey, who has a year left on his Cardiff contract, was part of three major qualification successes with Wales.
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He was named in the team of the tournament at Euro 2016 where Chris Coleman’s men reached the semi-finals.
The ex-Arsenal and Juventus star also played at the delayed Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup – Wales’ first global appearance since 1958.
The World Cup qualifiers start next March and Ramsey would be 35 by the time the finals in USA, Canada and Mexico come around if Wales qualified.
Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, 37, who has 109 caps, is another Wales player who could now weigh up his international future.
Page said: “There have been no conversations like that. It’s been an hour since we’ve ended the game. Aaron was a big part of this squad.
“It’s not just what he brings on the pitch, it’s off the pitch as well. We want to continue to add to the squad and at the right time we will start introducing the younger ones in.”
When quizzed why Ramsey was not brought on in extra-time or for penalties, Page added: “Who could he have come on to replace?
“We needed the two 6s in the middle of the park. We weren’t going to take any more gambles or unnecessary risks late on into injury-time.
“We made the changes which we thought were going to go on and win us the game.”
