Wales’ hopes of progressing further in the Uefa Men’s Under-19 Championships, which they are hosting in north Wales, are over after heavy defeats against Spain and Germany.
But although they can no longer reach the knockout stages, Wales’ final Group A match against fellow winless side Denmark on Saturday still has plenty at stake.
The winners will secure a place in a Uefa Under-20 World Cup play-off against the third-placed team from Group B next Wednesday at Bangor’s Nantporth Stadium.
Victory in that match would send the winners through to the inter-confederation play-off tournament, offering a route to the 2027 Fifa U20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
“Yes, it’s a shootout,” Wales head coach Chris Gunter said of Saturday’s game against Denmark, who have also lost to Germany and Spain.
“For us to get into a situation where we’re playing a play-off game for a World Cup – the biggest tournament in youth football – is an opportunity for them.”
Gunter admitted his players will first have to come to terms with the realities of their two heavy defeats.
“Yes, there’ll be disappointment like there was on the weekend,” added Gunter.
“But then you’ve got 90 minutes to get yourself into a play-off and that’s what this tournament has given us.
“So, an amazing opportunity and one that won’t be overlooked by any of the players or the staff.”
Denmark, like Wales, have never appeared at the Fifa Under-20 World Cup.
Gunter, who was a member of Wales’ senior squad at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, recognises the task in front of his side at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground on Saturday.
“They’ve played against the opposition we have over the last couple of games and they would have found their challenges in that,” Gunter told BBC Sport Wales.
“But they’re again a very good team.
“If you get to this tournament you have to be a good team because to qualify for this means you’re a high, high-level team.
“They’ll pose us a lot of problems.”
After one round of games in Group B, Ukraine are currently top with Italy second Croatia third and Serbia in fourth spot.
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