Connor Roberts insists it’s naive to anticipate Wales to qualify for each main match.
Wales have reached the final two European Championships and the 2022 World Cup after ending a 58-year wait to play at a significant match.
However making Euro 2024 in Germany subsequent summer season was critically dented by qualifying defeats to Armenia and Turkey in June.
Wales journey to Latvia on Monday realizing victory is important to take care of hopes of automated qualification, though being a top-tier group within the final version of the Nations League will provide them the security web of a play-off place.
“I believe there’s a little bit of a dedication to not really feel like we did after these earlier two video games,” stated Burnley wing-back Roberts, 27, who is ready to win his fiftieth cap at Riga’s Skonto Stadium.
“The one method to not really feel like that’s to win the sport or to play nicely. It’s simply remembering what acquired us to be performing nicely and to qualify for large competitions and to win video games earlier than.
“That’s laborious work and dedication, however I believe we might be naive to suppose that we’re going to qualify for each single match going ahead and win a great deal of video games.
“We’re nonetheless a small nation within the grand scheme of issues. So we now have to maintain our ft on the bottom and realise the place we’ve come from.”
Wales have had a troublesome 12 months since qualifying for the World Cup by beating Ukraine in a play-off remaining.
The talismanic Gareth Bale retired after the World Cup, different senior gamers left the worldwide stage, and boss Rob Web page has come underneath scrutiny after one win in 13 video games – a 1-0 dwelling victory in opposition to Latvia in March.
Entry limitless streaming of flicks and TV reveals with Amazon Prime Video
Join now for a 30-day free trial
Join
Entry limitless streaming of flicks and TV reveals with Amazon Prime Video
Join now for a 30-day free trial
Join
There have been some constructive indicators in Thursday’s goalless pleasant in opposition to South Korea, however the sight of Cardiff Metropolis Stadium little greater than a 3rd full with an attendance of 13,668 underlined Wales’ present malaise.
Roberts stated: “We discover ourselves in a troublesome place, however we’re nonetheless in with an opportunity (of qualifying) and all you are able to do is try to win the following sport.
“If, come the tip of the marketing campaign, it’s not adequate then we simply have to maneuver on and progress as a rustic and as a footballing nation.”
Roberts reaches his 50-cap milestone after being one thing of a late developer within the sport.
He didn’t make his debut for first membership Swansea till he was 22 following mortgage spells with various levels of success at Yeovil, Bristol Rovers and Middlesbrough.
Roberts stated: “There was many a time at Middlesbrough and Bristol the place I laid in my mattress alone miles away from my household pondering ‘possibly I ain’t adequate to be a footballer’.
“Now I’ve almost 50 caps for my nation and no-one can ever take that away from me.
“I’ve had some unbelievable experiences – a World Cup, a Euros, a few targets and a load of completely satisfied occasions within the Wales jersey. So hopefully that may proceed for a few years no less than.”
