Armenia v Wales LIVE: Result and reaction from crucial Euro 2024 qualifier as Wales suffer huge blow with draw

Wales suffered a huge blow in their penultimate Euro 2024 qualifier against Armenia, as a 1-1 draw in Yerevan took automatic qualification for the tournament out of their hands.

Rob Page’s side remain in the second automatic qualifying spot in Group D but will be leapfrogged by Croatia if they beat Latvia later this evening and if the Croats then do likewise against the Armenian on Tuesday they won’t be able to be caught by Wales, regardless of the result against Turkey in Cardiff at the same time.

Wales fell behind after just five minutes in Yerevan when they failed to clear a corner and Lucas Zelarayan brilliantly fired past Danny Ward but the visitors steadily gained a foothold and deservedly equalised in first-half injury time when Nair Tiknizyan headed into his own goal under pressure from Joe Rodon at a corner.

Yet the Dragons couldn’t find a winner in the second half and were fortunate not to lose the match as Vahan Bichakhchyan struck the underside of the bar and Ward made a couple of important saves with Armenia looking the side more likely to score. The dropped points now likely consign Wales to a play-off if they want to reach a third straight men’s European Championship finals.

Relive all the action with our live blog below:

Armenia vs Wales live

• Wales can only draw 1-1 with Armenia in their penultimate match of Euro 2024 qualifying

• The draw takes automatic qualification out of Wales’s hands as they now rely on Croatia slipping up

• FULL-TIME! Armenia 1-1 Wales

• 61’ - CROSSBAR! Bichakhchyan strikes the underside of the bar for Armenia (ARM 1-1 WAL)

• 45+2’ - GOAL! Tiknizyan heads into his own net to bring Wales level (ARM 1-1 WAL)

• 5’ - GOAL! Armenia take an early lead through Zelarayan (ARM 1-0 WAL)

Armenia 1 - 1 Wales

Wales relying on a Croatia slip-up after only drawing in Armenia

16:23 , Luke Baker

Wales’ hopes of qualifying automatically for Euro 2024 were dented by a 1-1 draw in Armenia.

Lucas Zelarayan came back to haunt Wales again with a fifth-minute opener before a Nair Tiknizyan own goal in first-half stoppage time restored parity.

The draw helps neither side as far as joining already-qualified Turkey in the top two is concerned. Even beating Turkey in Cardiff on Tuesday would not be enough for Wales should Croatia win their final two fixtures.

If Croatia win those games then Wales will be involved in the March play-offs. Armenia’s chances of a top-two place are almost certainly over, barring a Croatia collapse.

Full report from Yerevan:

Wales relying on a Croatia slip-up after only drawing in Armenia

Ben Davies and Ethan Ampadu give reaction to draw

16:24 , Luke Baker

Wales midfielder Ethan Ampadu on BBC Radio Wales: “The home game was down to us not playing great.

“We tried to bounce back and I thought we reacted well to going 1-0 down.

“We gave it everything. We showed a reaction and tried to dominate the game, but we couldn’t put the ball in the net.

“We are always good at bouncing back and on Tuesday we need to control what we can control and get the result we need and maybe we will get a little bit of luck along the way.”

Wales captain Ben Davies on S4C: “After conceding an early goal it was always going to be hard.

“It wasn’t a game where either side had a lot of chances or quality.

“We know what we have to do against Turkey and hopefully Latvia or Armenia can help us out (against Croatia).”

Armenia 1-1 Wales

16:12 , Luke Baker

Here are the two goals, both in the first half, from Yerevan.

FULL-TIME! Armenia 1-1 Wales

16:03 , Luke Baker

Automatic qualification is now out of Wales’s hands with that draw. If Croatia beat Latvia this evening and then do likewise against Armenia in Zagreb on Tuesday, they will take the second automatic qualification spot behind Turkey, condemning Wales to a play-off.

Wales fans will be desperately rooting for Latvia this evening and then will likely have their ears glued to the radio on Tuesday as they watch the Dragons take on Turkey in Cardiff but relying on the Armenians to do them a favour.

FULL-TIME! Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:57 , Luke Baker

All over in Yerevan! Wales can’t find the winner they so desperately need. A bad result for both teams.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:56 , Luke Baker

90+5 mins: Johnson gets down the right, takes a tumble and tries to appeal for a penalty but nothing in that. The ball rolls out for a goal-kick.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:55 , Luke Baker

90+5 mins: One last chance for Wales. Ward lumps it forward.

WIDE! Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:55 , Luke Baker

90+4 mins: What a chance for Armenia. Zelarayan jinks past a couple of players, dinks the ball in the box to Sevikyan who gets his shot away but can’t find the target. No composure as he goes over the bar.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:54 , Luke Baker

90+3 mins: Armenia try to take a quick free-kick on halfway but the ball’s int he wrong positon, so they’ll retake. The crowd don’t like that.

It’s the hosts who are looking more likely to find a winner in Yerevan as we enter the final two minutes of added time.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:52 , Luke Baker

90+2 mins: That second corner comes to nothing. Ward urges everyone upfield and pumps it long. Can Wales create another opportunity?

SAVE! Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:51 , Luke Baker

90 mins: Wales scored in first-half injury time, they’ll need to do likewise in the second.

The board goes up for 5 minutes just as Danny Ward dives to his right and tips wide Sevikyan’s curled effort as he cuts inside! Huge save to keep Wales’s hopes alive!

The corner then whipped into the near post and Ward has to scramble to punch it behind. That was sneaking in at the near post!

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:50 , Luke Baker

89 mins: Wales corner as a cross is blocked. Dan James to take, towards the back post but a bit high for Rodon whose header loops harmlessly wide.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:49 , Luke Baker

88 mins: At the other end, Tiknizyan gets a little space on the left of the box slashes at the ball but fires well over.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:48 , Luke Baker

87 mins: Do Wales have at least one more big chance in them?

They get the ball into the box, it’s flicked on, Ampadu heads from about eight yards out but straight at Cancarevic. Frustrated heads in hands from the 1,200 travelling Welsh fans.

SAVE! Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:47 , Luke Baker

85 mins: Not the most convincing stop by Cancarevic but he keeps it out. Jordan James crosse from the right but it’s behind Moore, who has to generate all the power int he header himself and he gets it on target but it never looks likely to go in.

Cancarevic bizarrely dives forward and pushes it away to the left rather than catching it but it falls for a defender to hack clear. A half-chance at most.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:45 , Luke Baker

84 mins: Williams dinks in a cross that’s easily cleared and Ampadu then sees his name in lights as he puts his foot through one from 30+ yards out but it ends up in a different postcode.

Rob Page giving ‘calm down’ signals on the sidelines. Wales continue to press.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:43 , Luke Baker

82 mins: Another Armenia corner as Spertsyan’s shot is blocked by a lunging Williams. The corner then hacked away as a dangerous ball fizzes across the box from the by-line. These are real warnings for Wales.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:41 , Luke Baker

81 mins: Well-worked corner by Armenia as Tiknizyan gets space on the left of the box but he slashes at the ball and skews it into the stands.

Into the final 10 minutes...

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:40 , Luke Baker

78 mins: Dan James has a dart down the left but cuts in and his clipped cross is easily cleared. Jordan James then gets booked for bringing down an Armenian on halfway.

Sub for Wales as Nathan Broadhead comes on for Connor Roberts - it seems Dan James will go to left wing-back. Broadhead an attacking player who will try to grab a late goal as he did to snatch a draw against Croatia back in March.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:38 , Luke Baker

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:35 , Luke Baker

75 mins: A draw doesn’t do Wales much good. It would put their Euro 2024 qualification in Croatia’s hands and likely condemn them to a play-off. 15 minutes to find a winner and keep it in their own hands heading into Tuesday against Turkey in Cardiff.

To stand any chance of qualifying themselves, Armenia also have to win so both teams should be going for it in the final stages.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:33 , Luke Baker

72 mins: A couple more Armenia subs as Edgar Sevikykn and Artur Miranyan replace Vahan Bichakchyan and Grant-Leon Ranos.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:30 , Luke Baker

69 mins: Dan James gets space down the left, he turns back and feeds namesake Jordan James inside. He tests Cancarevic from distance and the Armenia keeper parries it but jumps on the rebound.

Decent strike, decent save. Wales need more attacks like that.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:27 , Luke Baker

66 mins: The second of Wales’s ‘big guns’ emerges from the bench as Leeds starr Dan James comes on for Harry Wilson. Johnson and James now flanking Kieffer Moore up top as Wales look for an all-important winner.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:25 , Luke Baker

64 mins: First change for Armenia comes in the midfield as Iwu, who picked up a groin strain a few minutes ago, finally gives it up and exits, with Harutyunyan coming on.

Ampadu then wastes a promising attacking opportunity as he strides forward but waits too long to make the pass to the overlap and it’s cut out

CROSSBAR! Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:22 , Luke Baker

61 mins: What a let-off for Wales! Armenai hit the underside of the bar...

Out of nothing, Bichakhchyan picks the ball up in the ‘D’ and with almost no backlift lofts a shot over the outstretched hand of Ward and off the underside of the bar! Zelarayan puts the follow-up over, although he may have been offside.

But WOW! That was close for Armenia. A warning for Wales, who can’t afford to fall behind again.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:18 , Luke Baker

58 mins: Speculative for Spertsyan as he takes aim from 30 yards but the ball flies harmlessly over the bar.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:17 , Luke Baker

56 mins: Wales probe down the left with Williams, whose cross is blocked, then with Johnson down the right but it goes out for a goal-kick. Just some signs that Wales fancy this though.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:16 , Luke Baker

54 mins: Cynical from Armenia captain Haroyan. Wales countering at pace and he body-checks Wilson on halfway to stop the move in its tracks.

Wales really unhappy with Haroyan and Ampadu squares up to him but frankly, he did what he had to do. He gets booked for his trouble.

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:13 , Luke Baker

52 mins: Wales have generally tried to play through the midfield while Armenai have largely gone over the top of theirs. But Wales try going long with Danny Ward launching a ball up to Kieffer Moore but Moore gives away a free-kick for tugging Calisir’s shirt. Moore not happy about it.

Armenia 1-1 Wales - Brennan Johnson comes on

15:11 , Luke Baker

49 mins: The answer to the first of those questions is right now, apparently. Brennan Johnson comes on for David Brooks - what can the Spurs man do?

Presumably Brooks has a slight niggle, otherwise giving him just four minutes of the second half seems bizarre. You’d make the change at the interval

Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:09 , Luke Baker

48 mins: Wales had the better of things in the first half, especially after the surprise early goal they conceded, and they start the second half in good fashion. Some nice passing, waiting for space to open up.

It could be a game of patience for the Welsh and it will be fascinating to see when Rob Page deploys Brennan Johnson and Dan James off the bench.

KICK-OFF! Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:07 , Luke Baker

Back underway in Yerevan. Wales hunting a second goal and a vital win. Remember, a draw would take qualification for Euro 2024 out of their hands but a victory leaves them just three points away from booking a spot.

HALF-TIME! Armenia 1-1 Wales

15:03 , Luke Baker

Here are the goals from the first half in Yerevan

HALF-TIME! Armenia 1-1 Wales

14:58 , Luke Baker

HALF-TIME! Armenia 1-1 Wales

14:52 , Luke Baker

What a time to score for Wales as the half-time whistle goes almost immediately afterwards. They’re good value for that equaliser and will be the happier team as they head for the interval oranges.

They were caught out by Zelarayan’s early goal from an uncleared corner but Tiknizyan putting through his own net in injury time levels things up

GOAL! Armenia 1-1 Wales (Own goal Nair Tiknizyan, 45+2 mins)

14:50 , Luke Baker

45+2 mins: THEY WON’T GO IN ONE BEHIND THOUGH! A goal right on the stroke of half-time.

A corner into the box from the right, Joe Rodon leaps with Nair Tiknizyan and the ball comes off the head of the Armenia defender before looping into the net.

They deserve that equaliser and a great time to get it.

Armenia 1-0 Wales

14:47 , Luke Baker

45 mins: Brooks not happy after being called for a foul on Calisir for pushing him in the back. Not sure the Welshman has much of a case there.

3 minutes of added time to come. Wales looks as if they’ll be going into the break a goal down.

Armenia 1-0 Wales

14:45 , Luke Baker

44 mins: Moore gets into the right channel, beyond his man but there is no support in the box to try to get on the end of his subsequent cross.

Wales do win a throw-in and Connor Roberts hurls it long into the box but Armenia scramble clear.

Armenia 1-0 Wales

14:43 , Luke Baker

41 mins: Ouch! That looks like a sore one for Kieffer Moore. He lands awkwardly on his ankle and turns it before the Armenian defender accidentally scrapes down the back of his Achilles as he lands.

A bit of treatment and Moore seems fine to continue.

SAVE! Armenia 1-0 Wales

14:41 , Luke Baker

37 mins: Having said that, Wales immediately create a great chance!

Stunning ball from Jordan James out to David Brooks on the left, he feeds Neco Williams, laid back for Harry Wilson who strikes it beautifully but Cancarevic dives to his left and tips it wide. Great save!

The corner comes to nothing as the ref blows for a foul but a superb move by Wales and a cracking save.

Armenia 1-0 Wales

14:38 , Luke Baker

36 mins: Wales have good attacking options on the bench with the likes of Brennan Johnson and Dan James available. They may be needed in the second half because while Wales are now controlling possession, they’re not creating anything of note.

Kieffer Moore looking isolated up top.

Armenia 1-0 Wales

14:35 , Luke Baker

32 mins: The physicality is starting to ramp up. Ampadu and Mepham pinged for fouls back to back. Ampadu for a sliding tackle and Mepham for barrelling into goalscorer Zelarayan.

And Mepham is yellow carded. That looked harsh - free-kick yes but not sure it’s a booking. It means Mepham will be suspended for the crunch game against Turkey on Tuesday - a big blow. Luton’s Tom Lockyer to come into central defence for that one?

Armenia 1-0 Wales

14:31 , Luke Baker

29 mins: Some sloppy passing from Wales during their build-up play is costing them at the moment. The midfield duo of Ampadu and James are seeing passes going astray.

They’ve largely quietened Armenia in attack since the early goal though.

Armenia 1-0 Wales

14:27 , Luke Baker

25 mins: It has been a generally decent response by Wales since falling behind, which makes the early goal all the more frustrating. Moore is the focal point and outlet ball up front. He’s taking a bit of a battering from Haroyan and the other Armenia defenders.

Armenia are playing some nice stuff though. They’ve never lost to Wales in three matches between the sides, remember.

CLOSE! Armenia 1-0 Wales

14:22 , Luke Baker

20 mins: Bichakhchyan strides forward with the ball and isn’t closed down by a Welsh shirt. Once he’s 25 yards out he takes a dig and it’s just wide of a sprawling Ward’s post.

Then at the other end, a cross comes in from the left and Moore rises highest but his header is well off target, wide of the right-hand post.

Armenia 1-0 Wales

14:18 , Luke Baker

15 mins: Better again. Moore chases the ball into the channel and pinches off a dithering Armenia defender. Williams in in support and wins a corner as his shot is deflected wide.

Another good corner not properly cleared and Brooks tries to get the ball out of his feet but the dark red swarm stop him getting a shot away.

Moore has taken a blow to the face and needs a bit of a clean-up operation to clear the blood

Armenia 1-0 Wales

14:16 , Luke Baker

14 mins: Neco Williams takes on Dashyan down the left and is clumsily brought down for a free-kick. Wilson curls it into a dangerous area but Armenia head it away.

Brooks takes the ball to the by-line and clips it back across the area but Armenia again hold firm. Better from Wales though

WATCH: Armenia take the lead

14:14 , Luke Baker

Here’s the moment Armenia took an early lead in Yerevan.

Armenia 1-0 Wales

14:12 , Luke Baker

10 mins: Wales struggling to get a real foothold here in Yerevan. Ampadu misplaces a pass out of play and that sums up the performance so far. Aside from that Brooks shot, they’ve offered little

CLOSE! Armenia 1-0 Wales

14:11 , Luke Baker

7 mins: That’s better from Wales. A good response to falling one behind as they win an attacking throw. It’s hurled long into the box by Roberts and comes out to Brooks on the edge of the area.

He fires in a shot which is only inches over the bar with Armenian keeper Cancarevic desperately leaping but unable to get anything on it

GOAL! Armenia 1-0 Wales (Lucas Zelarayan, 5 mins)

14:09 , Luke Baker

5 mins: Oh no! That’s not what Wales needed at all. Bichakhchyan whips in the corner, Rodon’s header is straight up in the air, it’s beautifully brought down by Lucas Zelarayan, he cuts across the edge of the box and fires a shot into the bottom right corner beyond a diving Danny Ward. Disaster

Armenia 0-0 Wales

14:07 , Luke Baker

4 mins: Joy down the right for Armenia as Bichakhchyan gets past his man but the cross is blocked for a corner.

Armenia 0-0 Wales

14:04 , Luke Baker

3 mins: Good early pressing by Wales to pin Armenia back in their own half but the hosts able to build their way out. A long ball into the Wales box is then well dealt with by Joe Rodon and Danny Ward hoofs clear.

KICK-OFF! Armenia 0-0 Wales

14:01 , Luke Baker

1 min: And we’re off! Can Wales keep their Euro 2024 qualification hopes on track?

Armenia vs Wales

14:00 , Luke Baker

We’re about to get underway in Yerevan. A huge game for Wales

Over 30 Wales fans arrested in Armenia ahead of Euro 2024 qualifier

13:53 , Luke Baker

More than 30 Wales football fans have been arrested in Armenia ahead of Saturday’s European Championship qualifier in Yerevan.

The Football Association of Wales confirmed that 32 supporters had been arrested in the Armenian capital and that the Foreign Office was involved.

An FAW statement read: “The FAW are aware of the situation regarding our fans in Yerevan and we are in regular discussions with the travelling police and FSA (Football Supporters’ Association) Cymru.

“FSA Cymru are the fan embassy who have contact with the local authorities as well as South Wales Police, who are here to liaise with local law enforcement.

“The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office are also involved.”

Around 1,200 Wales fans are in Yerevan, having made the 2,300-mile journey to one of European football’s distant outposts.

FSA Cymru’s X/Twitter account Fan Embassy Wales posted before the game: “Lots of tickets touts in streets leading to stadium...be wary of them...the police have stated that no fans will be allowed in wrong ends of stadium.”

Ben Davies keen to prove doubters wrong as Wales target another major tournament

13:48 , Luke Baker

Ben Davies insists Wales are determined to prove the doubters wrong by making Euro 2024 and reaching a fourth major tournament in five attempts.

Wales are preparing for decisive Euro 2024 ties against Armenia and Turkey knowing qualification for next summer’s finals is in their own hands.

Last month’s stunning 2-1 upset win over World Cup semi-finalists Croatia has set Rob Page’s side up for what could be another momentous week in Welsh football.

Tottenham defender Davies, stand-in skipper for the injured Aaron Ramsey on the night and again this week, gave a rousing ‘huddle’ speech after the Croatia game that was caught on camera.

Evoking the words of Dafydd Iwan’s Yma O Hyd – the 1980s folk protest song which has been adopted by the Football Association of Wales as an anthem and translates as “Still Here” – Davies declared that the Dragons never give in.

“It was just a case of showing the reason why we’re here,” Davies said of a speech which came during a campaign in which Wales have had to adapt to life without the match-winning exploits of the retired Gareth Bale.

“It was backs against the walls stuff, it was showing that people doubted us again but we’re still standing. We’re standing up against the challenges and here we are with two games to go still in the fight.”

Ben Davies keen to prove doubters wrong as Wales target another major tournament

Harry Wilson knew he had to step up for Wales after Gareth Bale retirement

13:42 , Luke Baker

Harry Wilson admits the onus was on him to step out of Gareth Bale’s shadow and keep Wales on track for major tournaments.

Boss Rob Page revealed recently he spoke to Wilson last summer and told him he was no longer simply a squad member and that he is a “big player” for Wales.

Wilson responded with a hand in both goals in September’s 2-0 win in Latvia, and then scored twice in the stunning 2-1 victory over World Cup semi-finalists Croatia last month.

Those two wins lifted Wales up to second in Group D and they will qualify automatically for Euro 2024 by taking six points from their final two games, away to Armenia and at home to Turkey.

“Gaz provided a lot of moments for us on the pitch in times that we needed him,” Fulham forward Wilson said of Wales’ record scorer Bale, who retired from football in January.

“So for me being an attacking player, I need to start stepping up in those moments, and thankfully I was able to do that in the Croatia game.”

Harry Wilson knew he had to step up for Wales after Gareth Bale retirement

Wales v Armenia: Key talking points

13:36 , Luke Baker

Yellow peril

Defensive pair Chris Mepham and Neco Williams will be walking disciplinary tightropes in Armenia.

Both players have picked up two bookings in the campaign, and a third would rule them out of Tuesday’s final qualifier against Turkey.

Wales have yet to lose any player to three bookings, although Joe Morrell and Kieffer Moore served two-match bans for respective red cards against Turkey and Armenia in the summer.

Wales v Armenia: Key talking points

13:31 , Luke Baker

Repeat or revenge?

Wales have failed to beat Armenia in three meetings.

There were two draws in 2002 World Cup qualifying, 2-2 in Yerevan when John Hartson scored a brace, before a goalless Cardiff clash.

Wales were expected to breeze past Armenia – 71 places below them on the FIFA rankings when they met in June – but a 4-2 defeat damaged their Euro 2024 qualification hopes.

More than one Welsh player has mentioned avenging that loss in the build-up to the Yerevan return.

Wales v Armenia: Key talking points

13:26 , Luke Baker

Midfield promise

There was much wailing in Wales when Joe Allen hung up his international boots following the World Cup in Qatar.

Allen played a massive role over the last decade and midfield was seen as a problem area in the wake of his departure.

But Ethan Ampadu, with nearly 50 caps at the age of 23, has shown his leadership qualities in striking up an effective partnership with 19-year-old Jordan James.

The pair were magnificent in getting the better of Croatia’s much-vaunted midfield last month.

Wales v Armenia: Key talking points

13:21 , Luke Baker

Brennan’s back

The loss of Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson to injury last month was a big blow.

Johnson’s pace and movement can trouble any defence, but boss Rob Page plugged the gap against Croatia by utilising a three-man forward line of David Brooks, Harry Wilson and Kieffer Moore.

All three performed superbly with Wilson claiming a match-winning double.

Johnson now returns but only as a bench option – with Page opting to maintain the Brooks-Wilson-Moore frontline. Johnson is likely to have a huge role as a sub, with the pace of Daniel James also an option from the bench.

Wales v Armenia: Key talking points

13:16 , Luke Baker

Deja vu

The parallels between Wales’ successful Euro 2020 qualification and the current campaign are hard to resist.

Wales reached Euro 2020 with a fast finish – holding 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia to a Cardiff draw before winning in Azerbaijan and downing Hungary after back-to-back summer defeats.

Having suffered another pointless June and just beaten Croatia in Cardiff, Wales head to the Caucasus region again to take on Azerbaijan’s neighbour Armenia before finishing with a visit from Turkey.

Six more points will do.

Injured Aaron Ramsey serving as Wales’s lucky mascot in Armenia

13:11 , Luke Baker

Rob Page hopes the presence of Aaron Ramsey can help Wales realise their Euro 2024 dream after the injured captain joined them on their long trek to Armenia.

Midfielder Ramsey has not played since mid-September after damaging a knee tendon, missing last month’s stunning victory over World Cup semi-finalists Croatia that has left automatic qualification in Wales’ own hands entering the final two games.

The 32-year-old, however, has taken the unusual step of an injured player being present for Wales’ 4,600-round mile trip to Yerevan, one of European football’s most remote outposts.

“Rambo’s travelled with the lads, which is brilliant,” Page said ahead of the penultimate qualifier at the Republican Stadium, the scene of their only previous visit to this corner of Eastern Europe in 2001 – a game the manager played in.

“It’s the presence around the changing room. I used to say it with Gareth Bale. Aaron falls into the same category for me.”

Injured Aaron Ramsey serving as Wales’s lucky mascot in Armenia

Armenia team news

13:05 , Luke Baker

And here’s the Armenia team to take on Wales. It shows nine of the same starters from the side that won 4-2 in Cardiff back in June.

Wales team news - Brennan Johnson on the bench

13:05 , Luke Baker

Rob Page has kept faith with the XI that started the win over Croatia last time out. That means that despite Spurs star Brennan Johnson returning from injury, he’s only on the bench.

Bournemouth’s Kieffer Moore gets the start up front with Harry Wilson and David Brooks among the other attacking players in the starting XI. Ben Davies captains the side in the absence of Aaron Ramsey.

Wales starting XI: Danny Ward, Ben Davies, Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham, Connor Roberts, Neco Williams, Ethan Ampadu, Jordan James, David Brooks, Harry Wilson, Kieffer Moore.

Wales team news

12:58 , Luke Baker

Here’s the Wales team that will face Armenia this afternoon

What do Wales need to qualify for Euro 2024?

12:52 , Luke Baker

Wales are so close to qualifying for a third straight men’s European Championship but there’s still work to do to get over the line.

Rob Page’s men are currently second in qualifying Group D, with two more fixtures left to play and only the top two teams in each group earn automatic qualification for next summer’s Euros.

Wales face Armenia in Yerevan this afternoon before concluding their campaign by hosting Turkey on Tuesday. That is Turkey’s sole remaining game – they are currently clear at the top of the group on 16 points with qualification certain, and a win or draw will secure their spot as group winners.

Wales are currently level on 10 points with Croatia, each side having played six games. The 2018 World Cup finalists take on struggling Latvia before finishing their group efforts against Armenia.

Regardless of Croatia’s results, though, two wins from two will be enough for Wales to reach Euro 2024. This is due to their superior head-to-head record over Croatia, drawing the away fixture in Split in March and then securing a 2-1 win in Cardiff last month.

If Wales match or better Croatia’s final two results, they will finish ahead of them.

For all the permutations, including how Armenia can still qualify, check out the article below:

What do Wales need to qualify for Euro 2024?

When is Wales vs Armenia and how can I watch it?

12:44 , Luke Baker

When is Wales vs Armenia?

The match takes place tonight, Saturday 18 November, with a kick off time of 2pm GMT, at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Armenia.

How can I watch it?

In the UK the match will be shown live on Viaplay Sports 1 and in the Welsh language on S4C.

Viaplay subscribers can also watch the contest on their website and app, while Channel 4 will show a free live stream in Welsh on their website.

Is Armenia vs Wales on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Euros qualifier

12:34 , Luke Baker

Wales have their backs against the wall to try and secure their qualification for Euro 2024, and need a win over Armenia.

The team recovered from a disappointing start to their campaign, but require victories over Armenia and Turkey to finish in the automatic promotion places.

Wales can take encouragement from their 2-1 win over Croatia last month, but lost to both their upcoming opponents in June.

The similarities are clear between this campaign and Wales’ successful Euro 2020 qualification, when they reached the trophy after a strong finish, holding Croatia to a draw before back-to-back wins over Azerbaijan and Hungary secured their place in the tournament.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match:

Is Armenia vs Wales on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Euros qualifier

Armenia v Wales

12:24 , Luke Baker

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Armenia vs Wales in Euro 2024 qualifying. It’s a huge afternoon for Wales as they can keep qualification in their own hands with victory in Yerevan.

The Welsh know that wins today and on Tuesday against Turkey will send them to Euro 2024 but they suffered a shock 4-2 defeat to Armenia in Cardiff over the summer, so won’t underestimate their opponents.

Stick with us for full live coverage of the game.