Rhys Norrington-Davies is desperate to help Wales reach the World Cup finals and partially make up for his own personal despair at missing out on Qatar 2022.
The QPR full-back was set to be in the squad for the tournament in the Middle East three and a half years ago but a serious hamstring injury when playing for Sheffield United meant he had to watch the tournament at home.
Wales, making their first World Cup appearance in 64 years, crashed out at the group stage after taking one point from games against the United States, Iran and England.
They have the chance to return to the big stage when they take on Bosnia & Herzegovina tomorrow night with the winners set to face either Italy for Northern Ireland in the final on March 31 for a place in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.
And Norrington-Davies is determined to make amends for his 2022 heartache.
He told Walesonline: “Obviously if I had gone, the memories and the experiences you would have had having been out there with the group. That’s never really probably sunk in.
“I can remember being sat in bed, I was bed-bound, getting ready. Obviously watching the boys thinking. ‘Yeah, I should be there, should be playing’. It is tough, but you’ve also got the focus of where I’m going to make sure I do everything I can to get back to that position. Obviously playing for your country again.”
Wales are favourites to progress to next week’s final but Norrington-Davies knows there can be no complacency against a Bosnia & Herzegovina side that includes the likes of Edin Dzeko and former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac.
“In terms of Thursday evening against Bosnia, no team in international football is a walkover these days,” he added. “Everyone’s got international, good quality players playing in the top leagues and they’re always tough fixtures.”
The visitors lack star quality, bar 40-year-old Dzeko who is now at Schalke in the German second division, but former midfielder Miralem Pjanic is confident Sergej Barbarez’s side will put up a strong fight.
He told FIFA.com: “There’ve been quite a few changes to the national team, but play-off matches are never easy, especially when they’re away from home. These are both must-win matches. You’ve got to know how to handle the highs and lows. I believe in my national team and my country, even though Wales are tough opponents and won’t go down without a fight.
“If we qualify for the final, the atmosphere in the stadium and across the entire country will be electric. Bosnia is never an easy place to play for visiting teams. Going there knowing that it’s a make-or-break match to qualify for a top competition is going to be a nightmare for the opposition.”
Team news for Wales v Bosnia & Herzegovina
Wales will be without the injured Ben Davies, Chris Mepham, Kieffer Moore and Connor Roberts.
Sampdoria defender Dennis Hadzikadunic has been forced out of the Bosnia-Herzegovina squad.
