![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/football\/football-thumb\/football-thumb.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Ben Davies insists Wales are determined to prove the doubters wrong by making Euro 2024 and reaching a fourth major tournament in five attempts.<\/p>\n
Wales are preparing for decisive Euro 2024 ties against Armenia and Turkey knowing qualification for next summer\u2019s finals is in their own hands.<\/p>\n
Last month\u2019s stunning 2-1 upset win over World Cup semi-finalists Croatia has set Rob Page\u2019s side up for what could be another momentous week in Welsh football.<\/p>\n
Tottenham defender Davies, stand-in skipper for the injured Aaron Ramsey on the night and again this week, gave a rousing \u2018huddle\u2019 speech after the Croatia game that was caught on camera.<\/p>\n
Evoking the words of Dafydd Iwan\u2019s Yma O Hyd \u2013 the 1980s folk protest song which has been adopted by the Football Association of Wales as an anthem and translates as \u201cStill Here\u201d \u2013 Davies declared that the Dragons never give in.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just a case of showing the reason why we\u2019re here,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was backs against the walls stuff, it was showing that people doubted us again but we\u2019re still standing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re standing up against the challenges and here we are with two games to go still in the fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe never stopped believing in this group. The mindset we\u2019ve got is we can get a result against anyone. We\u2019ve shown that.\u201d<\/p>\n
If they fail to qualify automatically \u2013 dropped points will leave them relying on other results for a top-two place \u2013 Wales are guaranteed a play-off place through their elite status in the last edition of the Nations League.<\/p>\n
But overcoming Armenia and already-qualified Turkey might be an easier proposition than beating the likes of Norway, Poland and Ukraine in March.<\/p>\n
Automatic qualification, however, looked improbable after June\u2019s 4-2 defeat to Armenia in Cardiff, and the subsequent 2-0 away loss in Turkey three days later.<\/p>\n
Davies said: \u201cIt was obviously disappointing to lose to Armenia at home in the summer.<\/p>\n
The mindset we’ve got is we can get a result against anyone. We’ve shown that<\/p>\n
\u201cIn these groups your home record usually has to be very good, but we\u2019ve been here before.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had our backs against the wall and we\u2019ve given ourselves a chance. It\u2019s exactly the same now.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s quite clear the second game doesn\u2019t matter if the first one doesn\u2019t go our way.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis week it\u2019s full focus on Armenia. We had a tough result against them at home, it was a real wake-up call.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re a good side and showed that against us, and it\u2019s important we go there knowing we\u2019ve got a big job to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Davies, Ramsey and goalkeepers Danny Ward and Wayne Hennessey are the four survivors remaining from the squad that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016.<\/p>\n
Wales went 58 years before their first major tournament \u2013 the 1958 World Cup \u2013 and their second in France.<\/p>\n
But playing in Germany next summer would see them making four tournaments out of five \u2013 three successive European Championships and the 2022 World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrowing up it was a dream of Welsh football to be going to these major tournaments,\u201d Davies said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat dream still exists and this is another huge chance we\u2019ve got.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want to sit on the success and say: \u2018OK, we\u2019ve been there and had a nice time\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce you get a taste of it you want to do it again. That\u2019s exactly where we are as a group this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wales qualified for Euro 2020 by winning their final two games, away to Azerbaijan and at home to Hungary, and obvious parallels exist with a far-flung trip to Eastern Europe followed by a sell-out clash at the Cardiff City Stadium.<\/p>\n
Davies said: \u201cOf course there are similarities from the last time we qualified (for the European Championship).<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a tight group and they\u2019re always going to come down to it (last games), whatever happens. Most of us have been in this situation before and it\u2019s an opportunity for us to do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n