Wales thrashed Finland 4-1 in Cardiff to set up a Euro 2024 play-off final with Poland.
First-half goals from David Brooks and Neco Williams put the hosts in cruise control and raised hopes of a stress-free evening for the vast majority of a sell-out Cardiff City Stadium crowd.
Teemu Pukki banished those thoughts on the stroke of half-time with his 40th Finland goal, but Brennan Johnson quickly restored Wales’ two-goal cushion after the break and substitute Daniel James rounded off matters late on.
Wales will welcome Poland – 5-1 winners over Estonia in the other Path A semi-final – to Cardiff on Tuesday to decide a place at Euro 2024 this summer.
A far sterner test awaits from Robert Lewandowski and company than Thursday’s opponents, who were ranked 60th in the world and 31 places below Rob Page’s team.
But Wales will be comforted by a strong Cardiff record of only three defeats in 20 games during Page’s tenure.
It was almost two years to the day since a Gareth Bale-inspired Wales had beaten Austria in Cardiff to progress to a World Cup play-off final.
Bale’s retirement from football ahead of this qualification campaign had left Wales with almost an impossible hole to fill.
But taking four points from 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Croatia had given them hope there was life after their talismanic captain, although Wales – like Finland – had to settle for the play-offs after finishing third in their qualifying group.
Ethan Ampadu filled a midfield role in winning his 50th cap at the age of 23 and found himself in direct opposition to Leeds team-mate Glen Kamara.
Page’s main call surrounded his three-man strike force and the Wales boss plumped for Brooks, Johnson and Harry Wilson, leaving Kieffer Moore to join a bench that included Aaron Ramsey following a calf problem.
Wales had a dream start inside three minutes as Brooks claimed his fourth international goal.
Wilson’s shot was pushed out by Finland goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky but Brooks adjusted his feet well to volley home the rebound.
The early goal suggested lift-off for Wales but Finland responded well and enjoyed a greater share of possession and threatened sporadically.
Daniel Hakans volleyed over from Nikolai Alho’s knock-down and Pukki sent a weak effort at Danny Ward.
Joel Pohjanpalo also saw his attempt blocked while Wales were creating few moments of excitement at the other end.
That changed just after the half-hour mark after Wilson forced Hradecky into a diving stop from 25 yards.
Johnson won a free-kick on the edge of the area and Finland were perhaps expecting Wilson’s left foot to target the right of Hradecky’s goal. But Wilson ran over the ball and touched it to Williams, who gave Hradecky no chance by drilling it to his left.
Finland had a mountain to climb but they gave themselves hope on the stroke of half-time.
Pohjanpalo fed Pukki and the former Norwich striker stayed onside and cut across Chris Mepham to beat Ward with a calm finish.
The timing of the goal would have infuriated Page but Wales struck again two minutes after the restart when Ampadu met Wilson’s free-kick at the far post.
The ball fell to Brooks in a crowded penalty area and his scuffed shot fell perfectly into the path of the waiting Johnson.
Wilson curled wide as Wales sought to put the tie to bed and Moore, sent on for Brooks, fired straight at Hradecky after being slipped through by the outstanding Ampadu.
Ben Davies had a late header ruled out by a VAR check, before substitute Dan James raced through unchallenged to round Hradecky and add a fourth.
Rudiger urges Germany to replicate Madrid's 'killer instinct' at Euro 2024
Antonio Rudiger wants to use his experience with Real Madrid for the benefit of Germany at Euro 2024, seeking to find a "killer instinct" for Julian Nagelsmann's team.
Germany duo Toni Kroos and Rudiger helped Madrid to their record-extending 15th Champions League crown last Saturday, defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the final.
That European glory added to this season's LaLiga success for Los Blancos, who continue to power on as a title-winning machine under the tutelage of veteran coach Carlo Ancelotti.
With Germany's Euro 2024 opener against Scotland less than two weeks away, Rudiger hopes to embed his club's efforts into Nagelsmann's national side.
"These are two different pairs of shoes," Rudiger said on Wednesday, referring to the difference between Germany and Madrid.
"Here we have a very good system that fits our game but what we can take with us from Madrid is that killer instinct.
"Our last game against Ukraine was super good. I have not seen a 0-0 from us in quite some time that was so good but the thing that was missing was the goals and that is what we can learn from Madrid."
Germany were wasteful in that Ukraine draw on Monday, producing a similar performance as to those in their back-to-back group-stage exits at the World Cup in 2018 and four years later.
They face Greece on Friday in their final warm-up match before the European Championship, where they meet Scotland, Hungary and Switzerland in Group A.
"The anticipation in our own country is huge," Rudiger added. "On Friday we have an important last test. It is important for our confidence. It is important to excite our fans in this final test.
"We have to be humble. We all know what happened in the past tournaments. The road to get here had ups and downs.
"What is important is to play a very good first game and then see what happens in the rest of the tournament."
As for Rudiger's own role within Germany's national setup, Nagelsmann wants the centre-back to guide his side through the tournament.
"Julian said that I should be a leader in my role," Rudiger concluded.
Fulham confirm Tosin exit as Chelsea move looms
Fulham have confirmed Tosin Adarabioyo is leaving the club on a free transfer, with Chelsea reportedly close to agreeing a deal with the centre-back.
Tosin was linked with a number of clubs – including Manchester United and Newcastle United – as he approached the end of his contract with Fulham.
He first joined the club from Manchester City in 2020 and has made 132 appearances for the Cottagers across all competitions, helping them win the Championship title in 2021-22.
Boss Marco Silva had expressed hope the 26-year-old might pen a new deal last month, but reports suggest he is now set to sign for West London rivals Chelsea.
Fulham formally confirmed his departure on Wednesday, with back-up goalkeeper Marek Rodak also leaving as a free agent.
Willian and Bobby De Cordova-Reid remain in negotiations over new contracts, with the former attracting interest from Saudi Pro League clubs.
Wirtz focused on Euro 2024 amid Bayern Munich links
Florian Wirtz says now is not the time to discuss his Bayer Leverkusen future, as he prepares to lead Germany's bid for Euro 2024 glory on home soil.
Wirtz has emerged as one of the most highly rated attacking midfielders in world football, starring for Xabi Alonso's team as they went unbeaten to become Bundesliga champions in 2023-24.
He was named Bundesliga Player of the Year after scoring 11 goals and adding 11 assists, also helping Die Werkself win the DFB-Pokal to make it a double.
The likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Manchester United have all been linked with a move for Wirtz, while German media reports claim he is Bayern's top long-term target.
Wirtz is under contract at the BayArena until 2027, though, and he will not contemplate his club future while Julian Nagelsmann's side prepare for next week's Euros opener against Scotland.
"Everyone knows my contract," Wirtz told Sky Sports in Germany. "It's not the moment to talk about it now.
"I'm definitely having a very good time at Leverkusen, I feel good. In my head it's now 100 per cent about the European Championship. I don't care about anything else right now."
Wirtz has won 17 senior caps for his country, scoring his first international goal in an impressive friendly win over France in March.
Euro 2024 will be the fourth major international tournament to be hosted solely by Germany (or West Germany prior to unification).
They reached at least the semi-finals at the previous three, beating Johan Cruyff's iconic Netherlands side in the 1974 World Cup final and going out in the last four at Euro 1988 and the 2006 World Cup.
However, they have not won a single knockout game at a major tournament since Euro 2016. They suffered back-to-back group-stage exits at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and were beaten by England in the last 16 at Euro 2020.
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