Saints winger David Brooks netted a goal and contributed an assist for Wales in their 4-1 victory over Finland during the European Championship qualifying match on Thursday night.
The triumph propelled them into the Euro 2024 playoff final, setting up a clash against Jan Bednarek’s Poland, who secured a convincing 5-1 victory against 10-man Estonia.
Scheduled for Tuesday, March 26 in Cardiff, Wales will host Poland in a crucial match where the victor will advance to Group D of this summer’s tournament, joining Austria, the Netherlands, and France.
David Brooks, somewhat unexpectedly, featured from the start as Rob Page opted to have Kieffer Moore and Dan James on the bench. The Southampton loanee operated in a dynamic front three alongside Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson, prioritizing speed over strength.
Within three minutes, the 26-year-old forward swiftly capitalized on Wilson’s rebounded shot, slotting the ball past Lukas Hradecky for his fourth goal for Wales. The enthusiastic Welsh supporters erupted in chants of ‘Brooks, Brooks will tear you apart’ at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Continuing to threaten the Finnish defense with his pace and agility, Brooks maintained pressure before Neco Williams doubled Wales’ lead, shortly followed by a goal from Teemu Pukki for Finland. However, Wales quickly reestablished their two-goal advantage in the second half, with Tottenham Hotspur’s Johnson ensuring Brooks’ shot found the net.
Brooks’ impactful performance ended when he was substituted in the 60th minute for fellow loaned-out Cherries player Kieffer Moore. Leeds United’s James sealed the victory with a late fourth goal, contributing to his impressive season, while Ben Davies had a goal disallowed.
Meanwhile, Jan Bednarek completed the full 90 minutes for Poland under the guidance of coach Michał Probierz, aiding his team to a comfortable win over Estonia. The match became more favorable for Poland after Maksim Paskotsi received a red card in the first half, allowing them to secure additional goals after the break.