Wales’s Rabbi Matondo: ‘Missing out on the Euros was heartbreaking’

Rabbi Matondo describes missing out on a place in the Wales squad for the European Championship last summer as “heartbreaking”. The winger was overlooked after an underwhelming season and being sent home from a camp by the caretaker manager, Rob Page, for “breaching protocols” a year ago.

It was the end of a tough season for Matondo that started with an 8-0 defeat by Bayern Munich – one of only three Schalke appearances – and ended with a loan at Stoke. “When you are growing up playing football you always dream about the big tournaments, like the Euros and World Cup,” he says. “Being around the Wales team for the last two seasons consistently and then missing out on the most important camp was heartbreaking.

“Did I do enough throughout the season to get a chance? Probably not, but it hurt at the time. When you’ve gone to previous camps and been there with the guys when we qualified for the Euros, missing out on the final step was a hard one to swallow. That gave me motivation and willpower to make sure something like that doesn’t happen again. This season I am pushing myself.”

After an uncertain summer of injury and searching for a club, Matondo is firing with Cercle Brugge in the Belgian top flight, and is back in the Wales squad for their World Cup play-off at home to Austria on Thursday.

Matondo has channelled his hurt to score nine goals in 24 games to help a club accustomed to relegation battles to mid-table safety and a fight for a place in Europe. The absence of Tyler Roberts and Kieffer Moore from the Wales squad means there is more pressure on Matondo, but he is thriving a year after his last Wales call-up was curtailed and left him with bridges to build.

“I can’t blame Rob Page for his decision; he made it on