Cymru 1-1 BiH (2-4 on pens)

I feel absolutely awful this morning, as I’m sure most of us do. For me watching Cymru home and away in this campaign has been a real journey – from the late equaliser in Skopje and the sensational home wins against Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein and North Macedonia, to that seven-goal-thriller in Brussels and those cagey away wins out in Vaduz and Astana. Journeys must have a destination, but this wasn’t where we wanted ours to be. Probably most disappointing for me is that I know we can play better than that and we simply didn’t do ourselves justice on the night. Credit to Boznia who were disciplined and well organised but I can’t shake that feeling that if Cymru had turned up yesterday, I’d be writing this looking ahead to a playoff final next Tuesday.
Anyways… On to the ratings! (Remember these are not a reflection of the player, just the performance 😉)

Karl Darlow (8) – A really strong showing from the Leeds keeper. One of my mates said to me leaving the ground that it feels like we’ve wasted an all time goalkeeping performance on a game like that and it’s hard to disagree. His save to deny Demirović’s header in the second half is one of the best I’ve ever seen and he gave us a platform to win the shootout when he denied the same man from spot.

Neco Williams (6) – Not much of note really but I don’t remember him making many errors either. Always looking to play and get us on the front foot.

Joe Rodon (6) – Solid thoroughout and dealt with the physicality of Džeko and Demirović for the most part really well. Not a natural at playing high when we pushed for a goal but did enough to deal with it. A huge eight clearances, the most of any Welsh player.

Dylan Lawlor (7) – I thought he looked really classy on the night and had to keep checking my phone to remind myself he is a twenty year old in just his fourth ever international game. Quick on the turn and so effortless on the ball. Definitely one to watch.

Jay Dasilva (6) – Not a lot of good or bad to say really, just a very neat and tidy performance from the Coventry City fullback. Won a couple of big headers at the back post in that first half that did NOT go unnoticed by me at least! I appreciate the game was in the balance at the time but would have liked to see him gamble and run beyond (under or over lapping) Sorba as we sought out a winner – Boznia were quite happy to double up on the winger because he didn’t do this enough.

Ethan Ampadu (6) – Recovered and recycled the ball well but also lost the ball many times over the course of the game. He’s had better games!

Jordan James (6) – If I’m honest I can’t really say what he did well against Bosnia-Herzegovina, but when he went off injured just before the hour mark his absence was immense. The whole balance of the team felt ‘off’ and we never really got that control back. I welcome any explanations of why he felt so important last night!

Harry Wilson (7) – I actually thought he had a really good game last night but it just wouldn’t go in for him! Created some lovely chances and no player from either side had more shots. That little hesitation he did before his shot was blocked in the first half of extra time is haunting me badly this morning.

Brennan Johnson (5) – One of many in that Welsh attack that wasn’t on their game. I think a big part of the frustration with Brennan sometimes is that he still possess so much potential and quality but didn’t show it. Still, a lovely header back across goal towards the end of extra time and that probably should have been a game-winning assist..

Dan James (7) – Always gives his all for Wales and looked like our best chance of scoring. It’s easy to focus on his shortcomings, such as his decision making, but his energy and willingness to run in behind (when others didn’t) gave Cymru an unpredictability that Boznia struggled with. A chaotic player for a chaotic game.

David Brooks (6) – Probed and created some good chances but nothing special from him.

SUBS
’56 Liam Cullen (4) – Perhaps a case of the wrong player at the wrong time. Cymru needed a replacement for the combative JJ but Cullen just wasn’t it. I appreciate he was probably sent on to put a foot on the ball and regain control but as soon as we were chasing a goal he got lost out there – too many sideways and backwards passes.
’74 Mark Harris (4) – Another substitution that didn’t help us. Perhaps put on to press from the front but when we needed a goal his instincts in the box weren’t there and he got swallowed up by the colossal pairing of Muharemović and Katić. He HAS to be getting on the end of Johnson’s header back across goal, that’s why he’s there!
’84 Sorba Thomas (7) – Despite the somewhat mediocre rating, I actually thought he was superb when he came on and was exactly what we needed. Despite coming on so late he put in 17 crosses in that time, that’s only one less than Wilson, Brennan, Brooks and James put in combined! He tried to make something happen and that’s what subs should add.

I love Bellamy and am a big supporter but I don’t think he got this one right unfortunately and shares the responsibility with his players of course.

Disappointing but I echo Bellamy’s sentiment this morning that there is more to come from this group, hopefully under his leadership, and I cling to this hope until the next one.

Diolch am ddarllen! Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿