Ruth takes a look at some of the broad lessons to be learned from the defeat in Leuven.
Playing away, against the world’s #1 ranked team, was always going to leave us chasing the ball and on the backfoot. But we ignore the merits of simple ball possession at our peril. We cannot discount custody of the ball as an asset.
Embed from Getty ImagesToo frequently, and especially in the first half, Cymru gave away the ball too easily or played freekicks short and seeded possession carelessly.
We stepped off the press too often, and the Belgians attained 80% possession for the opening half.
In contrast, across the four games we’d gone unbeaten against the Red Devils, they’d achieved only 59% possession on average.
Embed from Getty ImagesBy the second half, thankfully, our press had moved 10m up the pitch. By pressing in unison, higher up the field, possession improved.
Additionally, by harrying more, the secondary possession increased. By going toe-to-toe, Cymru showed that even the world’s best should be wary of us.
The passiveness of the closing part of the first half is one of a number of frustrations from the game. Players did their jobs, and no one had a bad game. Joe Rodon, in particular, showed his prowess. Overall, 3-1 isn’t entirely a fair reflection, although we managed only one corner all game, deep in the closing minutes.
What did Cymru learn?
An important question after a defeat, but a defeat serves no purpose whatsoever if nothing is learned. So, what was gained through that hard-to-take, strangely frustrating 3-1 defeat?
Embed from Getty ImagesWe made the best team in the world stop and think; and did that without Ben Davies, Joe Allen, David Brooks and Aaron Ramsey. Joe Rodon is a national treasure, already. Joe Morrell and Ethan Ampadu lodged another pair of ‘never let us down’ performances. Harry Wilson is increasingly able to manage the false 9 role. Neco Williams stepped into the unfamiliar and, overall, did well, growing into his role during the game. Considering he didn’t even have the benefit of the mini-training camp, James Lawrence picked up from his November performances. Chris Mepham showed some rust, but I don’t blame him for the penalty. Generally, we stopped the Belgians from opening us up, and Ward had a relatively quiet game.
Embed from Getty ImagesConor Roberts, Gareth Bale and Dan James just need to be free to run, and run in behind hard. Too often we channelled the ball across the field, instead of onto their sprints.
When we move quickly, the chances are there. But we have to back ourselves. But, but …
Positives yes, but questions too. We barely made the Belgians turn and defend crosses. What errors there were (and those were relatively few admittedly) were made by players not seeing much regular club-level game time. Whether the latter is the cause of the former is difficult to judge, of course.
But it still feels like a frustrating loss. Perhaps that says as much about our aspirations, as anything else. Onwards.
Photo credit: Belgium road sign: Attribution: Alpha Stock Images – http://alphastockimages.com/ : Original Author: Nick Youngson – link to – http://www.nyphotographic.com/ : Original Image: https://www.picserver.org/highway-signs2/b/belgium.html