Dai @colemans_dream takes one more look back at a wonderful Sunday that reignited Cymru’s Euro 2024 qualification hopes.
International football, especially in Welsh circles, has very often not really been about the football. It’s fair to say in my lifetime we have experienced our fair share of lows. This team and generation of footballers, however, seem to relish in the battle to prove that those days are behind us. For every disappointment we’ve experienced we have many more special memories to replace them, and you can add Sunday 15th October to that lengthening list. As the air cooled and day became night, the Guinness began to kick in and do its job. There was belief floating around and Rob Page and co were determined to follow the trail it blazed.
Great to meet some pod listeners and followers last night. One of the highlights being Michael who called us the 60 minutes of doom pod a month or so ago. A brilliant evening and I’m still absolutely buzzing. The pod recorded next will absolutely not be 60 minutes of doom!
Wales were dogged, energetic, exciting, committed but most crucially of all, they were winners. Two sumptuous Harry Wilson finishes in front of the Canton Stand banished the memories of June as Wales stood up to the most difficult of tasks. A Croatia side who played in the nations league final and put out Brazil in the World Cup were beaten, and they deserved it. This wasn’t a hit and run backs to the wall victory. This was a great tactical display topped with clinical finishing. The maturity that our young midfield displayed was superb to watch and the team clicked against a top side for the first time since the heady days of 2016.
Wales started positively and controlled the game well. We allowed Croatia to have the ball in areas they couldn’t hurt us. We begged them to break us down, but they tripped on every brick in the red wall they approached. Wales used the ball with purpose and looked a threat in possession. The Croatian keeper was sent scrambling after a Harry Wilson free kick and clawing away a curling Neco Williams strike. Jordan James patrolled the midfield like a veteran and Ethan Ampadu showed the Croatia midfield what a real leader looks like. Danny Ward could have cracked open a Bovril to keep himself warm if he’d have fancied, such was the limited amount he had to deal with but instead he chose to ping the ball around like he was prime Aaron Ramsey. The plan was working, and we were in control. I’m told Luka Modric was in the Welsh dressing room at half time, scrambling to escape from the pockets of a 19-year-old.
Embed from Getty ImagesDuring the break, our conversation on the concourse was very much “more of the same”. The Croatians had different plans and made 3 changes at the interval, but they never had the chance to see what difference it could make as 90 seconds into the second half, pandemonium broke out in the Cardiff City Stadium. After using the ball well at the back, Danny Ward once again used his laser-like precision to find the front to back run of Kieffer Moore. He dropped deep and his presence made Brozovic so confused he sliced the ball to Dai Brooks. With one flick, Brooks sent Wilson into a foot race he was never going to lose and The King of Corwen controlled beautifully on his chest, never breaking stride and floated the ball over the stranded Croatian keeper before it skipped off the lush green turf and nestled into the back of the net. Those who hadn’t returned from their half time pint will have been under no illusion as to which side scored the goal, such was the reaction of the crowd.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was a lead Wales deserved given our approach to the game. Brooks, after getting his assist was soon to leave the game after picking up a knock. Dan James joined the fray and made pretty much an immediate impact. Some great one touch passing down the left allowed Neco a crossing opportunity. His initial ball was headed away but was collected by the Forest man. He played it off to the returning Dan James who whipped in a near post ball to Harry Wilson, who was in a mile of space. The ball was flicked off the back of his head and swiftly found the back of the net. What a finish. What a noise at the CCS. What a feeling.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s never all plain sailing of course and Croatia threatened to ruin the party with a goal from a corner. That came about from Danny Ward making a remarkable instinctive save. Though Croatia were offside the corner stood and after Moore jumped under ball, he sent it to the back post where it was turned home. This led to what turned out to be 20 very tense minutes but in reality, Cymru never looked like conceding. Ward kept coming for crosses and looked in total control. Modric on the other hand was left swiping balls over the bar as his side looked to avoid a second successive defeat. There were some nervy moments but in reality Wales continued their control of the game and could have added more goals on the break. As the game wore on, the deeper we dropped and waited for the referee to end proceedings. The man in the middle blew his whistle and Wales moved from 4th to 2nd in the group standings. A remarkable turnaround from June and that humbling defeat by Armenia.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhilst those memories can’t be erased, this window, much like the last, showed that this team and these players, manager included have what is required to turn things around. Perform when the pressure is on. We have a way to go and the Armenia game in a months’ time becomes the next must win game we have to deal with. Credit must go to the manager though, after all the rubbish he’s had to wade through this week. Let’s hope too, that us as fans can come together and support those who represent us. They’ve earned that.
For now though, let’s enjoy a thrilling night and eulogise about the best victory in Cardiff, likely since the 2015 win over Belgium. With a bit of luck, we’ll only have 5 weeks to wait until the next, “I was there” moment.