Chris (@Chris10Pricey) has taken on the task of reviewing our closing World Cup game, plus a look ahead at what’s next.
The trouble with football is the hope that kills. Even against most sensible odds, Welsh fans, who had seen it all, all the heartbreak, crushing defeats, embarrassing moments, will have gone into tonight believing that it could happen, maybe just maybe. What if the impossible happened.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, it quickly transpired that this was a night of maybe not. And it just had to be them didn’t it. Wales first appearance in 64 years at the World Cup was ended by our nearest neighbours after we were outbattled, outthought and ultimately outclassed as England finally kicked our fingernails off the cliff, we were dangling from on Friday afternoon.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs soon as the draw was made and there was a chance we could be playing England, personally it was already a night I was not looking forward to. These games are never enjoyable, they often turn out to be quite turgid affairs. Whatever your thoughts on current and historical affairs, there just isn’t any sort of friendly rivalry there and it makes for a toxic occasion. It isn’t helped by most England fans only turning up during a major tournament, and then take great delight in telling you how awful international football is in the interluding years.
Embed from Getty ImagesThey don’t get it, they don’t feel the same about it, they don’t care about it the way we do. Also, this bizarre obsession with us ‘over-celebrating’ their quite frankly hilarious defeat to Iceland in 2016. In addition to that, since 2016, England have been a team reborn, youth and quality all over the pitch and whiskers away from winning 2 major tournaments. That quality would be a difficult game for anyone, let alone throwing in the ‘derby’ element.
Embed from Getty ImagesPre-match the maths for Wales was simple. Win and hope USA v Iran ended as a draw. Even for the the most optimistic of Welsh fans the chances of a 4-0 win were minimal, even if it was 300-1! The enforced change came in goal, with Danny Ward coming in. In being overrun in midfield for the last 2 games, Rob Page went with a back 4 and bringing Joe Allen into midfield, as was the much-known plan pre-tournament, to create a midfield 5. Southgate made 4 changes to the team that played out a dreary 0-0 with USA on Friday.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe game settled very quickly into a familiar pattern. The plan from Wales was quite clear. Play the matador role, the low block for 70 minutes, try to catch England on the break, stay in the game as long as possible and then throw everything at them at the death. At one stage the possession stats showed 80% England, but even with all that ball, their best chance came from Wales giving away the ball away in midfield on 10 minutes. Harry Kane played through Rashford, who was clean through, but Danny Ward was quick off his line and was able to block Rashford’s attempted dink.
The half continued in the same vein. England had a lot of the ball, creating minimal chances. However, whenever Wales got it back, they were pressed hard by England, meaning they struggled to get out and beat the press and ended up knocking it long.
Embed from Getty ImagesA major talking point of the first half came when Neco Williams made a block with the crown of his head from a Rashford drive and ended up on the floor. Clearly with concussion, Williams tried to carry on. He was soon replaced by Connor Roberts, but there are questions to be asked about football’s concussion protocols considering another poor moment for the sport.
In the final minute of the first half, Joe Allen had Wales’ only meaningful moment in the England half. Connor Roberts lined up a long throw only to play it short creating room for Allen, whose effort blazed over the bar from 20 yards out. Wales made it to half time with the game still in the balance, albeit having offered very little. Elsewhere, the USA led Iran 1-0 at half time.
Embed from Getty ImagesHalf time – Wales 0 England 0
Brennan Johnson had been warming up for 5 minutes before half time and came on for Bale at half time. Despite giving us another golden moment against the USA, just 8 days ago, he hasn’t looked himself and the rumoured injury must have been true.
Embed from Getty ImagesA change of system from England paid dividends almost immediately and with it, ended Wales’ meaningful participation in the tournament. As was said in our Coleman Had A Dream group chat by James, it was like someone upped the level on FIFA again. England quickened the pace from the off and Wales were immediately on the back foot. Foden and Rashford switched wings and those two combined for the key moments. Foden went on a driving run, drawing 3 Welsh defenders in and winning a questionable free kick. It is incredible that a man of his talent has been sat on the bench.
Embed from Getty ImagesFrom the resultant free kick, Rashford curled an outstanding effort beyond the stretch of Ward and into the top right corner. If Wales were up against the ropes at this point, Foden was about to strike the knockout blow. But yet again, it was of Wales’ own making. The ever-reliable Ben Davies gave the ball away cheaply from the kick off and Harry Kane drove towards the box. He played a stunning ball across the face of goal for Foden to tap in at the back post. At this point, it felt very much like Portugal in 2016, a quick hammer blow, the game plan over and an almost inevitability about the result.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe rest of the game was played out at an almost pre-season pace as England knew the job was done and Wales huffed and puffed, offering a few glances at goal, but nothing meaningful. There was enough time for Rashford to smash in a third between Ward’s legs, but in all honesty the game had gone and from a Welsh perspective the merciful sight of only 4 minutes stoppage time was gleefully appreciated.
Embed from Getty ImagesElsewhere, the USA beat Iran, rendering our result meaningless anyway. Doesn’t matter, we didn’t want to go through anyway! 😉
What next?
England progress from Group B and will take on Senegal, who won a nail-biter against Ecuador earlier in the day. On the showing of their Iran game and the game against us, they will fancy their chances of setting up a mouth-watering quarter final against France. However, a performance like the one against the USA might see them on the plane home Sunday night.
For Wales, we end the campaign with 1 point and 1 goal from 3 games. For this group, qualifying for a World Cup was the Holy Grail, the thing they longed for, and it will always be remembered what a special group they are and the incredible highs they have given us. Our golden generation gave us a Euro semi final, 3 qualifications out of 4 and a place at the World Cup. Unfortunately, our performances at the World Cup have not shown the best of us, especially when you think of some of our performances over the last 6 years and there are lots of questions to be answered.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, now might not be the time for it and in the coming days I will do a piece on this when I can think of something more measured. These questions will need answering quickly though, as the race to qualify for Euro 2024 in Germany (please let us qualify!) starts in March and it truly is a race as the group is done within 8 months. It will be interesting to see the team that starts our next game in Split and whether our old guard fancies one last dance and whether our young guns are ready to step up and follow in the footsteps of the giants before them.
Embed from Getty ImagesFinally, a word for the Red Wall. In such a difficult World Cup to get to, with all the obstacles put in place, the Red Wall once again showed the best of us. There might have been 18 million people watching the game back in Britain and many more around the world, but most of what they heard (apart from Jermaine Jenas) will have been our anthem, Yma o Hyd, Calon Lan. Our little country, our footballing nation on the world stage. The taunts of ‘going home in the morning’ drowned out by the fact we are still here. And despite the result tonight and our performances in the tournament, that is something to be immensely proud about.