Rhys (@rhyslloydyy) casts his eye over the individual performances that made up Cymru’s historic return to the World Cup.
Here we go! As Cymru make their long-anticipated return to the Cwpan y Byd in Qatar, I’m just as excited to be making my Coleman Had A Dream debut providing the player ratings for Wales across the tournament, however long that may be! As I sit here this morning after Wales’s well-earned point vs USA, cup of tea in hand, I can’t help but grin.
Little old Cymru have just played, scored and earned a point on the biggest stage of all – wow. I also chuckle to myself wondering why I still feel tense and anxious on rewatch of the game, as if the result may change this morning, that Matt Turner, the USA keeper, may have just got a fingertip to the magic man’s penalty. Of course, he didn’t, and even despite my nerves Cymru are up and running at the World Cup! Now let’s get stuck into to how the players got on…
Embed from Getty ImagesWayne Hennessey – Strangely Helpless
There’s no doubt about it, Wales were outclassed in that first half – so it was a shock to look back and see that Hennessey’s only save of the match (yes you read that right), despite USA’s six shots, was when he stopped well Joe Rodon’s powerful header back towards his own goal. Much of the domination from the US in that first half came in front of Hennessey and he couldn’t do much 1v1 against Weah’s tidy finish on the 36-minute mark. He’ll always be a big player for us when called upon, just strangely not in this one.
Embed from Getty ImagesChris Mepham – Committed
With Ampadu moving into midfield following the absence of Joe Allen, it was a Mepham again who slotted into the right centre back space of Page’s back five, as he did so in Brussels back in September. He was up against it in the first half, as the USA played balls down into that channel between him and wing-back Connor Roberts for the likes of Pulisic to chase. Recovered well though and was as committed as ever in winning the ball back when Wales were trying to stay up the pitch. Was unlucky not to have an assist too as he kept a Wilson free kick alive to tee up Ben Davies.
Embed from Getty ImagesJoe Rodon – Steady
His best moment was almost his worst as he headed a cross back towards Hennessey in the first half. Without doubt though, if he doesn’t get something on that Weah cross then Josh Sargeant, who had moved infront of his man, would have had a free header from just a few yards out. Not many standout moments but a steady performance from the centre of defence.
Embed from Getty ImagesBen Davies – Future Captain
Led by example as the most senior of that defence and was only denied a goal by a great save from Matt Turner in the US goal. Doesn’t always make the headlines for Cymru but he’s definitely a star of this Welsh side.
Embed from Getty ImagesNeco Williams – Brave
Thought it was incredibly brave of him to play following the passing of his grandfather and this was echoed in a performance of courage and full of heart. He was fantastic. Always looking to drive Wales up the pitch and be positive in his play. In the second half when Wales got a foothold in the game and were able to bring the wingbacks into play he was really exciting to watch. I could watch him try to nick in and win the ball, or win it back, all day long. The moment in the second half where he winced as he contested a ball, I think all of our hearts sank and the look of worry on Page’s face was one that we all mirrored. Drew challenges well too, getting two US players booked in the process, it’s a nice attribute to have in tournament football when a man advantage could make all the difference. Da iawn Neco, you did your grandfather (and us all) proud yesterday.
Embed from Getty ImagesConnor Roberts – Up Against It
He did so well in the end against the pace down his side but him and Mepham were up against it a lot in that first half. With Pulisic dropping in and out of the channel between Roberts and Mepham and Weah drifting wide too, this was always going to be a big task for him. Like Neco on the opposite side, he benefited from Wales getting further up the pitch and put a few great crosses into the box. His sliding challenge to deny Pulisic on the 62nd minute was awesome and came at a point when Wales were really stretched at the back.
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Ethan Ampadu – Mopping Up
Battled all game and mopped up well in front of that back five. One of Wales’s best defenders even when playing in midfield. As Wales grew into the game, so did he, and his passes second half were much more progressive – either going direct to Kieffer or spraying the ball wide. Really good to see the partnership with Ramsey take shape too and you can see Rob Page’s thinking that on another day Ampadu’s no-nonsense defensive side would allow Ramsey that creative freedom he craves. Loved that fifty-fifty too, proper commitment.
Embed from Getty ImagesAaron Ramsey – Quiet but Class
Really struggled to get into the game at all in the first half, though I could copy and paste that for the whole team. Less of the case of doing bad things with the ball but more of not really doing anything, as him and Ampadu found themselves fighting fires in the middle against the numerically advantaged three of the USA. His passing is so crisp when it needs to be though, and USA clearly recognised the quality he possess due to their relentless pressing of him. Ramsey showed he can do the less glamorous side of the deeper midfield role he found himself in. Still his class and intelligence in attack shone through in the end. His quick thinking from a Brennan Johnson throw, as he ran off the shoulder and in behind the US defenders was brilliant. ‘You can’t be offside from a throw’ I could hear from my Sunday league days, as he got to the by-line and found Bale, who was subsequently fouled in the area.
Embed from Getty ImagesHarry Wilson – Persevering
Another player who really worked hard for the team, often dropping in alongside Ramsey and Ampadu. Wasn’t hugely in the game but his set piece delivery is always a threat and he kept going and going. It was his free kick that caused so much chaos before the ball eventually dropped to Ben Davies as he forced a great save. Wales are lucky to have a set piece taker like him on the pitch and in a more open game he’ll get more chances from open play. That was definitely a corner by the way Harry, don’t worry we’re with you.
Embed from Getty ImagesDan James – Selfless
He adds so much to this Wales squad, you only have to look back at our goals scored in qualifying to see that. Wasn’t the outlet that Wales needed against the US though, primarily because we struggled to release him down the channels and as such struggled to break out from our half. Was sacrificed at the interval for Kieffer, a fantastic tactical change, rather than based on his performance.
Embed from Getty ImagesGareth Bale – Man for the Moment
It’s okay to admit it if you were one of the Wal Goch who were wondering whether the subs board should have had his number on it at times through that second half. Bale, whilst full of desire, had multiple moments of sloppiness throughout his deserved world cup debut. It was almost as if he was trying too hard to drag Wales into the game, rather than trying to build momentum through the basics. Having said all that, you would swap all those poorer moments in a heartbeat for the final say he had on this match. He thrives off these magic moments in this stage of his career, as if they’re drawn to him, as if these moments seek him out personally. If you could bottle that up it’d be worth a fortune, although I am yet to properly try his new Bale Ale, and long may those moments follow Bale and follow Wales through this tournament.
Embed from Getty ImagesKieffer Moore (sub half-time) – Gamechanger
A stunning substitution to bring the big man on at half-time from Rob Page and Wales can thank him in large parts for their change in fortune second half. He offered us a completely different dimension and the outlet he provided meant that the USA could no longer box us in. Really underrated for his technical ability too and his dynamic strength to link play and influence a game is vital for Cymru in the coming games.
Embed from Getty ImagesBrennan Johnson (sub 79’) – Exciting
I was watching Nottingham Forest play in the summer on Super Sunday with my father and we spoke a lot about how exciting Brennan (and Neco) would be for years to come. My father passed away suddenly the following Tuesday and I couldn’t help feeling emotional when Brennan came on for Wales and brought to the biggest stage this excitement me and my late father had praised. It was Johnson’s energy that got Wales up the pitch and his quick thinking from the throw-in that eventually led to the USA scrambling and giving away the penalty. This hopefully won’t be his last contribution this world cup or indeed his last world cup at all.
Embed from Getty ImagesThanks so much for reading, let us know what you thought of the player’s performance against USA and roll on Friday’s game against Iran.