Gareth Bale and Wales were left red-faced on Sunday night in Cardiff after losing their One Love captain's armband.
Wayne Hennessey and Bale both wore the armband in Belgium last Thursday as part of the new campaign against discrimination which pledges to show unity on the international stage and send a clear message of togetherness in the fight against injustice.
But the armband, which carries a heart containing colours representing all backgrounds, failed to return to Cardiff. So the Wales captain could not wear it as he started and played in the whole game in the Dragons' 1-0 Nations League loss to Poland which saw them relegated from the top tier.
The FAW's head of public relations Ian Gwyn Hughes admitted: "My understanding was it was lost in Belgium" and Rob Page added: "There was no statement from Gareth, it was a genuine mistake otherwise he would have worn it." Wales now await new ones to be sent out with the skippers of England, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland due to wear them at the World Cup in Qatar to show support for minority groups.
Wales were given a rousing send off in Cardiff in their final game before heading to Qatar but Poland ripped up the script to leave Wales reeling from three successive losses. It meant Page’s side finished bottom of Group A4 and drop into the second tier. Barcelona ace Robert Lewandowksi didn’t add to his 76 international goals but he did produce a sublime pass to assist Karol Swiderski in the 57th minute.
Wales gave a start to their own talisman Bale but he was denied by the bar late on for the hosts, who went down 2-1 in Belgium four days earlier. Page, who was without six first team players, said: “We are disappointed we lost the game and got relegated but are now fully focused on the World Cup. “All of us will be disappointed but to compete in this league at this level we need all our players. I can’t fault the efforts of our players, their attitude has been tremendous. Nobody likes losing but we have been in the games against Belgium, Holland and Poland. Poland got one chance and put it in the back of the net. But strip the emotion out of it, we have lots to look forward and be positive about.”
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Wales' next game will be their first match at a World Cup for 64 years as they begin their campaign against USA on November 21. They threatened in the 32nd minute against the Poles when Dan James broke free but his finish lacked composure as Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny saved with his legs. The closest the visitors came to scoring in the first half was when Hennessey mis-controlled Joe Rodon’s backpass and the keeper had to make a goal-line clearance.
Poland took the lead in the 57th minute after a brilliant flick by Lewandowski unlocked the home defence for Swiderski to fire in under Hennessey’s legs. Asked about Lewandowski’s skill, Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz admitted: “It reminded me of Dennis Bergkamp.” Wales tried to hit back quickly as the impressive Brennan Johnson almost curled in a low left-foot shot which Szczesny pushed past the post.
Boss Page threw on giant targetman Kieffer Moore and Bale dropped into a deeper role where he had more influence. It enabled Bale to get on the ball more and release Wales’ widemen as Szczesny also had to dramatically push James’ curling cross around the post. The visitors held out as Wales’ biggest plus was at least Los Angeles FC forward Bale, 33, who had not lasted an entire match for club or country since Wales' goalless draw with Estonia in September 2021, completed 90 minutes.
