Here’s Ben Fisher’s report from Cardiff.
Ben Davies is quoted by the BBC: “Our backs were against the wall and we knew what we had to do coming into the game. It’s a big night but it means nothing if we don’t back it up next month. We’ve shown our spirit over and over again. We came out tonight and put a good performance in.”
Rob Page spoke to S4C in Wales: “From the first minute right to the 95th, we had to dig deep. With the help of the supporters, we have made it another great night for the lads.I couldn’t be any more proud of them. Actions speak louder than words.
“I’m sick and tired of having to keep coming on and talk about my future. Let’s just talk about the lads and the performances they have put in. I get emotional because I’m so proud of them and they deserve all the plaudits they are going to get. We can’t wait to meet up for the next game.”
Simon McMahon gets in touch: “I can barely see now, John, I’ve drank so much, but Spain are ahead in Norway, so it’s all good. See you in Germany. Do they do beer there?…Wales in the unenviable position of being the Scotland of this particular qualifying campaign. Good luck!”
The news from elsewhere is that Scotland will be at Euro 2024. Fire up the Del Amitri.
Full-time: Wales 2-1 Croatia
What a night. Harry Wilson’s two goals got the job done and now Wales must beat Armenia away and Turkey at home to be at the Euros. That’s one of the biggest wins in Wales’ history, and against the odds, too.
90+5 min: Just a minute to see out now for Wales…Rob Page looks worried. Big cheers as Ward again has the ball…that’s it, Wales have done it
90+4 min: Jordan James hacks clear. The desperate hours now, and Ward again dives to the ball and will sit on it for as long as possible as Beljo nods down.
90+3 min: Croatia on the attack, and Mepham, in agony, closes down Pastalic. It’s enough.
90+2 min: Jordan James concedes a corner, but this time Modric can’t find anyone. Then Mepham intercepts a Modric ball before Ward – full-length – takes a fair catch.
90 min: Wales get in a muddle in front of the Croatia box, and then a counter goes down the other end. There are five minutes left of time added on.
89 min: Dan James fouled by Brozovic who is then booked for complaining to the referee. The Welsh fans are now singing their hearts out, collective anxiety dispelled.
88 min: Chris Mepham has an injury, so does Conor Roberts, who was hit in the er, vitals, by the ball. He’s bent double and singing soprano.
87 min: Broadhead takes the corner, and Croatia clear it, and then Jordan James commits an obvious tactical foul. He takes the yellow card with pleasure.
86 min: The free-kick is aimed at Moore but eventually cleared. Wales press high up in the corners and Ampadu wins the ball back, and then Moore wins a corner.
84 min: Anxiety now reigns at the home of Cardiff City. Ampadu wins a free-kick from Sosa to widespread applause.
83 min: Modric has another shot – clattered miles over.
82 min: Rodon makes a fine defensive header. Croatia have a corner, this one is knocked clear by Kieffer Moore. Modric has a shot as the ball is recycled and Jordan James puts his face on the line to block it.
80 min: Harry Wilson pulls up with cramp, and despite Croatia’s efforts to hurry him off, he takes his time over getting up. The two-goal man leaves the field and Nathan Broadhead comes on instead.
79 min: Chances at both ends…Neco Williams has a dig but can’t find the target – or Kieffer Moore.
78 min: Croatia, at last, are playing good stuff, and Modric sets up Beljo to head wide. Here comes a very long last 12 minutes.
77 min: A real stroke of misfortune in that Croatia goal, but Wales had begun to sit off. They restart by pressing further up the pitch.
Goal! Wales 2-1 Croatia (Palasic, 76)
Ward’s hand gets to the ball from Beljo snap shot, and then from the corner, Modric finds Kieffer Moore to assist Palasic to head home.
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75 min: Wales have 15 minutes plus change to claim a famous win and a lifeline. Croatia are – and belatedly – finding their rhythm.
74 min: There’s pictures of Croatia fans in facepaint. Is there a sadder sight in sport than the downcast fan whose facepaint has run?
72 min: Moore tries to set the Dan James train off but can’t keep the ball down. There are aching gaps as Croatia commit forward. Brozovic clatters the ball behind and their coach and fans all look despondent.
70 min: Modric comes to the fore, at last, but is indecisive as he pumps the ball into the box. Not much magic there.
68 min: Ward makes a diving catch, and sits on the ball for a while, and yet he also launches a wildcat attack. Dan James is motoring, and cuts inside and then shoots just wide.
67 min: Croatia flash the ball across goal from Majer, the first flicker of danger from them for quite a while.
64 min: Wilson, on a hat-trick, and strutting with supreme confidence, tries to play in Dan James. Jordan James, meanwhile, has been excellent in midfield. His new manager is Wayne Rooney at Birmingham City.
62 min: Simon McMahon adds his usual Caledonian take: “Hi John. Are we going to the Norway v Spain qualifier for the second half? Cos unless Norway find a winner, and I mean it’s not like they’ve got any goal scorers in their team is it, Scotland will be going to Germany next year. Yes sir, I can boogie. I have a dream! Come on Scotland! I’m totally steaming by the way. In case you hadn’t noticed. But come on Spain, come on Scotland!”
A friend at the game has described Erling Haaland as a “cod”. I don’t think that’s a compliment.
61 min: Luka Modric, these days bearded, looks sick as a parrot.
Goal! Wales 2-0 Croatia (Williams, 60)
For the second time, a Croat sub is immediately followed by a Wales goal. Vida heads clear and Dan James gets his cross in perfectly and in steps Wilson to head in. Pandemonium in the principality.
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60 min: On comes Sosa for Croatia, replacing Barisic.
58 min: Some aerial bombardment from Croatia, and Wales get their headers in first. Brozovic tries one from long range, and misses.
57 min: The signal goes out that Brooks will go off, and on comes the pace of Dan James, in form of late. Gvardiol, the Manchester City defender, has had his struggles all match.
54 min: Brooks and Wilson almost link up again, but that may be the last we see of Brooks, who has played well. Croatia haven’t had an answer to their movement.
51 min: Wales’ energy levels have been hugely impressive but will they come at a cost. They’re in a fine position for a first ever defeat of Croatia.
49 min: Kieffer Moore has a fleeting chance, too. Wales look to push on, Croatia look to be rocking on their heels.
48 min: That’s what Wales were looking for in the first half and found it with their very first attack of the second. Harry Wilson scored that on the occasion of his 50th cap.
Goal! Wales 1-0 Croatia (Wilson, 47)
Long ball pumped for Wilson, all the way from Danny Ward, Moore flicks on, Brooks plays his part and a lovely, looped finish from Wilson.
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46 min: Triple change for Croatia – Pasalic, Beljo and Stanisic on, Juranovic, Brekalo and Musa off. Zlatko Dalić clearly not impressed by what he saw. Beljo gets an early chance, but it’s closed down.
Half-time: Wales 0-0 Croatia
No time added on, as it’s been full of action and flowing play, mostly from Wales, who have gone close on a couple of occasions though might wonder if they need more of a cutting edge to get past the Croats, who don’t look in very good nick. All to play for.
44 min: Yes, things have slowed down a touch, with Croatia having Wales’ measure only for a long ball to be aimed for Wilson and it takes Juranovic to chase back and avert the danger.
42 min: Comedy as the linesman loses his flag when Juranovic is clearly offside. Least we can laugh at these things.
41 min: Roberts looks to launch the ball down the line from a throw. Wales look a little gassed out.
38 min: Majer goes down after Chris Mepham tackles him from behind. Croatia send up the defenders for Modric to aim for in the box but the great man shanks it out of play. Even the best midfielder of the 21st century makes the odd mistake.
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36 min: Croatia really not enjoying themselves, the Welsh forwards running back to tackle when they think they have time on the ball.
33 min: Brozovic, one of that trio of midfielders that took Croatia to such heights, steps forward. None of them have had it easy in Cardiff.
31 min: Croatia trying to step out, having been penned back, but then Wales go long, and Neco Williams follows up on Harry Wilson’s flick and lets fly. Good save from Livakovic again. Will Wales come to rue their dominance not resulting in a goal?
29 min: Lovely holdup play from Kieffer Moore, such a good touch for a big man. Maybe not the best finisher ever, but a fine footballer. Bournemouth should use him more, and by the end of the season, may well do.
28 min: A Croatia attack, and Ben Davies covers well to cut off Majer.
26 min: Livakovic collects the ball from a flick-on and takes his time. Croatia need a breather, and are in danger after that loss to Turkey.
25 min: Livakovic makes a mess of the corner and Modric – anonymous so far – has to hack clear. It’s all Wales. They’ve been excellent.
24 min: Close! Brozovic plays draught excluder but Wilson beats the wall, and Livakovic makes a fine save. It was probably going to hit the post.
23 min: Vida – who else – smashes down Wilson, after a fine pass from David Brooks. Wales have a free-kick in a dangerous position.
21 min: What a long throw from Conor Roberts, the heir to Andy Legg in launching a bullet into the Croatia box. Vinnie Jones could launch them, too.
19 min: Do Wales and Bournemouth fans sing that they wish they could be like David Brooks? Perhaps they might.
16 min: First chance for Croatia but Brekalo heads over. Wales looked to have him covered.
15 min: Croatia’s fans are pretty atonal as opposed to the terpsichorean tones of Wales’ fans. But they are making plenty of noise.
12 min: Wilson is released by Brooks, and plays in Moore, Vida having to come across to clear. Wales are offering real danger.
10 min: Brooks, of whom much is asked in the absence of Aaron Ramsey, drops deep but can’t get away. Jordan James, at the other end, gets involved in a midfield tussle. He looks quite a prospect.
8 min: Brooks hooks it forward, Moore attempts to do the same. Croatia look to have calmed down from a rather panicky start.
6 min: Harry Wilson is clattered by Kovacic, but looks to be OK. The City man didn’t hold back at all.
4 min: Wales are…getting it launched. Danny Ward, the goalie, whacks one first time into the rafters. Then, he reads a long ball himself and sets up an attack. David Brooks was close. Breathless so far.
3 min: Ampadu is crowded out as the ball is pumped into the box. Vida, with that Croydon facelift of a topknot, just about snuffs out the danger.
2 min: Huge noise in Cardiff. Would advise anyone who dismisses international football to take in a Wales game in the capital. Passionate doesn’t come close.
1 min: There’s a minute’s silence for those who have been lost in the conflict in Israel and Palestine…and away we go, Neco Williams going close to finding Kieffer Moore with a pass inside.
The Welsh national anthem – Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau – rings out. Incredible sound. The Welsh nation is hurting after what happened in the rygbi on Saturday. Can Rob Page’s men revive spirits?
The Cardiff City Stadium rings out to the sound of The Alarm’s 68 Guns. It was only 40 years ago. North Wales’s answer to The Clash crossed with The Boss? With John Cooper Clarke on drums.
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Peter Oh gets in touch: “The Croatian warm-up kit is impressive, with its eight sponsors featuring on the front of the shirt. I suppose this is how they can afford to have the thoracic spine rotations supported by someone other than who’s underwriting the calf stretches and heel kicks.”
Croatia lost to Turkey on Wednesday, which wasn’t handy for Wales make three changes .Josip Juranovic, Domagoj Vida and Lovro Majer come in for Josip Stanisic, Josip Sutalo and Mario Pasalic. Ivan Perisic is among a list of injuries thought there’s always Luka Modric. .
Wales beat Latvia 2-0 in their last qualifier and make just two changes, with the injured Brennan Johnson and Aaron Ramsey replaced by David Brooks and Kieffer Moore.
The excellent Ben Fisher is our man in the Wales camp.
With hopes of securing an automatic place at Euro 2024 in the balance, the value of victory on Sunday over the Group D leaders, Croatia, would be priceless, a performance for the ages a bonus. A win of any kind – unconvincing or cogent – could have a lasting effect heading into the final round of qualifiers next month.
The teams
Wales: Ward; Roberts, Rodon, Mepham, Davies (c); J.James, Wilson, Ampadu, Williams; Brooks, Moore. Subs: Hennessey, King, Lockyer, Bradshaw, Levitt, Cullen, Savage, Poole, Low, D. James, Sheehan, Broadhead
Croatia: Livakovic; Juranovic, Vida, Gvardiol, Barisic; Modric (c), Brozovic, Kovacic; Majer, Musa, Brekalo. Subs: Labrovic, Ivusic, Stanisic, Erlic, Sutalo, Vlasic, Pasalic, Moro, Sosa, Beljo
Preamble
Wales have a chance, not a big chance but a chance nonetheless of making the top two in Group D; To do so, they will have to beat Croatia, one of the wiliest outfits in world football. For now, the pressure on Rob Page has been lifted but that may be on a game by game basis. The injury list is not helpful, with no Aaron Ramsey leading the list. Pulling this off would be one of the great nights. Let’s see if it can be achieved.
Kick-off is at 7.45pm UK time. Join me.
