Ben Fisher’s report has just dropped. With that I’ll diolch a nos da.
What a performance from Wales. Their game against Poland – who beat Estonia 5-1 – on Tuesday will be epic! I can’t wait for that one.
Hope you enjoyed that. Thanks to all who wrote in and apologies to those who didn’t get a nod on the blog. I read them all and appreciated every word.
Catch you next time.
Next up is the Welsh boss, Rob Page:
We got off the best possible start. We had to address a couple of things at half time and were better in the second half. It could have been five or six. But the message is that this is half-time. We’ve now got a massive effort to go on Tuesday and we can’t wait!
We were disappointed with the goal we conceded. It made for an uncomfortable few minutes but the start of the second half was excellent.
We’ve got players playing at their club and scoring goals.
Not seen the Williams hit? How about this, eh?
SPECIAL NECO WILLIAMS FINISH 😱
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) March 21, 2024
What a hit by the @NFFC man to make it 2-0 to Wales in Cardiff 👏🏴#EURO2024 | @Cymru pic.twitter.com/hUZweiQ7Jp
Here’s Neco Williams who, is, mercifully, speaking in English:
It was a great performance. We came into this game with a game plan and I think it worked out as good as it can go. The onmly negative is that we conceded but when you score four goals it puts you in a good place.
[On his thunderous free kick goal] It wasn’t planned or anything, it was just instinct. I was happy to score for my country. It’s always a special feeling when you put on this shirt. To score is just the cherry on the top. It was an excellent performance all round.
[On Poland]. We won our semi-final and we have a final on Tuesday. Hopefully we put on a good performance to see us through to the Euos.
Credit to the Finns. They’ve stuck around and are brandishing their blue and white scarves.
Full-time: Wales 4-1 Finland
Wales are through and will face Poland for a spot in the Euros. Accomplished from start to finish. Four different scorers. The first goal recorded three minutes after the opening whistle. The last slotted home four minutes from time. Between that they bossed it and are more than deserving winners.
90+6 min: Oh, there’s a chance for Finland as a cross/shot slides across the goal. But no one is there to tap it home.
90+5 min: Time for a yellow card for Moore who has thrown his 6 foot, 5 inch frame about. Here’s he’s leaping with a wafting elbow and sees yellow.
90+4 min: A mention for Neco Williams who, like a few lads in red, has impressed. Let’s be honest. Finland have not been up to much. But they’ve needed putting away and Wales have done just that.
Updated
90+1 min: James has been a menace since he came on. As they say in Pakistani cricket, pace is pace yaar. He wins a free-kick up the pitch.
Six added minutes before we call time on this.
90 min: Wilson gets his send-off. he deserves one. A bustiling brilliant game for his country. Nathan broadhead comes on.
Colum Fordham likes what he’s seeing:
“Nice to see that Wales, after losing some of their greats like Gareth Bale and Joe Allen, have got some highly promising youngsters: Harry Wilson, who was clearly a major talent when at Derby County and Neco Williams, who impressed at Liverpool and is one of their many gifted Academy players.
This match looks signed, sealed and delivered. Let’s hope they can do the business on Wednesday. Will be a much tougher ask.”
And, as requested, here’s a shout-out to Welsh fan Jude, who is married to Colum’s cousin Matthew.
GOAL! Wales 4-1 Finland (D James, 87)
A gift! And now that is that. What a calamity at the back for Finland. It’s just a long ball that Tenho takes an age to control. He is oblivious to James running in behind and by the time he realises he’s had his pocket pinched. James scampers past, rounds Hradecky and slides in the exclamation mark on the match.
Updated
85 min: Dan James is unleashed down the left. He’s sprinting away, into the box. Runners back in field but he’s only got one thing on his mind. Cuts onto his right but the curling shot is weak. Easy save from Hradecky.
NO GOAL! Wales 3-1 Finland
It’s been reversed! I’m not entirely sure why. Did the ball cross the line? Was Hradecky fouled. I think it did go over but maybe the keeper was impeded there. Either way, we’re back to 3-1.
But wait! They’re checking. Could be ruled out.
GOAL! Wales 4-1 Finland (Davies, 80)
Game over! It’s bundled over the line at the back post from the corner. It’s the skipper who gets up and thumps a header. Hradecky saves it but can only push it onto the post and it falls just over the line.
79 min: Dan James does well to whip in a cross from the right. It doesn’t find a runner but does cause some panic for Alho who bundles it away for a corner.
77 min: Through will, rather than accurate passing, Finland work the ball to the edge of the Welsh box. A few heavy touches and passes eventually lands for the substitute Antman who spins and shoots. It’s blocked. Been that sort of night for the visitors who just haven’t been sharp enough.
75 min: Dan James has a quarter chance at the back post as a loose ball bobbles for a moment before Hradecky gathers.
Meanwhile, Poland have taken a 4-0 lead over 10-man Estonia. Safe to say that was is done and dusted.
74 min: A tasty free kick is whipped in and Moore simply misses his header having made the near post run. Just beaten for pace, really. Finland hack it away. Anywhere will do so Wales get a corner.
73 min: Daniel James comes on for Brennan Johnson. Finland make a change too with Schuller leaving the midfield for Karinen.
71 min: Moore fires straight at Hradecky. The angle was against him, especially when he went with his left foot. Hit it hard enough but couldn’t find the narrow gap beyond the ‘keeper. Lovely build up. Johnson dropping deep to help, Williams on the charge, Wilson heavily involved. But it was Ampadu’s pass that set Moore on his way.
70 min: Finland have seemingly run out of ideas. Kamara stands still with the ball and plays a hopeful pass forward. It meets Welsh resistance and now Wales can build a move. Finland appear resigned to defeat. Why aren’t they making any changes?
68 min: Hakans is booked for diving! It looked like a foul in real time. And Rodon definitely puts an arm out as Hakans bursts across him after getting to the ball first. But it is a theatrical fall and I’ve got no complaints with that booking.
67 min: All rather comfy for the home team. Finland with all the ball. I’d say Kamara was bossing things if the score wasn’t what it is. But they can’t get beyond that final line of defence. It’s all in front of Wales.
65 min: Corner for Finland. You feel something has to break for them soon.
64 min: Pukki falls to his knees as a misplaced pass is easily dealt with. He’s been asked to chase lost corners and is surrounded by at least two defenders every time he gets the ball. This time he does well to hold off Davies but can’t find a teammate.
Wilson gets in the book with a mistimed challenge.
62 min: OH HARRY WILSON! Look, it wasn’t a gimme but he did so well to work the space after pouncing on a loose ball and charging into the box that you expected him to score. A quick shift and it’s onto his left foot. He’s aiming for the far corner but can’t get the curve needed to squeeze it in. He admonishes himself as he contemplates the miss.
Updated
62 min: Kamara once again links up with Hakans on the overlap. But nothin’ doin from that move.
60 min: It’s not Wilson but the early goal scorer Brooks who makes way with a standing ovation from the home supporters. Kieffer Moore enters the scene.
Richard Hirst – a Fulham fan – wants Harry Wilson to get subbed. Not likely the way he’s playing.
58 min: Better from Finland. It started with a lovely switch pass to Hakans who did brilliantly to bring the ball under control. He darted infield and some swift passes had Kamara on the ball. He played a ball against the grain and perhaps one more pass to Pukki, who was momentarily free, might have been the better option instead of the shot that was blocked.
55 min: Ward is called into action but it was an easy save from close range. Hakans got to the byline and couldn’t spot a mate to cross to so dinked a toe poke of sorts straight to the Welsh ‘keeper.
54 min: Wales’ exuberance has cost them a card. It’s Jordan James who uses his arm to bring down a Finn that got the better of him down the touchline.
Piotr Zielenski has doubled Poland’s lead. Unless major drama occurs we have our play-off contenders in place.
53 min: Finland can’t get a toehold. Wales are thundering into challenges with Ampadu having a great game as the central shield and deep lying player.
I failed to give credit to Ethan Ampadu. It was his header at the back post in the build up to the goal.
50 min: Mepham has a shot blocked inside the box. Wales are finding little pockets of space now. They get a chance to hoik a corner in. It’s headed away and the follo up shot is a mile over.
49 min: Wales have a spring in their step. They’re scurrying about and winning the ball back. Wilson had a break on his own but ran out of room before he could find Johnson ahead of him. Wilson is at it again and is clattered by a retreating Tenho who requires some medical attention. When he gets up, the Finn cops a yellow card.
GOAL! Wales 3-1 Finland (Johnson, 47)
So easy! Wilson’s free-kick swings to the back post. It’s nodded back to the penalty spot where Brooks scuffs a shot that finds its way to Johnson who hooks it into the net. There’s a question of off-side but a Finnon the ground is playing him on. That was plucked from a training ground, that’s for sure. It just felt too easy for the home side who have their cushion restored.
Updated
We’re back. Big 45 minutes coming up (aren’t they all in Euro play-offs?)
We’ve got our first proper pun of the evening. It also comes with some proper analysis from David Bowen:
“Both defences look a bit porous so I don’t think it’ll remain 2–1.
”Finland seem to have a better shape without the ball and Pukki is probably the best ‘Finnisher’ on the pitch.
”But Wales have a better support act so think/hope we’ll shade it.
”If we do get through, I’m fearful if Big Bobby Lewandowski pitches up.”
“Hello Daniel,”
Hey Kári Tulinius, thanks for dropping in.
“The Finna seemed uncharacteristically out of sorts throughout the first half, probably shaken by conceding an early goal, hesitating constantly on the ball. When a team is feeling like that, having an experienced striker like Teemu Pukki is crucial. They’re still one down, but they’ll go into the second half feeling like they’ve got the wind at their back.”
Definitely, that goal makes it very interesting.
I’ve learned something new today!
I’m almost embarrassed to admit this, but we’re all friends. I always assumed the in-step of one’s foot was the side of the foot. Where one normally makes contact for a short pass. Which is why the confusion below:
“Hello Daniel,” says Geoff Wignall “I was a bit confused by your mentioning that Williams’s strike was with the instep rather than the laces. The instep being the top of the foot, where are his laces located?”
That’s me corrected and better educated, thanks Geoff.
Should we call this one the Exeter City derby?
Robin Durie is making a strong case:
“As a Grecian [that’s Exeter’s nickname for those not in the know], Daniel, it’s a tough call tonight - I watched Ethan Ampadu strut his stuff in the City midfield as a 15 year old... & this season, Ilmari Niskanen & Vil Sinisalo have both become fan favourites at St James Park...
“I’ll go Wales as long as our Finnish friends remain on the bench!
“(genuinely extraordinary to think that, just 8 years on from his debut as a gangly teenager, Ethan is winning his 50th cap tonight!)“
Sara Torvalds has kindly offered to help out with some of the Finnish names:
“Hi Daniel! I can help you with the names. The Finnish ones, that is.
“Hakans, you wrote. But his name is Daniel Håkans, pronounced roughly Hawkans.
“And Rasmus Schüller spells his surnme with an umlaut.”
Hope that helps.
We’ve had a line from a “good natured Fin”. And I’m rightly called out for my lack of knowledge:
“Hi Daniel!” starts Anna Riijärvi.
“A good-natured email from a Finn incoming. We have very few claims to football-fame nowadays but, really, no mention of Hradecky when you summarised our lineup? It’s not like he’s currently captaining a side that is 10 points clear of Bayern München in the Bundesliga or anything…
“Loving the support from our travelling fans, at least we’re holding our own there. And when the opposition is the Welsh that is an actual accomplishment!”
Apologies to Finland, the brilliant Bayer Leverkesen and the imperious captain of both with the gloves on. My error says more about what I know about the Bundelsiga than the standing of Lukas Hradecky.
“You didn’t learn Welsh even though you knew you were going to do this mbm? Very disappointing.”
I made the mistake and learned Polish in a day thinking I was on the other game.
Apologies Paulo Biriani. You’re though, this is a “cracking game!”
Half-time: Wales 2-1 Finland
What was mostly a pretty stodgy game has had some delightful moments.
An early goal, a stunning second and a sucker punch third which will remind the hosts that anything can happen if they switch off.
45+1 min: Just two added minutes. Wales will be spitting that they let that Pukki goal in.
GOAL! Wales 2-1 Finland (Pukki, 45)
And just like that it’s as one-goal game. A couple of fortunate bounces of the ball on the edge of Wales’ box ended with it at Pukki’s feet and he was so cool as he tucked it home beyond the onrushing Ward. A VAR check confirms the goal and we have a game here.
Updated
43 min: Johnson gives away a free kick out of frustration. The ball broke from a Finnish foot on the edge of the Welsh area and now Wales could surge forward. Except they couldn’t because of a poor touch from their number nine. So he lashed out and gave away a foul.
42 min: Now Finland have to chase it. Lod gets to the byline but can’t control and it bobbles away for a goal kick.
Another look at that Williams strike. He used his in-step rather than the laces but still hammered it. What a strike.
I don’t speak Welsh but I’m hearing a lot of ‘Garteh Bale’ from the commentators.
It’s a fair comparison. That was a world class strike from a left back Welshman.
GOAL! Wales 2-0 Finland (Williams, 38)
Pick that one out!! Neco Williams has smashed one into the top corner. You don’t save those. Wilson fakes a shot from the free-kick and as he does he nudges the ball for Williams who now has a clear sight to the top right corner. But he has to find it and doesn’t he just! A rocket doubles Wales’ lead.
Updated
36 min: Finland fluff it! Mepham gifts the ball to Pukki and it’s a three on two. Pukki passes infield to Kamara who dummies and the shot from [I missed his name] is angled from the left. It deflects and Pukki chases but can’t reach the bobbling ball.
Wales counter and win a free-kick just outside the box. Wilson looks the most interested. Big chance to get one on target but might be too close inside the D.
34 min: Oooh, there’s a stinging shot from range off the left boot of Harry Wilson. Hradecky watches it all the way and it barely gets above waist height so it’s an easy save. Still, some ambition from the Welshman who is doing the most bustling.
32 min: Roberts plays a pass for Brooks who shows great speed down the flank to get onto the ball. But the recovery defence is fast as well and Finland snuff out a move that momentarily threatened to get interesting.
Game has really fallen into a lull. Some pretty passing in midfield but no real continuity or control from either team.
30 min: The ball hits the referee, which actually turns into a decent touch for Wales and they’re away down field. But the whistle sounds which prompts a moan from Davies. No idea why. Of course the game had to stop.
27 min: Wales over play at the back and the ball squirts to a Finnish wide player who rushes in and scuffs a shot that is, I think, blocked by a teammate. That was messy all round.
Wilson then gets on the front foot but can’t find a man in red with a dangerous looking sliding pass against the grain. Johnson wins a tussle in the box and peppers the side-netting, but is blown for a foul.
Wales can’t sit back and let Finland have chances. They need to get a second.
26 min: This has got a strange feel to it. As David Bowen says, Wales are playing “like an away team in a Champions League match”. They’re sitting back and waiting to counter.
“Not unique to tonight either, even Coleman played deep and reactive stuff but he had a perennially Alice banded hero to rely on,” says David.
25 min: Another good recovering header back to Ward from Roberts. He’s playing like a rugby full-back, marshalling high balls and keeping things safe at the back.
1-0 to Poland. They’re up on Estonia thanks to a 22nd minute goal from Przemysław Frankowski.
22 min: First card of the match and there can be no complaints, really. Wales cleared the free-kick and then worked a quick move that had Williams scampering away down the touchline. But Lod clattered him and got booked.
21 min: Roberts is having a busy game. A swift foot makes a tackle that knocks the ball out for a corner. The ball is an away swinger that reaches the full-back on the opposite side if the pitch. They’ll get another chance to lift one in though with a free-kick from the right.
19 min: Wilson dances round one on the edge of the box, then another. Brilliant feet. He’s worked the space to shoot but doesn’t. Instead he plays a pass across the area and it’s cleared. I wonder if he realised he was in a bit of clear air. Lovely feet though. Would like to see more of him on the ball.
17 min: Better from Finland as neat passing has an attack forming down the left. Swift cover defence though forces the play back infield. They go back to the left. They fancy having a go at Roberts.
15 min: Finland don’t appear to have much beyond a few plodding passes followed by a long ball. Now their ‘keeper has been harried into a rushed clearance.
14 min: An off-side call saves Johnson’s blushes. He was put clean through but was, admittedly, a mile off. He didn’t know that and a poor first touch meant Hradecky had time to smother the shot. Willson on the follow-up was bundled over but told to get up. Wouldn’t have mattered anyway as it was off-side. Better from Wales. They’ve slipped into a slight lull with Finland doing the running.
9 min: Huge chance for Finland. A cross from the left is dug out and won at the back post. Hakans comes running in but can’t keep his first time shot down from close range and balloons it over. Hate to say it but he probably should have done better there.
8 min: Finland figure they might as well launch it on but Roberts does well, running back to header safely to Ward.
6 min: Finland with the ball but they can’t find a pass out from their back four into midfield. When they do manage to work it upfield a man in red shuts the space down.
5 min: Hard to say if Wales deserved that, if you know what I mean. It’s not like it was coming. That was the first attack of the game! Still, it’s quite clear they’re the superior side. Sharper on the ball and more organised on the press. Finland are forced to go back to their ‘keeper.
GOAL! Wales 1-0 Finland (Brooks, 3)
Wales on the board! The ball is worked down the left and brought back into midfield. A clever 1-2 with Wilson leading the charge has him in the in the box. He shoots, it’s saved but falls to Brookes who rises to side-foot volley into an empty net.
Updated
2 min: Wales with the early ball. Nico Williams with some of it before a long raking pass from deep bobbles away for a goal kick.
Kick off! Finland in blue, Wales in red. Here we go.
The Finns are bouncing in the away end. They’re making most of the news coming off the telly.
Are Wales playing a back 5 or a back 3? I can never tell these days with modern full-backs.
A correction, with thanks to Simon McMahon:
“Hi Daniel. I think Alun Pugh may actually have been hoping to see this. And as a bonus he can have a patronising ‘good luck Wales’ message from Scotland too.”
Time for the anthems. Wales in red, Finland in blue tracksuit tops. Might be white under that.
These two have met 15 times and the record is pretty even.
Wales have won six with Finalnd winning four. There have also been four draws, including the 0-0 stalemate in a friendly in their last encounter in 2021.
Finland will look to keep a clean sheet in original fashion, as Peter Oh reveals:
“Hi Daniel,
Looking at the Finland back line, I’m struck by the fact that Tenho Alho is Portuguese for ‘I have garlic’. Perhaps this is a creative tactic to ward off close defending, or vampires.”
I’ve got some bad news. Bad news for me that is.
This game is only available (legally) to me in Welsh. Which means I’m going to struggle with some of the names. Fear not, I’ll be paying close attention. But I might offer the occasional comment that fails to mention the protagonists by name.
I just got an email expressing disappointment that we don’t cover enough smaller nations.
I was worried that a Welsh fan was about demonstrate an inferiority complex. But Alun Pugh was actually referencing San Marino’s 1-3 reverse at home to Saint Kitts and Nevis. And to think the European minnows were actually the bookies’ favourites. Their search for a win goes on.
Alun is in Cardiff ready for a titanic clash:
“Hi Dan
“Greetings from Cardiff.
“Disappointed that there wasn’t MBM coverage for last night’s crunch match between San Marino and St Kitts and Nevis.
“San Marino once gave this nation a belly laugh when they went 1-0 up against our dear friends and neighbours. While we are waiting for kick off can you dig out a video clip for our entertainment?
“Diolch”
Here ya go:
Our reader Liam McCubbin has made a severe lapse in judgement!
“Off to see Chris Staples, only realised the mistake when the small Welsh contingent (hi Nick) asked which Irish bar in Barcelona we are watching it in.
“Will read your report on the way home, regardless of score.”
Fear not Liam. I’m quite confident you’ll be happy when you see the result.
Please remind me of this if I get it wrong but I’m saying 2-0 to Wales.
Wales can draw upon recent experience in Euro play-offs. They beat Austria and Ukraine to qualify for the World Cup two years ago.
They are of course missing Gareth Bale who was instrumental in ending a 64-year absence from the greatest show on earth.
Those of us who don’t consume Welsh football content every day must have had similar reactions.
Did you also blink and an entire golden generation seemed to shuffle off the board? That’s how fast things can move sometimes but the Welsh aren’t standing still.
Manager Rob Page has placed his faith in youth. Teenagers and young ‘uns in their early 20s are a feature across the squad and the boss reckons Wales are a force on the rise.
Here’s Ben Fisher’s take on what I’m legally obligated to call ‘the project’:
Speaking of Teemu Pukki. Our man Ewan Murray spoke with the former Norwich striker and found him in bullish mood.
Finland team news
I’m not going to pretend to have intimate knowledge on this side. Especially when their main man, Robert Taylor, plays for Inter Miami and is injured.
Still, the familiar face of Teemu Puki is present. He’s now knocking about for Minnesota United where he’s bagged 12 goals from 18 games.
They’re playing with a back four with three midfielders. If Wales can flood them there they may have they may have the run of things.
Finland 4-3-3: Hradecky (c); Peltola, Ivanov, Tenho, Alho; Kamara, Schuller, Lod; Hakans, Pohjanpalo, Pukki.
Replacements: Jorenen, Sinisalo, Jensen, Hoskonen, Suhonen, Jensen, Soiri, Karinen, Antman, Uronen, Kallman, Niskanen.
Wales team news
Aaron Ramsey starts on the bench. He’s not quite right as her’s finding his feet through this stop-start season. It’s a potent looking front three though if they can find some midfield dominance.
Leicester’s ‘keeper Danny Ward gets a game having not played for his club for 12 months.
Wales 3-4-3: Ward; Rodon, Mepham, Davies (c); Roberts, Ampadu, J James, Williams; Wilson, Johnson, Brooks.
Replacements: Hennesey, King, Fox, Dasilva, Sheeha, Savage, D James, Matondo, Broadhead, Cullen, Moore.
CYMRU XI 🏴🇫🇮
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) March 21, 2024
In the red corner 🔴#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/vDduvfRZ1e
Updated
Preamble
This is what it’s about. There’s nothing like the thrill of jeopardy in sport and there’s so much riding on this one.
Wales and Finland are just two games away from a spot in the Euros. First, they have to get through this one.
In Cardiff, with that crowd, and with the memory of a famous win over Croatia, Wales will back themselves.
They’re 31 ranking places above Finland but is that worth much? The Finns won twice as many games as Wales in the group stage (though they did play two games more) so aren’t rolling in as pushovers.
Still, it’s hard to think that Wales, even with the sheen taken off, won’t let up a chance to reach the big stage. Poland and Estonia await at the next hurdle and that’ll also be played in Cardiff.
Look, with the way the rugby side’s going, Welsh fans could do with a bit of cheer.
Kick-off at 7:45pm.
Teams and more updates to come.
If you fancy, please drop a line on email. Would love to hear from you.
