WALES. SUMMER. HOLIDAY. IN THAT ORDER
As the reverberations of Wales’s Euro 2024 playoff final defeat by Poland echo through the air, questions will arise, each more uncomfortable than the last, for Rob Page to ponder, as he reflects on having hopes of qualification dashed. Can they realistically stride forward into this post-Gareth Bale era, or are they doomed to dwell in the shadow of the golf legend’s glory days? Yet, in the immediate aftermath, introspection takes a backseat to the collective Welsh groans and finger-pointing.
Following the penalty shootout, in which Dan James saw his spot-kick decisively saved by Wojciech Szczesny, a wave of sorrow engulfed Cardiff. For some, James will be the erroneous scapegoat. Similarly, 31 years ago, when Wales suffered heartbreak against Romania, which denied them a spot at USA! USA!! USA!!! 94, Paul Bodin had the spotlight shone on him for all the wrong reasons. The left-back struck the crossbar from the spot with the scores at 1-1 during a must-win game that Wales went on to lose. At the time, Bodin received plenty of support from his colleagues and many among the Welsh faithful. But that still didn’t prevent the abuse from fans – and a member of the Manics.
Amid the despair of Tuesday night, a glimmer of pride shimmered from Page. “Look how far we have come,” he rallied. “There is something good happening with this group. They are hungry for it. There is a lot more to come. This team is going somewhere.” But it won’t be Germany this summer. And let’s not sugarcoat it: Wales failed to seize the moment during the 90 minutes … and for much of the qualifying campaign. That wasn’t down to James. They were shadows of themselves, suffocated by the weight of the occasion. Familiar attacking woes resurfaced, a recurring nightmare in the chronicles of their footballing history. A team deprived of the craft to penetrate defences, their chances came few and far between, relying predominantly on set-pieces and hopeful crosses hoiked towards Kieffer Moore.
Within moments of kick-off, the writing was on the Red Wall. Extra time was inevitable and loomed ominously. And as the clock ticked on, the inevitability of penalties hung heavy in the air. In the pressure cooker of the shootout, heroes are made and hearts are broken. For Wales, the agony was palpable, epitomised by James’s effort. And in the unforgiving spotlight, Poland emerged as clinical executioners, guided by the indomitable Robert Lewandowski. For Wales, the penalty heartache persisted – a reminder of football’s erratic nature. There will be a time for questions, but first, hopefully an absence of unwarranted abuse. Surely it is the least that can be learned three decades on.
LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE
Join Sarah Rendell from 8pm GMT for Women’s Big Cup updates on Chelsea 3-0 Ajax (agg: 6-0) in the second leg of their quarter-final.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Hello Europe, We Are Georgia!” – after qualifying for their first ever major tournament, the Georgia Football Federation TwiXer account reminds the continent who the new kids on the Euro 2024 block are. There were heady scenes in Tbilisi after Nika Kvekveskiri scored the winning penalty in a dramatic shootout with Greece. Oof.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
L*ton T*wn’s b@ntertastic request to Coldplay to change the name of their hit single to Orange (yesterday’s Football Daily) got this Hornet thinking. Sure, We Never Change, because Yes, we’ve sacked at least 42 managers – a higher number than there are Cemeteries of London – since Daybreak. And of course I Shiver and tell myself Don’t Panic when I even consider the possibility that L*ton might stay up. But rest assured, Sparks will fly if the Dirgecore legends even think about changing the name of a song that is obviously a WFC tribute. And if Deeney finds out, you can bet there’ll be Troy-ble” – Mac Millings.
Ah, Football Daily. If only we could Fix You” – James Yelland.
On Big Website, Kobbie Mainoo is described as being ‘a cross between a No 6 and a No 8’. Now, I am getting on a bit and, to me, that means both a left half and an inside right. Confusing. I hope I am not the only reader who would benefit from a lesson in this new-fangled terminology and that an explanation would raise our limited enjoyment of the tea-timely email” – George Kirk (and no others who are asking the wrong tea-timely email).
Lovely to see the sweet style of a David Beckham 1998 free-kick in yesterday’s Memory Lane (full email edition) and the big hair on Carlos Valderrama. Can never forget that he was the only player I’ve seen carried off, knacked on a stretcher, before coming back on to play the rest of the match” – Clive Brown.
Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … James Yelland.
This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.
