Bale photo (wikipedia)
Former Colorado Rapids, Stevenage and Atlanta head coach, Gary Smith will be bringing us his thoughts on the four home countries; England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland as the start of the tournament approaches.
In this second article, he previews Wales who qualified from a group featuring Andorra, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus and Israel.
Smith on the EUROs: Wales
by Gary Smith
The Welsh have not qualified for a major finals since 1958 but that stark fact hides a history of some of the closest near misses.
In 1982, they were so very close to qualifying for the Spain World Cup but a 3–0 defeat against the USSR in their final game meant they missed out on goal difference. Even that would not have mattered had they not drawn 2-2 at home to Iceland after several delays due to floodlight failures at the Vetch Field in Swansea.
Four years later it was Iceland again who dashed their hopes beating Wales 1-0 in Reykjavik. Even then, a home win over Scotland would have sufficed but a Davie Cooper late penalty to the Scots salvaged a draw for the side led by Jock Stein, whose tragic death that night overshadowed the affair.
In 1994, Paul Bodin missed a penalty when they were drawing 1-1 with Romania, where a win would have sent them to the USA. They eventually lost the match 2-1.
For the Euros,the story is even stranger. They lost a playoff to Russia in 2004 after a 0-0 draw in the away leg. A Russian player Yegor Titov failed a drugs test but Wales were not awarded the tie as they should have been. The Russians won the second leg.
They did reach the last 8 in 1976 but then, only four teams made it to the finals, so this qualification for the men in red is long overdue.
Chris Coleman has done a wonderful job of uniting a national team that was devastated by the loss of Gary Speed. Chris’s ability to connect with the players and fans has enabled the team to navigate an extremely tough period and also improve along the way. The group look confident under Coleman’s leadership but most importantly have good balance, with pace and energy in attacking areas and a workman like foundation to support that.
All but two of their squad for the EUROs play in the English League structure, the exceptions being the world famous Gareth Bale at Real Madrid and reserve goalkeeper Owain Fôn Williams who plays for Inverness. There are two Swansea players Neil Taylor and captain Ashley Williams but surprisingly no-one from Cardiff City.
Whilst their qualifying group looked light weight on paper, putting points on the board is a different matter at International level. 4 points from 6 against the group favorite Belgium and no goals against was a big boost for the squad as they eyed the top 2 spots in the group. Unbeaten at home in qualifying and only one defeat on the road was testimony to the confidence and ability within the group.
Aaron Ramsay and Gareth Bale will carry the weight of creativity and goal scoring threat in France with the latter capable of turning any game on its head in an instant. Bale’s ability from dead ball situations and his pace and power in open play give the team such a formidable dimension, a constant lift and hope that an upset is possible, whether the Welsh like it or not Gareth Bale will determine their fate for the knock out stages. His health and fitness will be something that is constantly being monitored as he is so valuable to the team but he will surely be salivating at the prospect of lighting up the Euros, fresh off of his Champions League victory.
Group B in France is a competitive one for Wales along with England, Russia and the very dangerous Slovakia but one they will surely be expecting good things from. England look the favorites to win this group (of course) but with similar qualifying stats there will be belief in all camps that breaking out of the group is a real possibility.
My prediction is progress to the knock out stages for Wales, but behind England in Group B.
Also see:
Smith on the EUROs: Republic of Ireland will surprise us and qualify
