Wales must learn from Spain thrashing: Ramsey
SPAIN produced a Cardiff masterclass to hammer Wales and send a warning shot to Nations League rivals England.
Luis Enrique’s stylish side strolled to a 4-1 victory on a night when Wales returned to the 74,500-capacity Principality Stadium for the first time in seven-and-a-half years.
Paco Alcacer, with a brace, and Sergio Ramos scored inside 29 minutes before substitute Marc Bartra added a fourth with a towering second-half header.
Sam Vokes headed a consolation a minute from time but it was a sobering evening for Ryan Giggs’ side ahead of their Nations League game against the WALES: Hennessey, Gunter, Williams (Chester 46), Ben Davies (Richards 62), Connor Roberts, Allen (Smith 61), Ramsey, Ampadu (King 50), John (Lawrence 62), Wilson (Brooks 46), Vokes.
Goals: Vokes 89.
SPAIN: de Gea (Arrizabalaga 46), Azpili-
Republic of Ireland. Captain Aaron Ramsey admitted it was a difficult night for Wales.
He said: “That first half-hour we couldn’t get to grips with them at all, we gave them far too much space to play in.
“We changed the formation a little bit and we managed to get hold of the ball a little bit better. We didn’t quite create as many chances as we like but I thought cueta (Jonny 62), Albiol, Sergio Ramos (Bartra 46), Gaya, Suso (Rodrigo 81), Rodri, Saul (Koke 46), Ceballos, Morata, Alcacer (Aspas 73).
Goals: Alcacer 8, Sergio Ramos 19, Alcacer 29, Bartra 74.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (England).
we did quite well against a very good team tonight.”
He added: “It was a tough night for us, one that we’ll learn from. We were up against a great team tonight.
“You can see they understand their roles very well.
“We got punished.”
Boss Ryan Giggs said: “We came up against a very good team who are comfortable on the ball and when they lost it they got it back quickly, all the things that we knew.
“What was disappointing for me was just not doing the basics. In football you have to do the basics right.
“When you come up against a really good team and you don’t do the basics, then you’re in trouble.”
The former Manchester United and Wales winger felt the second half was a bit better from a Welsh point of view.
“We showed a little bit of a threat going forward.
“We scored a fantastic goal, great skill from Brooksy. We had 50,000 turning up tonight and we wanted to give them something to shout about and we did with the goal, but that’s about all we can take out of this game.” Touch of class: Paco Alcacer celebrates his goal last night