DREAD OF HEAVEN
Euro dream over for Dragons as James shootout penalty is saved to send Poland through to finals
IN the end, it came down to a trial from 12 yards.
A great way to win – and a bloody awful way to lose.
As head coach Rob Page surveyed the dejected sea of red-shirted bodies around him at the City of Cardiff Stadium’s pitch, there was hardly a dry eye in the house. Two hours’ graft gone.
In a puff of smoke.
When keeper Wojciech Szczesny saved Dan James’ spot-kick, it was over – and it was harsh, so harsh on Page’s young guns. So much has been expected of them that it would be unfair to point to their inexperience as a factor.
But, as the Poles celebrated with their 1,900 travelling supporters, it was difficult to wonder if the sheer magnitude of the occasion had told.
It was cruel to be falling at this hurdle after Page’s squad dragged themselves back from the brink by their fingertips during qualification from the group.
The stadium had witnessed some of the country’s greatest nights.
Page (right) had hoped to add Poland to the list. It was a formidable record, too, in the capital. In the last decade, the Dragons have lost just twice in 25 games at their favourite venue.
But the Poles came with valid hopes. They were one of those victors by a single goal during a Nations
League clash 18 months ago.
The opening exchanges were predictably cagey. Przemyslaw Frankowski sent over cross from the right that just eluded Karol Swiderski’s outstretched leg.
At the other end, Wales’ pace up front caused problems. Brennan Johnson was making a particular nuisance of himself. From two corners in the opening quarter, it became clear why Page had plumped for Kieffer Moore up front instead of David Brooks.
The forward, currently on loan at Ipswich Town from Bournemouth, was providing a focal point at set pieces.
He was targeted by both sides. The hosts wanted to use his aerial power – the visitors to nullify it.
Ben Davies almost profited from one corner where the emphasis was all
about stopping Moore. And then the striker turned to referee Daniele Orsato for help after seeing his shirt tugged at another.
Striker Robert Lewandowski showed glimpses of his prowess wherever and whenever fed the ball. He lacked back-up.
Wales did boast athleticism and, with Johnson enjoying one of his best games in a red jersey, carried significant threat.
With the interval just seconds away, the Dragons thought they had grabbed the all-important first goal.
The Poles switched off at a throw-in. The ball was not closed down, letting Neco Williams send an inswinging cross towards Moore.
His header was perfectly placed for Davies to nod past Szczesny.
But, as the Red Wall erupted, their celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s raised flag.
VAR failed to come to the rescue. It was a tight call.
It was clear by this stage that Poland had no answer to Moore’s physicality.
His hold-up play was good, he was winning everything in the air. And were it not for the outstretched right-hand of Szczesny three minutes after the interval, he would have given them the lead. Williams’ free-kick was planted right on to Moore’s head and it took every inch of the keeper’s frame to reach a ball that looked as if it was dipping into the net.
Moore had two additional efforts kept out, though there was a scare at the other end when Lewandowski met a cross, but was put under pressure and his diving header was off-target.
Extra time was becoming more and more of an inevitability. And, with no breakthrough, so were penalties... when the dreams sadly died.