HENNESSEY LAUDED AS WALES QUALIFY FOR QATAR
Wayne Hennessey stole the show as Wales beat Ukraine to book their place at the 2022 World Cup.
The Beaumaris-raised goalkeeper was in mesmerising form at Cardiff City Stadium, pulling off nine saves to keep a clean sheet which ensured Rob Page’s men earned a slender 1-0 win through Andriy Yarmolenko’s first-half own-goal.
Hennessey played a key part in what was a remarkable achievement from Wales as Ukraine’s total of nine shots on target were the most by a team without scoring during a game in the 2022 European World Cup qualifying campaign.
Hennessey - who can’t even get a game at club level with Burnley - stated his showing against the Ukrainians was the best display of his international career.
“These are what dreams are made of,” he told Sgorio. “This is the top.
“For me personally, this is the best game I’ve played in a Wales shirt.
“I was quite busy tonight! “As a boy growing up, you watch Wales games and we
never used to get to major tournaments and now to go to the World Cup, wow, it’s unbelievable.”
Now on 102 caps, Hennessey is part of an exclusive club of centurions, with Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter, Sophie Ingle, Helen Ward, Loren Dykes and Jess Fishlock being the only others to reach 100 appearances for their country.
And comments from captain Bale typified just how highly-rated Hennessey is in the Welsh dressing room.
“This guy’s performance
is the best I have ever seen to date as a goalkeeper. Honestly,” said Bale.
“He was insane. He doesn’t get enough credit which he deserves. Legend.
“But it wasn’t just nine saves, they were important, big saves.
“He kept us in the game. I know people say about keepers but phwoar!”
Hennessey was a pivotal cog in Wales’ rise from the doldrums while he was monumental during the memorable Euro 2016 campaign under Chris Coleman.
But having been a mainstay for so long, his place finally came under threat when Danny Ward challenged for the shirt.
Even then, Hennessey didn’t put a foot wrong and was desperately unfortunate to lose his place to the Leicester City shot stopper who, on the whole, performed admirably after ousting his close pal from between the posts.
But Wales’ play-off double-header served as a reminder as to just how spoilt they have been when it comes to the goalkeeper department.
Hennessey did the business in Wales’ 2-1 win over Austria in the semi-final, and he was quite simply undroppable for the clash with Ukraine.
Page’s eye-catching call on the goalkeeper reaped maximum rewards.
“I thought he was magnificent tonight, world class,” said Page.
“I pulled Wardy and showed him that respect to tell him that I was starting Wayne.
“It was nothing to do with the minutes he’d played or Wardy’s injury.
“It was purely down to the fact that he’d played in the semi-final and didn’t let us down and it would have been harsh to drop him.
“There was no way I was going to leave him out.
“He’s delivered like we know he can do.
“I thought he went to another level tonight. I thought his performance was outstanding.”
It was a performance for the ages from Hennessey.
But then again, the Red Wall expect nothing less from a man in grey who has continuously delivered with the dragon on his chest.*