Here’s why international football matters
THIS is why international football matters. Forget the apathy of English attitudes. Forget Wembley’s empty seats, bored minds and paper aeroplanes. Forget, even, the possibility of a £10million qualification windfall, as helpful as that is for Wales and the Republic of Ireland.
Here at Cardiff City Stadium tonight, it is about dreams, about desire. With no Gareth Bale — injured but, tellingly, with the squad — the only player involved in the Champions League this season is 17-year-old Ben Woodburn. Indeed, more than half play outside the Premier League.
The World Cup is what it always used to be and always should be — the pinnacle. There will be no apathy, no wondering how much more must be endured before domestic action returns. And there won’t be any empty seats.
Chris Coleman, the Wales boss, opted for fighting talk. ‘I don’t think it will be one of those fights where we are jabbing at each other — both teams will be going for it,’ he said. ‘It will be toe to toe, end to end, lots of contact. It will be exciting. I’ve always wanted to be in these games where everything is on it and all eyes are on you.’
That never used to be the case for Wales, not before Euro 2016. Ireland also enjoyed last summer’s finals in France, but they haven’t played at a World Cup since 2002. Manager Martin O’Neill has told his players they should not die wondering what that experience would be like, but first they must embrace what has the potential to be a career-defining 90 minutes.
This fixture is the most absorbing of the entire international break, an intrigue amplified by the mere 182 miles which separate their capital cities. It is the play- off before the play- off, the one- off gunfight before the two-legged battle. This has not happened by default. Wales won their last three to get in this position, while Ireland would not be here without a valiant victory in Austria. From Belgrade to Tbilisi and via Vienna and Chisinau in between, this campaign has been hard-fought for both nations. Every match matters. Players risk the wrath of club bosses when niggles and knocks are ignored. For them, this is their pathway to the biggest stage.
‘ International football, no matter who you play for, should always be exciting because you are representing your country,’ said Coleman. ‘It should not be looked upon as something of a hindrance.’
Coleman’s late father, Paddy, was born in Dublin and Ireland boss Jack Charlton made an approach to the defender in 1994. Had he said yes he would have gone to the World Cup that year. Coleman, though, wanted to achieve that with the country of his birth. Some 23 years on from Charlton’s proposition, he is still trying to make his first finals.
There have been so many permutations as to how these nations can advance to next month’s play- offs that both camps could do with a mathematician on the bench this evening.
Things are simplified by the need for victory. Ireland have been in this situation as recently as their final group match at the European Championship. They beat Italy 1-0, a euphoric night which served as reward for the hard miles of qualification. It is memories such as that which led O’Neill to declare: ‘I’m surprised by the negativity and thoughts that international football doesn’t matter. This is the biggest competition in the world.’
There are 6,000 Ireland fans in Wales; half of those are still trying to find a ticket. The black market will be a street auction. Even the family and friends of those involved are scrambling around for a way in.
Tonight in Cardiff is why international football still matters.