WALES. GOLF. MADRID. FURY. IN THAT ORDER
Allen: Giggs has done a brilliant job.. he’s taken plenty of stick but still delivered in style
GARETH BALE faces a fresh barrage of criticism when he returns to Spain after being accused of mocking Real Madrid in Wales’ Euro 2020 qualification party.
The Welsh captain (centre, left) had already angered Madrid fans when he admitted he gets “more excited” playing for his country than his club.
Spanish media and supporters then questioned Bale being fit for Wales’ crunch Euro 2020 qualifiers after not playing for Real since October 5, due to a
RYAN GIGGS has made his critics “eat their words” says Wales hero Joe Allen.
Midfielder Allen returned from suspension to help the Dragons beat Hungary 2-0 to clinch second spot in Group E and automatic qualification for Euro 2020.
It sparked wild celebrations in Cardiff and left highly-decorated former Manchester United star Giggs, 45, acclaiming one of the best days of his life.
Allen said the rookie Wales boss has been widely doubted following his appointment as
Chris Coleman’s successor in January 2018.
Some supporters have not forgiven Giggs for his perceived lack of commitment to his country as a United player when he missed 30 out of 40 friendlies.
But Allen reckons even his fiercest detractors must now acknowledge he has done well getting Wales back to the Euros. Allen said: “The ambition and target was to get to the Euros. He has done the job. Any way you get there is a huge success.
“A lot of people are going to have to eat their words with some of the criticism which has been thrown at us. He’s delivered, simple as that. He came in off the back of a great manager who had huge success. “It was always going to be tough, but he has got us there. “Questions have been asked of everything really – selection, tactics – but nine times out of 10 he has got it right. That is one of the big reasons we have made it. “If you have the ability, as a player or one of the staff, you have to back yourself and give 100 per cent. “That is all you can do and reap the rewards, which is what we’ve done.” Wales had a play-off spot in the bag from their
Nations League form. But their hopes of automatic qualification were badly hit in the summer by back-to-back losses in Croatia and Hungary. Yet, they have responded since with an unbeaten run which yielded 11 points from a possible 15.
Giggs changed his tactics to achieve it, too, as he ditched his passing out from the back philosophy in favour of a more direct approach utilising 6ft
5in forward Kieffer Moore.
The Wigan striker, who only made his competitive debut last month, enabled Wales to win the ball higher up the pitch and bring skilful stars like Gareth Bale, Dan James and Aaron Ramsey into play.
And Allen, 29, feels Wales have a better squad with more attacking quality compared to when they reached Euro 2016’s last four.
The Stoke star added: “We’ve got players who can hurt any team.
“I don’t think we’ll be so much of a surprise package at this Euros. But we’ll give it all guns blazing.”