Blistering Bale blows O’Neill’s Republic apart
THERE is every chance Ryan Giggs would still be job- hunting had Gareth Bale not been sat in the stands for this same fixture back in October.
That was a World Cup qualifier won 1-0 by the Republic of Ireland, eliminating Chris Coleman’s Wales and setting up what proved to be an ill-fated play-off against Denmark.
Bale was injured that night and, by the time of his return, Coleman had quit and Giggs had finally found employment as a manager.
How different history may have proved had Bale been available to do what he did to Ireland here. The Real Madrid forward was unplayable, inspiring his country to their first victory over the Boys in Green since 1992 and handing Giggs the perfect start in his first competitive fixture.
It is just as well Sunday’s opponents Denmark have resolved their dispute over image rights and will now field senior stars such as Christian Eriksen rather than the part-timers who were set to stand in, for the accountant who doubled as a defender would have needed an abacus to keep count of the score had Bale been unleashed on them.
Bale, though, was rivalled for man-of-the-match honours here by a 17-year-old who looks every inch of his six-foot frame a Galactico in the making. Chelsea midfielder Ethan Ampadu has played more times for his country than he has in the Premier League but, after performances of authority and maturity such as this, you would not bet against elevation to Maurizio Sarri’s first team in the coming months.
How Republic boss Martin O’Neill must wish he had a youngster of Ampadu’s calibre to call on. He does in the form of West Ham’s Declan Rice, but the 19-year-old — despite winning three caps in friendlies — is now considering an offer from England and, if he was watching this, it would have done little to persuade him to return.
O’Neill could well find himself under pressure ahead of Euro 2020 qualifying proper in March if results — and performances — are as dire as this in the remaining Nations League games. For Giggs, meanwhile, this was a significant win, especially as the locals weren’t totally sold on his appointment.
The jubilant Wales boss said: ‘The lads were magnificent, some brilliant goals and great football. I can’t be much happier.
‘Ethan is a talented player. Even more so than that, as a person, he’s so balanced and mature for such a young player. He’ll be a magnificent player.
‘I enjoyed the performance and the goals but you always think you can do better. There were mistakes.’
Ireland were still trying to find their breath when Tom Lawrence blasted the hosts in front on six minutes, the winger skipping behind a static Ciaran Clark to collect Joe Allen’s pass before lashing between Darren Randolph and his near post. Wales were as good as two up from the moment Bale cushioned Ben Davies’ cross-field pass with his chest on 18 minutes.
He still had two defenders and one goalkeeper to negotiate, but made it look easy, stepping away from his terrified minders before curling effortlessly into the far corner.
Ampadu shoved Jon Walters — at 34, a player twice his age — off the ball with force, but fairness, on halfway and drove forward before slipping in Aaron Ramsey for the third on 37 minutes.
It was four when Bale teed up Connor Roberts for a fine volley ten minutes into the second half and Shaun Williams’ consolation strike did little to take the shine off the evening for Giggs and his team.
Bale said: There’s a lot to improve on but there’s a lot to enjoy.’ WALES will face a full-strength Denmark team in their UEFA Nations League match on Sunday after an agreement was reached between the Danish FA and its players’ association.
Denmark fell to a 3-0 friendly defeat in Slovakia on Wednesday night after being forced to select a makeshift starting XI of futsal and Danish lower league players.
It followed a dispute between the governing body and players over commercial image rights. A statement said the two parties had agreed to resume negotiations for a permanent agreement on Monday.
Danish FA president Jesper Moller said: ‘We can play the important Nations League match with the right national team and again focus on the sport.’