Wales youngsters repay Giggs faith
Giggs, and this was as brave and exciting a performance as the manager could have hoped for, with Daniel James scoring five minutes into his first competitive start.
The road to Euro 2020 will throw up hurdles for Giggs and his remarkably young Wales side, but victory over Slovakia represented a first, significant step forward.
It was achieved largely through the daring and exuberance of this talented new crop of sprightly young forwards, with the electric James, so quick it feels as if he is stuck on fast-forward, the matchwinner and standout performer.
James did most of the damage in attack while the likes of Matt Smith, 19, and Chris Mepham, 21, helped to create a reliable platform in midfield and defence.
If this was a glimpse of the future, then Cardiff is going to be an enjoyable place to be in future international breaks. The youngsters will need time to watch and learn from Gareth Bale and Joe Allen, and there will surely be dark days, but for now the sun shines bright. “It was the perfect start,” said Giggs.
It was not all silky passing and thrilling attacks. Wales were made to defend after the break, when the excitement of the first half was replaced with a general sense of nervousness. Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey proved invaluable, and it was notable Giggs turned to Ashley Williams, the older head who had been surprisingly dropped, to tighten things up in the second half.
The points were eventually secured, though, and they may prove crucial. Wales and Slovakia appear to be battling for second place in their qualification group behind Croatia, who surprisingly lost in Hungary yesterday. Giggs’s side can barely afford to drop a point on their own turf if they are to keep alive their hopes of emulating the success of Euro 2016.
With James in this form, Wales will trouble any defence. It is saying something when Bale is not the fastest man in his team, but there are few players on the continent who could keep up with James when the Swansea City winger slides through the gears.
“He was a threat all day,” said Giggs. “He will be with that pace, but he has got much more as well. He can go either side, he’s intelligent, he works hard.”
Only five minutes had passed in James’s competitive debut for his country when he scorched in from the left, nicking the ball off the toes of the unsuspecting Peter Pekarik and unleashing a low shot into a bottom corner.
The strike was the least Wales deserved for a first-half performance full of attacking fluidity and youthful enthusiasm. Behind Bale were Harry Wilson (22), David Brooks (21) and James (21). Not one of that trio had amassed more than 10 caps, yet they played with a familiarity and confidence that belied their inexperience.
Brooks was revelling in his free role, firing into the side-netting and then weaving past two defenders before curling wide. The kids were having fun out there, and their energy was rubbing off on Bale, who had three headed attempts at goal.
The visitors had posed minimal threat until the second half, but the lead felt precarious when Albert Rusnak slipped in behind the Wales