Allen gets that déjà vu feeling once more
Joe Allen believes history could repeat itself as Wales seek to make the most of a lucky break in Euro 2020 qualification.
There were strong parallels between Gareth Bale’s header against Azerbaijan on Friday and the Real Madrid forward’s free-kick in Andorra five years ago.
Both of Bale’s winners came during the final 10 minutes and spared Wales huge embarrassment against two of the whipping boys of international football.
It remains to be seen whether Bale’s close-range header in the 2-1 home win over Azerbaijan – which came after a bizarre own-goal had gifted Wales a halftime lead – has the same importance as that strike in Andorra.
His twice-taken free-kick set Wales on the road to the 2016 European Championship – their first major tournament in 58 years – and they would eventually reach the semi-finals in France.
Asked whether the Azerbaijan win had reminded him of the Andorra game, Allen said: “It did. That’s the feeling I’ve got. Maybe it’s the swing in terms of momentum, and that little bit of luck.
“Look at the campaign we qualified in, we rode our luck at times. Hopefully it’s a good sign of what’s to come.”
Wales trail group leaders Croatia and Hungary by three points at the halfway stage of qualifying, and are level with Slovakia in the race for a top-two spot.
Ryan Giggs’ side are in friendly action against Belarus in Cardiff tomorrow, but will be paying close attention to the qualifiers between Azerbaijan and Croatia and Hungary and Slovakia.
“Who knows what we will need to qualify,” Allen said after Wales had bounced back from June defeats in Croatia and Hungary.
“It wasn’t free-flowing football or a comfortable win, but we got the three points and that’s the main thing. This good result will help us going to Slovakia.
“If we can win our home games and go on the road and get the results we need, then that will be enough.”
Some Wales fans took to social media to vent their frustration at Giggs, who was appointed in January 2018 and has had a mixed 20 months in charge.
“The lads haven’t performed to their best, but they have delivered for him,” Allen said.