We learned from Wales’ win against Slovakians
1 IT’S ALL ON NOW FROM the very first time Wales discovered their opponents and the order of their French fixtures for Euro 2016, Chris Coleman pointed out Slovakia as crucial.
He knows as much as anyone how momentum can do wonderful things in football and, especially with the make-up of this tournament with a chance of qualifying in third, the pressure is right off and Wales can really strut their stuff.
They talked all week about a sole focus on this match and they duly delivered, playing as if their lives depended on it, each and every one of them returning to the superb effort and intensity that was such a hallmark of how they got there in the first place.
Put it simply, they looked a team – and that is not always a given in international football, certainly not at these championships. It’s all on for this team now. 2 COLEMAN PROVED RIGHT The manager was proven right in another one of his big-game selection calls.
The Wales manager developed a habit during the qualification campaign to make decisions to team and set-up that rose eyebrows before kick-off – think five at the back to begin with or putting in Jazz Richards against Belgium – but ended up getting it spot on.
The decision to utilise Jonny Williams’ trickery and close control with Bale pushed further forward was a brave move, against looking to the No.9 to play-off as traditionally done, but helped ensure a midfield dominated and played the game in the right areas and stopped Slovakia dictating with their own contain and counter.
It did mean that Bale was isolated and we saw less of the runs from deep which suggests it might not be the best ploy against England. He changed it at the right time as Wales looked to chase the game a bit more after the equaliser. 3 NOTHING AVERAGE ABOUT JOE Joe Allen spoke in the week of how he considers himself a ‘Average Joe’, but there was nothing average about his tournament debut however, the Liverpool man outstanding yet again for his country.
Whether it was the defensive screen he offered, the scurrying around to apply immediate pressure to a blue shirt whenever the ball was played into feet, the short passes or the clever switches to stretch the play and use the width, Allen nailed it with his performance. He makes such a difference to this team and Wales are indisputably a better side when he is pulling strings like he did in Bordeaux. 4 OFFICIAL OPINION What’s the point of the official behind the goal if they are not going to give an opinion on incidents such as Martin Skrtel’s clash with Jonny Williams.
You could see why the referee Svein Oddvar Moen from Norway might not have thought much of the tussle when the Liverpool defender attempted a shoulder barge on the impish Williams, but the man with the stick behind the byline had a full and frank view of the overaggression that saw the defender lead with a forearm and take Joniesta out of the game.
There had been a suggestion of a handball call against Ashley Williams earlier in the first half, but this one was just blatant. 5 CREDIT TO THE COUNTRY While there were reports emerging of English fans involved in incidents in Marseille, Bordeaux before and during the game was a scene of excitement and joy between Welsh fans, Slovakians and the French hosts.
At the game itself, anthems were sung without a hint of a boo from the other end and Wales undoubtedly proved why it’s the land of song.
Calon Lan has never sounded so good as it did in the sunshine of the south-west of France.
Top class.