HE’S SIMPLY DANTASTIC
tormented Slovakia and Dragons boss Giggs, a former winger himself, hailed the 21-year-old.
“I’m delighted because his overall game was fantastic and to top it with a goal was great,” said Giggs. “He was a threat all day – he will be with that pace.
“But he has much more as well. He can go either side, he’s intelligent, he works hard.
“He’s a talent and when you have that raw pace you’re a threat at any level.
“As a winger, you then have to develop the other parts of the game, which I feel he’s doing.” RYAN GIGGS once had a band of young friends who helped disprove Alan Hansen’s assertion, “You can’t win anything with kids”, while a player at Manchester United. And the rookie international boss was rewarded yesterday for his own bold call to select a young, inexperienced side for his first qualifier.
The Manchester United legend was a key part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s young side, who went on to win the double in 1995-96, despite losing at Aston Villa on the opening day.
It prompted Hansen’s famous Match of the Day analysis, writing off United’s youthful approach.
But the kids did all right back then and Giggs’ new-look Welsh side more than vindicated his faith here.
They took an early lead from impressive flyer Daniel James, before later showing maturity to hold out when Slovakia pressed for a leveller.
James was one of four players aged 21 or less in the starting line-up, along with Chris Mepham, David Brooks and Matthew Smith.
Giggs also sprang a surprise, pairing Mepham and James Lawrence in defence ahead of captain Ashley Williams, despite never playing them together before.
It saw 11 changes from Wednesday’s 1-0 friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago, and talisman Gareth Bale took the armband as the team’s oldest outfield player, aged 29.
It was a radical call by Giggs, who had previously won just four of his 10 games during 14 months in charge. But what Wales’ new-look side lacked in years and caps, they made up for in pace and energy.
The Dragons took just five minutes to open the scoring after Bournemouth flyer Brooks brilliantly burst down the right.
He lost the ball, but Peter Pekarik dawdled on the edge of his box, and was robbed by the lightning-quick James. The Swansea winger, who recently impressed against Manchester City in the FA Cup, took a touch before despatching a low, right-foot shot past Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka (right).
It settled the hosts down as they took control and pressed their opponents high up to pen Slovakia in.
Brooks nearly got on the scoresheet himself in the 21st minute, after Bale picked him out, hitting the side-netting with a firsttime, left-foot shot.
The in-form Brooks, a contender for the PFA young player of the year, then nutmegged David Hancko on the opposite flank, before curling a left-foot shot wide.
Wales might have added to their lead just before the break, but Real Wales Slovakia Croatia Hungary Azerbaijan P 1 2 2 2 1 W 1 1 1 1 0 D 0 0 0 0 0 L 0 1 1 1 1 F 1 2 3 2 1 A 0 1 3 3 2 Pts 3 3 3 3 0