Nothing less than two wins will do
Gareth Bale claimed a point for Wales as they drew 1-1 with World Cup runners-up Croatia on Sunday which left their Euro 2020 qualifying hopes on a knife-edge.
Bale, who has had a difficult start to the season at Real Madrid, scored during first-half injury time after Nikola Vlasic’s opener for Zlatko Dalic’s men.
“We need to win our next two games, and that’s all we’re concentrating on. It won’t be easy but we’re capable of it,” said Wales coach Ryan Giggs whose side now face a trip to Azerbaijan before hosting Hungary in November.
He added: “When Gareth gets in those positions he never lets you down. When he does get them he puts them away.”
Dalic, who led his country to the World Cup final in Russia last year, said their only remaining match is crucial for their hopes of reaching the finals.
“We started well, scored a goal but didn’t continue in the same way,” Dalic said.
“We’re not very happy with the result. Our last game is now a deciding one,” he added ahead of hosting Slovakia on November 16.
The first chance fell to Josip Brekalo but the Croatia leftback’s effort went wide.
Dalic’s outfit took the lead on just nine minutes.
Brekalo found Bruno Petkovic inside the box who laid off the ball to Vlasic, who smoothly beat goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.
Wales’ first shot on target came shortly afterwards with Bale testing Dominik Livakovic with a half-volley.
After 15 miunutes Manchester United’s Daniel James suffered what looked like a concussion.
The winger competed with Domagoj Vida for a high ball and the Welshman finished motionless on the ground. He received medical treatment and Giggs said afterwards he had no worries about James.
“He stayed down, he was smart, he was fine,” Giggs said.
Bale claimed the equaliser in added time when Tottenham defender Ben Davies beat Mateo Kovacic and found Bale inside the box who coolly placed his shot across Livakovic for his 33rd international goal. –