Can Wales deliver another miracle? Just getting to the World Cup was perhaps the biggest one of all

THIS is no time to turn on Wales, the manager or the players who delivered their first appearance at the World Cup in 64 years.

Of course it was a cruel way to lose, so deep into added time, and Wales will need a miracle to get out of the group now.

Hand on heart, I can’t see them beating England on Tuesday. It would be incredible if they recovered from such a shattering defeat (right, Chris Mepham, Joe Rodon and Gareth Bale at the final whistle).

But perhaps it underlines how well Wales did to qualify in the first place.

And on the day Gareth Bale – who was ineffective against Iran – won a record 110th cap for his country, perhaps it’s a good time to be thankful for the previous 109 appearances dotted with 41 goals and multiple match-winning contributions.

Bale has copped some flak on Twitter for his performance, but it doesn’t dim the aura of his earlier world-class displays in a Wales shirt.

It’s not over yet. Can Bale and the players who delivered a miracle against Belgium at Euro 2016 do it again?

I’m not so sure – because they are six years older. But in years to come, when history judges this generation of Wales footballers, they will be up there with John Charles, Ivor Allchurch and the boys of 1958 for putting their country on the world stage.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and after Kieffer Moore turned the 1-1 draw against the USA from the bench, it is understandable that manager Rob Page put him in the starting line-up this time.

But on reflection, given the way England had torn apart Iran down the flanks, perhaps a better option would have been to make more use of Dan James and Brennan Johnson’s pace from the start, to stretch the Iran defence.

That’s not a criticism of Page, who has been a terrific leader since he took on the job, in difficult circumstances, two years ago.

Based on this performance, however, Wales did not look a team ranked 19th in the world. More like 119th.

Much as it hurts me to admit it, Iran made them look like one of the poorest teams at the World Cup.

Iran were terrible against England. Along with hosts Qatar and Costa Rica, they looked the worst teams in the tournament. They were dreadful.

So, yes, I expected Wales to win – but they were bereft of energy, ideas, attacking threat, cutting edge in the final third and they didn’t seem to cope with the heat.

After the second-half fightback against the United States, I thought the momentum was with Wales.

But on the day, Iran were so much

Much as it hurts me to admit it, Iran made them look one of the poorest teams

better – even before goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey’s dismissal four minutes from time. Hennessey made the wrong decision to come charging out of his box, and there are no complaints about his red card.

I just hope the fans remember it was Hennessey’s super-show in the play-off against Ukraine which took Wales to the finals.

And if the England game on Tuesday is the end of the road for this Wales team, I hope they are remembered for the journey and not how their dreams evaporated.

AFTER the first round, it’s Ronaldo 1 Messi 1.

The two greatest players on the planet have banked a penalty each so far – both soft, but they all count.

If this is their last World Cup, and nothing is for sure in football, hopefully Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi (right) will also give us some magic from open play as their parting gifts.

They deserve to be remembered for more than clinical, sterile goals from the spot.

BEST goal at the World Cup so far? Easy – Richarlison’s scissor-kick against Serbia.

For technique, execution and sheer quality, it was just thrilling. The sort of goal that makes you leap off your sofa in appreciation.

Richarlison’s finish took me back to my youth and Mark Hughes’ fantastic volley for Wales against Spain at Wrexham.

You always know when the World Cup has started: Brazil are on the telly, there are huge banks of yellow shirts around the stadium and there is a real sense of occasion.

Brazil were my tip to win the tournament. They made an impressive start on Thursday night.