Heartbreak their place

in Doha

THEY have been dubbed Wales’ Holy Trinity.

And together Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen helped Wales achieve their Holy Grail – a place at the World Cup finals.

But it did not turn out the way Wales scripted it with just one point to prop up Group B as Bale was subbed at the break last night. But Wales’ history boyos have still earned their place in the nation’s hearts for ending an agonising 64-year wait to compete against the elite again.

Bale, Ramsey and Allen were already indelibly inked into Welsh footballing folklore for helping the team to successive Euros, including an incredible run to the semi-finals in 2016.

And if last night does turn out to be their last game together for their country, then what a stage to bow out on in Qatar against England in front of a global TV audience of billions.

Bale, 33, is closest to the end of the road of his career as his ineffective first 45 minutes underlined.

With a break clause in his Los Angeles contract set to be activated in the MLS to make him a free agent, Bale’s future is highly uncertain and retirement seems imminent. His Welsh record of 111 caps and 41 goals

ensures the five-time Champions League winner has nothing left to prove and increasingly less to offer on the pitch.

He won and converted a penalty against the USA in Wales’ opener but is now a shadow of his former brilliant self as he barely touched the ball against England.

Despite being restored to his favoured position wide on the right, Bale had few opportunities to cut inside on to his deadly left-foot.

Whether we now ever see Bale again in a competitive game for Wales, or even for a club, is highly unlikely ahead of the forthcoming Euro 2024 qualifying campaign next year.

Ramsey, 31, who has 78 caps, only has a contract at Nice until next summer and can not have many more games left for his country either. He continues to battle on gamely but is not the same player who got into the Euro 2016 team of the tournament.

Allen, 32, who has 74 caps, remains under contract at Swansea until 2024 and is most likely to continue his trademark midfield holding role.

Last night was surely their last hurrah together as form and fitness worries halt them. Yet if anyone deserves to enjoy Wales’ place among the elite on the big stage, it is this trio.

Bale pulled out all the stops to fire Wales to Qatar with a spectacular freekick against Austria in their play-off semi-final before a winner against Ukraine to clinch qualification.

Those magical highs can never be erased and it enabled Welsh players and fans to savour their first World

Cup since 1958. It also completed the vision the late Gary Speed had and nurtured while boss before his tragic death in 2011.

Wales’ “Sons of Speed” , as the actor Michael Sheen described them, stopped before training this week to show their respects on the 11th anniversary of his passing with a minute’s silence.

FAW chiefs are determined they will not have to wait another 64 years to return to the top table.

New stars need to step up like Brennan Johnson, who replaced Bale at the break.

But the Holy Trinity’s legacy should inspire another generation of new Welsh starlets at some stage.

So while the trio may soon be gone, they surely will never, ever be forgotten.

He won and converted a penalty against USA in Wales’ opener but is now a shadow of his former brilliant self as he barely touched the ball

MISERABLE NIGHT FOR A TRUE GREAT Bale in the thick of the action with Harry Maguire but he was left frustrated and did not make the second half DOWN AND OUT Allen and Ramsey were left dejected after being well beaten last night