SHOUT OF THIS WORLD
Brilliant Bale keeps Wales dreaming of 2020 Euros
WALES 1 CROATIA 1
GARETH BALE kept alive Wales’ Euro 2020 hopes with an equaliser against Croatia last night.
Wales, who reached the last four of Euro 2016, fell behind in the ninth minute after Nikola Vlasic opened the scoring in Cardiff for the World Cup finalists.
But Bale popped up with his 33rd international goal just before half-time.
GARETH BALE’S clinical equaliser helped Wales to another vital point as their dream of returning to the Euros remains on course.
The 2016 semi-finalists were in danger of being blown away by World Cup runners-up Croatia, who took an early lead through
Nikola Vlasic.
Yet Ryan
Giggs’ side held their nerve and stayed in the game, with some help from keeper
Wayne Hennessey, who denied the group leaders.
Wales levelled before the break when skipper and recordscorer Bale ruthlessly converted his 33rd international goal. The Real Madrid ace has now been directly involved in 14 goals in his last 18 starts for Wales, scoring 11 and assisting three.
It delighted a 31,745 crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium as Giggs’ decision to modify his rigid “playing out from the back” philosophy to go more direct continues to pay dividends.
It helped Wales utilise 6ft
5in striker Kieffer
Moore, who scored in last Thursday’s draw in Slovakia.
This latest draw means Wales will qualify if they win their final two games – in Azerbaijan and at home to Hungary – providing Croatia beat Slovakia.
Wales’ hopes were hit before kick-off when Aaron Ramsey was not passed match fit. The Juventus midfielder stayed in Wales with a physio while his team-mates were in Slovakia.
But he failed in his bid to get fit in time due to an abductor injury and Giggs named an unchanged side from Trnava. Zlatko Dalic’s Croatia side started well as they dominated possession, but their first chance in the fifth minute saw Josip Brekalo slash a right-foot shot out for a throw in.
The Croatian attacker atoned when he helped set-up their opener in the ninth minute.
Brekalo rampaged down the left and found Bruno Petkovic, who teed up Vlasic to score with a low shot from the top of the box, which went in off the post (celebrating, bottom circle). The hosts then needed a smart save from Hennessey to stop Ivan Perisic’s header. Wales’ night almost got a lot worse as flyer Dan James was clattered in the head by Domagoj Vida (left). But the Manchester United star was cleared to continue after treatment. Wales recovered to get a foothold in the game as Moore caused Croatia problems. He won a free-kick which Bale failed to get over the wall.
But Bale did superbly to level in first-half stoppage time with a fine left-foot finish across goal after a super first touch.
Wales’ record scorer was played in by Spurs defender Ben Davies who did well to dispossess Mateo Kovacic. But the visitors moaned that Chelsea ace Kovacic was fouled in the process and the hobbling midfielder was subbed at the break. After the restart, Wales pushed for a winner as James tested keeper Dominik Livakovic with a left-foot shot.
Dangerman Bale beat three players, including Luka Modric, on a thrilling run into the box, but Joe Allen was booked in the closing stages, which rules him out of next month’s trip to Baku.
But despite failing to find a winner, Wales know if they end the group level with Slovakia, they will finish above them because of their superior headto-head record.