RELEGATION AS DRAGONS HOPES ARE POLE-AXED
Swiderski strike sends Wales down and into League B along with England
WALES crashed to defeat despite being given a special send-off in Cardiff last night before their first World Cup in 64 years.
The home reverse to Poland saw Rob Page’s men relegated from the top tier of the Nations League.
Before kick-off, a crowd of 31,520 were treated to the rousing national anthem and a big-screen rerun of actor Michael Sheen’s spine-tingling Welsh pep talk from ‘A League Of Their Own’.
But Page’s men fell to a goal by Karol Swiderski after he was teed up in the 57th-minute by Robert Lewandowski.
Wales skipper Gareth Bale (left) was then denied by the crossbar in the closing stages.
ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI showed his class last night and helped condemn Wales to relegation in the Nations League. Wales were given a rousing send off in Cardiff in their final game before their first World Cup since 1958.
But Poland ripped up the script to leave their hosts without a win in five games for the first time since June 2017. It meant they finished bottom of Group A4 and drop into the second tier. Barcelona’s Lewandowksi did not add to his 76 international goals, but did produce a sublime pass for Karol Swiderski’s 57th-minute strike.
Wales gave a start to their own talisman Gareth Bale but he was denied by the bar late on. The home side tried everything to make it a special night for their fans but too often their final ball was poor.
Before kick-off actor Michael Sheen’s inspirational speech for Wales from A League of their Own was shown on the big screen.
His countrymen needed all the help they could get without the injured Ben
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Karol Swiderski turns away after scoring to relegate Wales into League B of the Nations League
Davies, Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey and Harry Wilson. Chris Mepham and Ethan Ampadu were missing as well, ruled out by suspension.
Poland were also preparing for the World Cup where they will face Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Mexico in Group C.
The visitors were solid rather than spectacular, their first effort on target coming in the 25th minute when Lewandowski tested Wayne Hennessey. Soon after, Wales threatened when Dan James broke free but Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny saved with his legs.
The Dragons had another chance when Connor Roberts found Bale in the box from a throw-in but the striker’s angled effort was saved.
At the other end Hennessey was called into action to deny Piotr Zielinski.
But the closest Poland came to scoring in the first half was when keeper Hennessey mis-controlled Joe Rodon’s backpass and had to make a goal-line clearance.
For Wales, Brennan Johnson, who has cemented his place in the team this campaign, had a shot deflected wide from the top of the box as the game opened up.
Poland took the lead after a brilliant flick by Lewandowski unlocked the home defence for Swiderski to fire past Hennessey.
Wales tried to hit back quickly, Johnson almost curling in a shot which Szczesny pushed past a post.
Boss Robert Page (left) threw on giant targetman Kieffer Moore just before the hour and Bale (above) dropped into a deeper role where he had more influence and was able to release players on the flanks.
Szczesny was called into action once more, this time to push around a post a cross from James that threatened to curl in.
But the visitors held out, although were fortunate when Bale’s thumping header beat Szczesny but came back off the bar.
The biggest plus for Page’s side was that Bale, 33, completed 90 minutes – something he has not done for his club, Los Angeles FC, or his country since Wales’ goalless draw with Estonia a year ago.