THE RED STORM LOUD & PROUD

MICHAEL Sheen was right when he said a red storm was coming to the gates of Qatar.

After a 64-year wait, last night was the realisation of a long-held dream for Wales fans (above) as a generation finally watched their nation in World Cup finals action.

In his rousing speech to Rob Page’s squad, Welsh actor Sheen gave the players all the motivation they needed ahead of this historic campaign.

“They’ve always said we’re too small, we’re too slow, we’re too weak, too full of fear,” bellowed Sheen. “But Yma o Hyd (Still Here, the title of a famous Welsh folk song), you sons of Speed, and they fall around us.”

And in the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Wales supporters created the red storm Sheen envisioned.

On the Metro to the stadium, Wales fans in Al Rayyan took over carriages with stirring renditions of their national anthem as well as a lusty version of Delilah, outnumbering and, once inside the newly-built arena, out-singing their US counterparts.

For 80 minutes, it looked as though Sheen’s speech and the fervent support of the travelling Welsh fans was in vain, as they trailed to a hungrier US side.

Page’s players needed the support of their fans in a testing opening period, in which they chased the ball and were pegged back in their own half, as the US controlled possession and dictated the tempo of the game.

But star player Gareth Bale came to his country’s rescue late on, winning and converting the penalty to bring Wales level and to send their fans into delirium.