IRELAND V WALES BIG MATCH GUIDE
GOOD things come to those who wait. Wales and Ireland will both tell you that.
The recent Euros might have been long overdue, but the surreal scenes of a fantastical French summer made every one of those 58 tournament-less years seem worth it.
Though their own team had their own, not quite as spectacular, time in June, there were knowing nods across the Irish Sea from these parts.
As they watched a team inspire a nation and a nation inspire a team, culminating with a street-side celebration upon the return, it had the hallmarks of Ireland’s Italia ‘90.
Though Jack Charlton’s team had qualified for the European Championships two years earlier, it was the World Cup that mattered most, when the imagination of a country was captured.
The culture and camaraderie of the fans was projected across the globe by its football team like never before. The non-football fans in a nation of Gaelic sports suddenly took an interest in what their representatives in the most global of games were doing.
Some 27 years on and it doesn’t take much of a mention in the streets of Dublin for the memories and stories to flood out in a way that you know 2016 will do for Wales for years to come. But what next, what now? Ireland quickly found that expectation changes things. In their next qualifying campaign, the side failed to qualify at the last minute.
By the time they picked themselves up to make it to the World Cup in 1994 – with envious if not bitter glances from an arguably more starry Wales team – fans had come to expect, to demand.
In a documentary trailing that qualification, pundits spoke of golden eras, of success for years to come. Fans wondered aloud: “I don’t know what I’ll do with myself this summer if we don’t get there.”
All this from a nation that a few years earlier hadn’t qualified in its history. They wouldn’t reach a major finals until 2002, and not again until 2012.
“There’s a similarity between Ireland’s campaign in 1992 and Wales now, in as much the group is very tight with a few sides all looking to qualify,” says Miguel Delaney, chief football writer with the Independent and author of the book ‘Stuttgart to Saipan: The Players’ Stories’ of Ireland’s major finals run in that time. “But generally of that time, I think there was a change of mindset, that we’re not just happy to qualify after getting to a couple of finals, that we should be qualifying regularly.
“When there was that ten year period without qualifying, it diminished and almost went full circle with the last two Euros. It’s now somewhere in between and I guess the thought is now it would be a shame if they didn’t qualify from this position, even if it might be a bit too early to say that.”
Martin O’Neill is of that belief, that a four-point lead over Wales in third does not mean victory for the hosts equates to anything.
In the here and now, Irish expectancy is different.
As the Dublin pubs begin to take down their rugby promotions and post up images of Martin O’Neill’s men and “the Green Army’s march to Russia”, it is back to being about hope, about pessimism of the injury list and the quality of the recent Euro 2016 semi-finalists.
Yet, just like Ireland after Italia ‘90, Wales are having to get used to being a scalp, to no longer being an underdog or unknown quantity. Are they paying the price for their summer?
“I don’t think they’re suffering, but expectation is very, very high because of their exploits in France which were fantastic,” said O’Neill yesterday.
“But the underdog thing has gone by the wayside now. There is expectation, not just in Wales, but within Europe as Wales as a very capable side, with some excellent players and world class players. Perhaps they thought they might have won one those close matches, or beaten Georgia, but I don’t see they are suffering, I genuinely don’t. Wales are capable of winning football matches.”
A win at the Aviva would blow away the little lull that came from the start of six points from the first four games, three of which were earned at home.
The change in expectation is shown in the fact that, had the Euros not happened, being four points off the lead at this stage – and two points off a potential play-off spot – would have this deemed as the best campaign in some time.
That is the truth but so is the knowledge that this team can step up a level and make sure there are differences between these Celtic cousin’s stories.
Certainly, Wales have to show another level to their maturity. O’Neill’s talking up of injuries and the opposition will give him the excuse to remain solid and cautious at home, meaning Wales will have to remember that good things do indeed come to those who are able to wait and remain unflustered or panicked while doing so. Patience to find the moment to exploit a re-arranged Republic
defence will be required.
But the wait between that late blow of Serbia’s equaliser in November and the now has brought a buzz back to the Welsh squad that arrived in Dublin late yesterday afternoon. There is a sense of hunger again, notable by its presence in the last qualifying campaign.
It was two years ago that they went away to group leaders Israel with the sense of it being a pivotal match; they responded with a result and performance that brought a first finals in 58 years into sharp focus.
New faces – notably Ben Woodburn – have not only increased options from the bench for a tight match, but they have seemingly re-energised a relatively injury-free squad that hasn’t been harmed by a freshening up.
Young, raw the newcomers may be, but most seniors are still young enough themselves to remember how they soon took the places of established stars.
Though it could be considered ‘must not lose,’ Coleman has played down suggestions this is must-win, yet there will be no denying he has stressed the importance of the match in making sure of a good result.
They have spent the last few months waiting, knowing the significance of not just this fixture, but the ability to build on what happened last summer.
This is their major chance to make sure of it. Good things can come from that wait.