Rollercoaster of emotions – and memories to treasure – after a nation dared to dream
THE Prince of Wales has told the nation’s football team to be “very proud” for playing with “heart” throughout the World Cup after their loss to England.
As fans licked their wounds after a their comprehensive 3-0 loss to England on Tuesday night, William and the Princess of Wales’ official Twitter page posted the message congratulating the team for reaching the tournament for the first time since 1958.
“@Cymru, be very proud. First World Cup since ’58. This tournament you’ve played with heart and pride. Looking forward to seeing you at Euro 2024!” the message read.
The prince earlier took a neutral stance in a social media post about the crunch game in Qatar, after previously saying he could not drop his support for the English team.
The prince previously came under fire from Welsh actor Michael Sheen, who described it as “entirely inappropriate” for him to visit the England team and present them with their shirts, given his role as the Prince of Wales.
Earlier this month William told Elin Jones, Llywydd of the Senedd, that he could not “suddenly” drop his support for the England team, which he has held since he was young.
“I’m telling everyone I’m supporting both, definitely. I can’t lose,” William said.
The prince and princess diplomatically sent a good luck message to both teams ahead of watching their opening World Cup matches.
Elsewhere, Wales fans at home and in Qatar reflected on an emotional journey.
At a fan park in Singleton Park, Swansea,
the beer was flowing as around 2,000 Wales supporters watched the game dubbed the “Battle of Britain” on large TV screens.
At half-time there was hope Wales could win because while England controlled the first 45 minutes, they created too few chances.
But Wales’ hopes diminished when talisman Gareth Bale failed to appear for the second half after suffering a hamstring injury.
The Red Wall supporters – many in Wales shirts and wearing the famous bucket hats – cheered on their team, but suffered two hammer blows in just two minutes when Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden scored.
They continued to sing, cheer and encourage their team as the minutes
ticked down and elimination grew ever closer.
A trickle of fans began to leave the large marquee shortly after Rashford scored his second of the game.
Jade Meredith, from Swansea, was among the many fans watching the game at the fan park.
Speaking afterwards, she said: “I’m really gutted, gutted for the boys and so proud of the boys for getting there.
“We’ll get to the next World Cup, definitely, and the Euros.”
Asked whether this was the last time Wales would see Gareth Bale in a Wales shirt, she replied: “Hard to say. I don’t think we’ll see him at the Euros.”
Another fan Dan Anderson, also from Swansea, said: “The Wales squad have done the country proud.
“This last week has been amazing and although the result didn’t go our way tonight, the boys have done us proud. We’ll get to the next World Cup for sure.”
Peter Jones, from Swansea, said: “At half-time I thought we had a chance as England didn’t play well at all. Losing Gareth Bale at half-time was a blow and we never really got going after England scored the first.
“We might have lost, but I’m so proud of the team.”
Kelly Robinson-Key, 34, from Carmarthenshire, said her husband supported England while her daughter backed Wales.
She said that there were mixed emotions in her house after Wales were knocked out.
“I try to stay neutral as I don’t feel it would be fair on my daughter to be singled out as the only Welsh fan,” she said. “My daughter was a bit sad but pleased her daddy’s team won.
“My husband is happy because he is now able to show his face at work tomorrow, but he does feel sad for Wales as he would like to have seen them through.”
Dr Alex Craven also saw his family split, tweeting before the game: “Brief discussion in our Anglo-Welsh household about tonight’s match.
“The five-year-old has declared he’s going to support England, because he was born in England. The three-year-old has decided to support Wales, because she wants to be a whale.”
Dr Craven, 44, from Tutshill in the Forest of Dean, said that although his daughter was disappointed by the lack of whales playing, she made up for it with her outfit choice.
He said: “She made up for it by wearing her shark-pattern beach shoes, and periodically declaring she was having a disco party – Wales could have done with a couple of whales in the box to block those shots.”
Dr Craven added that his Walessupporting wife, Claire, is hopeful Wales do not have to wait another 64 years to reach another World Cup.
“Nice to see England scoring good goals, but it’s a shame it was so onesided, even if there was nothing Wales could have done in the end any way,” he said.
“Claire’s pleased she guessed the right number of goals in the game. And with 48 teams qualifying next time, hopefully it won’t be another 64-year wait for the next World Cup.
“She says they’ll be back, just as soon as they’ve won the Euros.”
Wales fan Gethin Mark Harris, 58, from East Anglia by way of Swansea, said outside the stadium in Qatar: “This is a hearts and heads story really, isn’t it? Of course I wanted Wales to win but England are a strong side.
“It was a case of getting the first half out the way and trying to score some goals – we’d have to have attacked to do that – but it didn’t work out that way.
“Obviously this is 64 years in the making and this is just the start, I think, because we’ve had a taste of what World Cup football is about.”
Huw Phillips, 54, from Carmarthen, said they “held their own” in the first half but were “under the cosh” in the second, adding: “The dream is over but the boys have done well.”