Wales show fighting spirit after Williams red card controversy
WALES began their Euro 2020 preparations with a spirited defeat at the hands of world champions France in Nice.
Goals from Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele were enough to see the hosts to victory over Rob Page’s men, who were controversially reduced to 10 men midway through the first half when Neco Williams was sent off for a handball on the goal line.
Karim Benzema, making a return to international football after a six-year absence, missed the resulting spotkick after a fine save from Danny Ward.
But the Wales goalkeeper was powerless to prevent Mbappe pouncing on the rebound from Adrien Rabiot’s low effort to open the scoring just a few minutes later.
Griezmann then curled home a stunning second just after the break, before Dembele came off the bench to tuck home after Benzema was denied by the post.
The scoreline was harsh on Wales, who stood up well to the hosts before Williams was dismissed, but Page will undoubtedly have been pleased by the character of his side against a French team many have backed to take the Euro 2020 title this summer.
Joe Allen, Ben Davies and Aaron Ramsey all emerged unscathed after getting much-needed minutes under their belts, a positive that surely outweighs the scoreline in Nice.
For the French, the pre-match narrative was understandably around the return of Gareth Bale’s Real Madrid team-mate Benzema, and the end of his international exile.
Four minutes in, and his return was nearly off to a flyer, with Ward having to be alert to keep out a bullet header.
The front three of Benzema, Griezmann and Mbappe would understandably cause any side to freeze in fear, but Wales still did their best to express themselves on the French Riviera.
Daniel James, lively for much of the evening, warmed the palms of Hugo Lloris after rounding off a typically motoring run with a stinging low drive just minutes later.
France, as many will have predicted, dictated possession for much of the evening but, for all their attacking talent, initially laboured to break down an impressively resolute Welsh defence.
Williams, in particular, took on the role of marking the enigmatic Paul Pogba brilliantly, and must have been devastated to see his game cut short midway through the first half.
A monster save from Ward was enough to keep out Pogba’s towering header, before Benzema’s rebound was bundled off the line by the Liverpool youngster.
After an inexplicably long delay,
Potuguese referee Luis Godinho and VAR decided Williams had kept the ball out on the line with his arm.
In fairness, it’s an assessment that was difficult to argue with, although given Williams was about a yard away from Benzema’s shot it seemed harsh.
The resulting red card seemed outrageous.
You’d forgive some for regarding the resulting Benzema spot-kick as a formality, but Ward, brilliant throughout, had other ideas, saving superbly down to his right. Justice.
But for all the spirit Wales showed against such increasing adversity, France’s superiority was inescapable if somewhat understated, and they took the lead just a few minutes later.
Adrien Rabiot’s low drive was well stopped by Ward despite Griezmann’s deflection, but the Wales stopper could do nothing about Mbappe’s follow-up, with the forward slotting home for the 17th international goal of his career.
France could easily have had another penalty had officials spotted a Connor Roberts shirt pull on Benzema, while Mbappe squandered a decent chance to double his tally shortly before the break.
Wales, to their credit, still tried to find some joy on the break, with Harry Wilson blazing a drive just wide on the stroke of half-time.
But France rarely looked too troubled, and doubled their lead on 48 minutes in fine style.
A lovely backheel from Mbappe set up Griezmann on the edge of the box, and the Barcelona star was on hand to curl a sublime effort into the corner.
Kieffer Moore and Ramsey were introduced as Page sought a response, with the latter threading a wonderful pass into James, who should have probably worked Lloris more with his resulting drive.
To see Ramsey out in a Wales shirt after the midfielder’s recent injury struggles was a positive on its own. To see him make such a lively contribution from the bench was a much welcomed bonus.
But France’s dominance was rewarded with a third goal before the night was out. Benzema, who couldn’t mark his return with a goal, was denied by the post, before Dembele swept home the rebound.
A tough night for Wales, but one laden with some real positives, with young Rubin Colwill even making a brief cameo late on.
Albania on Saturday will be a very different game, of course, with the real test coming in Baku against Switzerland on June 12.
France: Lloris; Pavard (Kounde 45), Varane, Kimpembe, Hernandez (Digne 45); Pogba (Coman 62), Tolisso (Sissoko 62), Rabiot; Griezmann (Ben Yedder 83), Benzema, Mbappe (Dembele 73). Subs: Mandanda, Maignan, Lenglet, Dubois, Thuram Wales: Ward; Roberts, Mepham (B. Davies 59) Rodon, Gunter; Morrell (Colwill 83), N.Williams, Allen (Levitt 59), Wilson (Ramsey 59); Bale (Moore 59) James (Brooks 73). Subs: Hennesey, Davies, T. Roberts, Norrington-Davies, J. Williams, Cabango.
Luis Godinho (Portugal).