Brilliant Bale Keeps Wales Alive Ahead of Crucial Run-In
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The Daily Telegraph Monday 14 October 2019 *** 5 Total Football Brilliant Bale keeps Wales alive ahead of crucial run-in Wales games – away to Azerbaijan and home to Hungary – should be Bale 45 1 enough to see them through. Croatia It is still a tough ask, but it looks more encouraging than when Vlasic 9 1 Nikola Vlasic gave Croatia the lead Att: 31,745 within 10 minutes in Cardiff. The performance will have By Chris Bascombe enthused Giggs as much as the 1-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium draw, given the calibre of oppo- nents. It looked a long way back Where there is Gareth Bale, there is when Croatia were dominating the always hope for Wales. early stages, yet there was endeav- A typically world-class strike – our to the Welsh comeback and the 33rd for his country – means Bale’s moment of skill on the stroke Ryan Giggs can enjoy his most of half-time earned the result. satisfying night as Wales manager Celebrations were lukewarm, yet PHOTOGRAPHY SPORTS ORCHARD MITCHELL/ANDREW after a well-earned a point against cold analysis of the performance Main man: Gareth Bale shoots across Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic to give Wales a much-needed equaliser Croatia. Bale’s brilliant equaliser will earn more applause. means victory in Wales’ remaining Giggs came into this game in Vlasic – sold by Everton last sum- consistently found a covering bouts. Davies continued, picked need of victory, not only to retain mer – benefited from slack defend- midfielder assisting the full-back, out Bale, and he had the composure hopes of Euro 2020 qualification, ing and suspiciously slow-motion and Daniel James was acquainted and skill to equalise at an angle. Player ratings but also to offer reassurance he can goalkeeping by Wayne Hennessey with every Croatian elbow and Vintage Bale. apply the brass to a golden era in to give his side a ninth-minute lead. shoulder. Croatia continued their protests Wales Croatia danger of going rusty. Josip Brekalo was the provider, Indeed, the Manchester United and Kovacic did not appear in the The semi-finals in 2016 will prob- easing beyond Connor Roberts man needed lengthy treatment second half after treatment on an (4-2-3-1) (4-2-3-1) ably prove the international peak before Vlasic was teed up by Bruno upon receiving a hefty blow from ankle, although replays suggested 6 Hennessey 6 Livakovic 6 C Roberts 6 Barisic for some of these Welsh players. Petkovic. The shot was weak, but Domagoj Vida. Davies took the ball more than the 7 Lockyer 6 Lovren ■ Nevertheless, consecutive Euro- trickled in off a post. James looked in trouble, yet man. 7 Rodon 6 Vida ■ pean Championships would extend Momentarily, Giggs must have recovered after four minutes’ treat- James’s testing of Croatian 7 B Davies 6 Jedvaj their list of achievements and allow feared a sobering evening as his ment – the concussion protocol keeper Dominik Livakovic early in 7 Allen ■ 5 Kovacic Giggs to emerge from the shadow players hunted Croatia yearningly presumably followed. Ethan the second half hinted at a 6 Ampadu 6 Modric ■ 8 J Williams 6 Perisic of Chris Coleman. but mostly in vain. Then something Ampadu was not so fortunate when prolonged momentum switch, 8 Bale 7 Vlasic They would need a scalp as great unexpected happened after 22 Petkovic inflicted similar treatment although Croatia played so con- 6 James ■ 7 Brekalo as any in their glorious run four minutes. It was not an especially in the second half, forced off. servatively that Hennessey was 7 Moore ■ 6 Petkovic ■ years ago to keep qualification in game-turning moment, yet curious The impact of the challenge on strangely unemployed as the game their grasp. enough to warrant attention. James was an extended period of progressed. Substitutes Croatia, the World Cup semi- Surrounded by Croatian mid- injury time in the first half during Harry Wilson was in menacing Morell (Ampado 50) Rakitic ■ (Kovacic 45) finalists, are in the midst of a golden fielders, Jonny Williams turned which Giggs’s side equalised. mood when introduced for the out- Wilson (Williams 68) Rebic (Petkovic 64) T Roberts (Moore 86) Badelj (Modric 90) generation of their own and, from away from Modric and ran a yard As the first hum of frustration standing Williams with just over 20 the outset, it felt like a matter of beyond him before finding a team- from the home fans was audible – minutes remaining, the Welsh which of these two nations’ super- mate. Slim pickings, granted, but at centre-backs Joe Rodon and Tom hunting what had seemed an un- stars would excel as Real Madrid that stage the Welsh fans needed all Lockyer urged to do away with the likely win. Referee Bjorn Kuipers (Holland) team-mates Luka Modric and Bale they could get. fancy stuff and hit long and hopeful By the conclusion of eight min- faced off. It was the signal for the start of a – Ben Davies opted for a direct utes of injury time it seemed both GROUP E P W D L F A PTS Bale’s problem was getting hold more even contest, assisted by route, sprinting through Croatia’s teams were content with the point. Croatia 7 4 2 1 14 6 14 of the ball, as the visitors dominated Croatia’s willingness to sit deeper midfield. Croatia are virtually there and, Hungary 7 4 0 3 8 9 12 possession and took an early lead. and invite pressure in the mis- Having overhit the ball, he con- although Wales are still left with Slovakia 6 3 1 2 10 8 10 Wales, who lined up as against placed belief that the Welsh did not tinued with a challenge through much to do to participate in next Wales 6 2 2 2 6 6 8 Slovakia, were bereft of Aaron have it in them to create a chance. Mateo Kovacic, causing the Croa- summer’s European Champion- Azerbaijan 6 0 1 5 5 14 1 Ramsey and it showed in those As the first half progressed, such tian defence to plead for a free-kick, ship, at least they can see a route to early stages of shadow-chasing. confidence looked justified as Bale rather than focus on Bale’s wherea- the finals in the remaining fixtures. Keeping cool Cech the hero on ice-hockey debut Russia reach finals with rout Retired Chelsea legend Petr Cech emerged as the hero Russia thrashed Cyprus 5-0 to join eighth win from eight games. The on his ice-hockey group winners Belgium in Belgians have scored 30 goals and debut yesterday. qualifying for Euro 2020. conceded just one. Cech, 37, was Valencia forward Denis Holland moved to the top of goaltender for Cheryshev scored twice and set up Group C with a 2-1 win over Guildford two more for the visitors – who Belarus in Minsk, thanks to Phoenix, only needed a draw to be sure of first-half goals from Liverpool the reserve qualification – to take their tally to midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum. team of 21 points after seven wins from Mihaly Korhut’s early strike was Guildford eight games in Group I. enough for Hungary to move to Flames, Belgium already had their place second in Group E with a 1-0 win and saved at the finals secure, but Roberto over Azerbaijan in Budapest. a penalty Martinez’s team retained their Poland lead Group G after in a perfect record in qualifying with a securing their sixth win of the shoot-out 2-0 win over Kazakhstan in qualifying campaign, 2-0 at home win against Astana. Michy Batshuayi scored in to North Macedonia. Austria lie Swindon the first half and Thomas Meunier second after their 1-0 win away to Wildcats. in the second, giving Belgium their Slovenia..