Phil Sumbler
By the end of today Wales’ World Cup fate will be much clearer as a 10am kick off will bring the country to a virtual standstill as thousands of miles away in Qatar Wales take on Iran for just the second time in history.
A victory today for either side will very much open the door for qualification to the knockout stages of the tournament but defeat and the unthinkable becomes reality as it is likely that the tournament will end for a defeated side next Tuesday.
The stakes could not be bigger for both sides as Iran look to put behind their humiliation at the hands of England and Wales look to build on an impressive second half against the USA by pushing on towards a victory.
Throughout the principality schools have permission to down lessons and watch the game and it is expected that the same will be said for businesses throughout the land as the nation is gripped by a first World Cup fever since 1958.
After a semi final in Euro 2016 and a knockout appearance last year in the same competition there is genuine hope here that Wales can progress through what is a tough group with this morning’s match finished with a clash with England next Tuesday evening.
Captain Gareth Bale is set to make his record breaking 110th appearance for Wales in a week where the question has been asked if he is the greatest player the British Isles has ever produced. Records are of course there to be broken but Bale is moe focused on the job in hand and the victory that would mean so much to his country.
“It’s more important we try and get the victory,” he said. “Hopefully we can and it’ll make it even more special.
“It will be a difficult game versus Iran – they are a very good team. They are here for a reason, but of course we believe we can beat them.”
Joe Allen is expected to make some level of an impact on today’s game but it will almost certainly be off the bench as he finally made a return to fitness as confirmed by Wales boss Robert Page
“Joe got through his fitness test, so that’s good news. He’s fit and raring to go,” said Page.
“We were all concerned about him because of the extent of the injury. He kept breaking down. We had to meet targets along the way and they’ve met every target. Last week they pushed him to 100 per cent. It was a gamble.
“If he’d have broken down he would have been completely out of the tournament.”
Up front it would be more than just Wales that would be shocked if Kieffer Moore did not start up front after his presence transformed the game on Monday evening and his aerial ability will certainly concern an Iranian defence that was breached six times by England on Monday.
So there we have it. A scene set and a nation in anticipation. As this is written there are a little over two hours to kick off and the atmosphere builds not just in Qatar, Dubai and Tenerife which seem to be destinations of choice for those not at the game but back home here in Wales.
A Friday morning where productivity will be paused and a Friday morning where the hope and expectations of a nation stand firmly on the shoulders of our players in red. We stand behind them and we wait.
Ry’n ni yma o hyd – We are still here.
