Serbia 1 Wales 0

Defeat For Wales

Wales went into the game with a two point lead at the top of the group table with a game in hand over second placed Italy. A victory tonight would have meant that a win in Milan on the 6th September would have been enough to see them qualify for next summer’s finals. A draw here would have ensured at least runners up spot in the group.

It was a familiar looking Welsh side that took to the pitch with Robert Page in for the injured Andy Melville and Nathan Blake deputising for John Hartson. Wales seemed to weather the early storm well in a stadium that was promised to be hostile but from the TV pictures came across as anything but. After some early Serbia pressure, Wales seemed to be able to defend comfortably, even if a little deep, and a long range shot which struck one of the upright’s was as close as either side came to scoring in the first half.

The home support was turning on their team at the start of the second half as Wales gained more possession and seemed to be moving their play up the field slightly in the second half. John Hartson was badly missed during the game with Nathan Blake extracting little change from the Serbia defence and thus rendering Bellamy and Giggs less effective than normal. At the back it appeared that the excellent Gabbidon and Page were dealing with everything with some ease. Mark Delaney was worrying at right back and looked less effective than his opposite number, Gary Speed who we tend to forget does a superb job out of position.

The introduction of former Aston Villa player Savo Milosevic turned the game in the Serbs favour but there should have been more dispute of the goal then there was. A long corner from the left reached the far post where Milosevic appeared to bundle Delaney over and knock the ball back into the middle where it was lashed home by the Serb attacker. Wales were behind for the first time in this qualification group.

Mark Hughes responded by sending on Earnshaw for Blake and the Cardiff man almost equalised within two minutes. Looking for all the world to being offside but action replays from the poor Serbian TV pictures suggested he may just have been on, Earnshaw rounded the keeper and struck his shot goalbound only to see a flying foot of the defender clearing it away from the goal. Ryan Giggs was next to see a good chance to go begging when he opted to square the ball when a shot at goal looked the better option. Gabbidon then spoiled his night by firing a header over when he possibly should have scored. Sitting at home it’s easy to judge but at this point I felt that Wales were capable of exposing the Serbian defence and began to wonder why we didn’t look for the goals earlier. It appeared that we had settled for the point when I would say now that the win would have been there for the taking had we taken the game by the scruff of the neck.

We now head to Milan next month for the crunch game in the group. Defeat there would see them leapfrog us to the top of the table with our final two qualifiers being in front of capacity Millennium Stadium crowds. Anything positive out there and Wales will remain in pole position and of course, the overriding fact is a sensational win in what will definitely this time be a hostile atmosphere will see us needing just one point from the last two games to qualify.

Portugal next summer is still on but, as usual, Wales have decided to take the hard route to get there. One thing to take as a positive is that 2nd in the group will work to improve our seedings with UEFA meaning that in future we can expect slightly easier groups (like the ones England always get 😉 )

A little down after the result but it’s not over until the fat lady sings 😉

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