Planet Swans ArchivesIt was November 19th 1993. The Millennium Stadium was a distant dream. But the National Stadium was home to a sell out crowd and 95% of them wanted just one thing a win for the host nation. The game was poised at 1-1 and Wales were awarded the penalty. Up stepped Paul Bodin and he missed. The hopes and dreams of a nation were dashed and a late Romanian goal denied Wales the chance of being at the World Cup in USA 94. The dream died for another ten years.
Paul Bodin in ‘that’ game
I remember the night well. I was living in Exeter. Before the days of Sky Digital – the only coverage I could put up with was score updates from the BBC as they showed England against San Marino. The game was a rout livened only by the fact that San Marino scored within ten seconds. But the moment the penalty was awarded they went to live coverage from Cardiff. I prayed but it was to no avail, Bodin missed and we missed out again. Just like we had with two games against Scotland littered with decisions that didn’t go our way.
Back then in 1993 you wouldn’t have believed it would be ten years until we got our next chance. You would have expected qualification for Euro 96 and maybe even France 98 after it. But we declined. Until Mark Hughes came along and resurrected a football team. And took us to this moment.
It’s ironic that it’s to the day exactly ten years that over 70,000 welshmen and women will pack the Millennium Stadium all looking for one result. A win. A score draw is not good enough it has to be a win. I don’t care whether that win comes after penalties, a silver goal, or in normal time but it has to be a win. One win stands between Wales and an appearance at Portugal 2004. The chance for our players to shine on one of the biggest stages in World football.
After many years of hurt and a generation since we have seen anything near a major finals and several generations since we actually played in our one and only appearance in the final stages itself. I am looking forward to this game probably more than any Wales game I have ever attended purely because of what the outcome can be. I wasn’t there in 1985 or 1993 or before that. This is my moment?
There is no doubt that Mark Hughes will have his side pumped up for the game – I just hope that the occasion doesn’t make them freeze. They need to remember that the longer the game remains 0-0 not to panic and carry on with their plan. We are good enough to score against the Russians and we know we are good enough to hold them out. We need to remember that. If we go a goal down early there is no need to panic and change the tactic just keep it going and the same if we go a goal up early – no need to try and sit back on it. Look for another.
Surely this time the hearts of so many cannot be broken. Surely this time is our moment. I think it will be (or is that hope) – lets just keep everything crossed that this time I am right.
WALES!
