WHAT WALES ACHIEVED at the Euros in the summer was both unprecedented and spectacular.
For a country with a population of roughly three million people, in which rugby is generally regarded as the primary sport, to reach the semi-finals of a major tournament is unheard of.
Croatia, with its population of around four million, getting to the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup is one of the few comparable achievements in modern international football.
Since then, however, the team have not exactly gone from strength to strength. While all the key members of their Euros squad remain available, there has been a sense that Wales are suffering somewhat of a hangover from the summer.
They currently sit third in World Cup qualifying Group D, four points off leaders Ireland and two behind Serbia in second.
While Chris Coleman’s side remain unbeaten, in four matches, a 4-0 defeat of Moldova, generally regarded as the worst team in the group, is their only victory so far.
An inability to see games out has been a big issue for Wales. They have not once found themselves trailing against rival opposition, but were unable to retain leads in matches with Austria, Georgia and Serbia.
Yet despite these setbacks, the Dragons have retained a sense of optimism ahead of Friday’s crucial World Cup qualifier at the Aviva Stadium, according to Chris Wathan, Chief Football Writer at Media Wales and author of Together Stronger: The Rise of Welsh Football’s Golden Generation.
“I wouldn’t say ‘quietly confident’ or anything like that because that sounds like we’re not taking it seriously,” he tells The42. “They’re a side that are just brimming with self-belief and have been for some time. That was obviously evident in the Euros.
There is a sense outside the camp that if this game isn’t must-win, it’s approaching it. It’s difficult to know what the true feelings of the people in the camp are on that — Coleman said that that’s not in his consideration. They’re going to set out to play as they can, hit the (optimum) performance levels, and the rest will take care of itself.”
He continues: “It’s been the sort of mantra right the way through. If they get themselves right, give their better players a chance to play, then what will be will be.
In this campaign, it’s been sloppy in some of the games but as much as it was disappointing for them to draw (in their most recent game) against Serbia with the late goal, the performance level was back to what we’d come to expect with Wales. They’ll be looking to take that on and I’m guessing if they want to have any more confidence, they’ll be looking at the list of injuries Ireland have got and thinking that’s not Ireland at their very strongest.”
Wales drawing their third group game at home to Georgia, in particular, was seen as a disappointment, even though the latter are an improving side who beat Scotland in their last campaign and were lucky not to emerge with at least a point when they came to the Aviva Stadium back in October.
“Whether there was a sense of nerves around the stadium, the rise in expectations, it’s difficult to say. A result like (the Georgia draw) isn’t out of kilter with Welsh football history. Expectation levels have gone up and understandably so.
A little bit of hunger was missing, a little bit of desperation that we saw in the last campaign where it was almost if, if they don’t qualify for that tournament, they were never going to qualify. Certainly on this team upon which so much hope had been placed, having been so close this summer (at the Euros), it’s still in their system a little bit.
“But if the last campaign didn’t happen and we were four points off the top, two points off a playoff place and yet to be beaten, which is somewhat forgotten about, it would be hailed as the best campaign in years and everyone would be excited. But when you reach a semi-finals in the manner that we did it, people naturally have a taste of success and start to get used to it.”
One of the interesting aspects of Friday’s game is how much the mood has changed since last November. Back then, Ireland had just won impressively away in Austria, while Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale was set to undergo ankle surgery and appeared to be a potential doubt for the game at the Aviva.
Yet by contrast, now Bale’s fitness is no longer in doubt, while Ireland have as many as 10 players unavailable through suspension or injury, with others doubtful.
Before, there was a belief that Wales were there for the taking, whereas under the current circumstances, many Irish supporters feel a draw would represent a decent result for the hosts.
Coleman, as it stands, has every member of his starting XI to choose from. Only squad players such as Simon Church, Jonny Williams, Emyr Huws and Tom Lawrence are injured, though their absence has paved the way for promising Liverpool youngsters Ben Woodburn and Harry Wilson to be included in the travelling party.
There’s a lot of excitement about Woodburn and whether he would be an option from the bench to add something a bit different. Time will tell,” Wathan adds.
And while a significant portion of the pre-match build-up has focused on Bale and his availability, Wales didn’t get to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 by being a one-man team. Indeed, their spine of Wayne Hennessey, Ashley Williams, Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey and Bale would be the envy of many international sides across the world.
Like Ireland, though, it is their collective strength that ultimately elevates Wales to another level.
The difference with Bale and a lot of players of that ilk is his work rate is absolutely phenomenal. It sounds a cliché, but he is one of the boys.
“I’ve written about this quite a bit — this side have grown up together. They were all of a very similar age coming through in their youth teams. Whenever they meet up, they’re meeting back up as friends. They’ve been part of this set-up for nigh-on 10 years.
Chris Gunther is 27 and he should win his 78th cap on Friday, which is quite stunning and Bale’s a big part of that. He’s very much himself and he’s relaxed around the camp. When it gets to the game, he’s willing to do as much, if not more (than his teammates). He understands his status and his own ability — he’s comfortable with the pressure of delivering.”
There is certainly a healthy level of respect between the two sides, as evidenced by Coleman’s recent comments in relation to Martin O’Neill, and Wathan believes the game’s outcome is “too tight to call”.
“It was interesting at the Euros — we saw Ireland in the knockout stages, Wales themselves, or teams of that similar mould where the team spirit outweighs the resources in terms of players. So we do recognise a bit of ourselves in Ireland.
In terms of individuals, I’d imagine Shane Long’s record (17 goals at international level) and the type of striker he is will, not cause concern, but people will be wary of looking out for him.
“He’s such a sniffer and he doesn’t need much of a chance to make the most of defensive mistakes. If you’re going to single one out, perhaps he would be there. Obviously some of the players that are injured might have caused some concern as well. But the focus for Wales has been for some time (primarily) on themselves.”
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This entire article probably highlights many of the reasons why Irish football is in the doldrums. The focus of the interview is entirely about how Ireland could strengthen its squad by sourcing ready made players. The underlying assumption is that this is the only way to source players. The changes that have been wrought in the academy system of the major English clubs over the past 20 years has meant that fewer young Irish teenagers than ever before go to England for their football education. A glance at recent Irish squads shows that a growing number play for Irish clubs before transferring to the UK in the late teens and early twenties. Indeed many players who go to England as youths return to play in the League of Ireland before earning their move back across the water again.
The gulfs that exist in the game in Ireland badly need to be addressed if the senior international side is to have any kind of strength in the future. The current League of Ireland Under 19 system is a good start but it is inadequate. For instance in Ireland any young sportsman is inevitably pulled in several sporting directions in his teens. Looking towards the GAA he sees a clear path from his local club at Under age into their minor team then into the county minors, the club Under 21′s or Juniors, the county Under 21′s, the club’s senior side and finally the holy grail of the county senior team. The path is clear and unambiguous. In football he will hope to get into the FAI’s emerging talent program at age 11, if he is outside of that his next big hope is to called up to his local Legaue’s representative Under 13 Kennedy Cup side where he night get spotted by an English club. Failing those options he continue in the hope that he finds a spot in League of Ireland U19 side. If he has made it that far once he hits 19 he has to find his way straight into a League of Ireland first team squad, competing with players who have a few years experience to do so. If he is doesn’t get that far then he is out of senior football. Many of those players who are good footballers drift out of the game at that point, unwilling to take the plunge back down into the depths of Junior/Sunday league football. For some there is an option to join a LoI First Division side but it is not an attractive one. This is an eight team league with sides spread all over the country. The prospect of a fortnightly trip to or from Ballybofey to Athlone or Waterford is not exactly appealing. So players go and standards drop.
So what if League of Ireland standards drop? The strength of what is above is often governed by what is beneath it. I have watched Ireland Under 21 sides populated by players from English Conferences teams while players from League of Ireland sides pay at the gate to watch them. I have seen very good league of Ireland players never get a whiff of an Irish representative side until they go to England ( ref. Seamus Coleman). We need to see a complete overall of the structure of football in Ireland – a proper pyramid system with smaller regionalised leagues, a removal of the power of local league administrators to hinder such developments, fully developed career paths for better players to progress through etc etc.
What we will get is, a new FAI genealogy section, trawling through the ancestry of players in the English leagues to see who we can poach. We will see huge spending on the maintenance of an average senior international side. Big salaries to the CEO, senior international mangers, bonuses promised to players for WC qualification. Lip service paid to the development of players locally. Well meaning but often inadequately structured coaching at under age levels.
Of course we might manage to unearth a surprised newly awakened Irishman like Tony Cascarino or Andy Townsend……….. and that will prove that the system works and make everything alright again
He has to least win the European championships, it’s not too much to ask
No offence to the journalist,but why have you got an ex manager of Ireland,who btw was sacked for a very good reason he was crap,giving advice to a manager with O’Neills exp ? Why not just get Noel King or The Gaffer on and totally botch it ? In all fairness if you had Jack Charlton or even John Giles giving it I’d kinda be ok with it. Martin O’Neill is his own man,let him be to do it himself,he doesn’t need the ex manager of the Faroe Islands telling him how to do his job.
Good point, like getting dental advice from Shane McGowan
Kerr was a fantastic manager and was seriously mistreated by the fai. The best we ever had in terms of a record and he came in at the worst possible time.
Brian Kerr has the highest win rate of any Ireland manager at 54.5%. Charlton had 50.5% (which is arguably better because we played more top teams due to qualifying for tournaments). McCarthy had a 42.5% win rate and Giles was around 38%. I’d be reluctant to knock any of the above.
He should drive his car with the song playing “I AM THE ONE AND ONLY”
People who comment on sport do it because it allows them to pontificate an extraordinary ignorance for which they would lose their day jobs in a flash. Brian Kerr was a great manager we can only hope mon does at least as well.
Sigh…you are a former manager for a reason brian!
We are a small, limited country..only so many irish grannies out there.
You’d think that, but Stephen Ireland proved there’s loads more then we thought
Oh my god!
Those who can; Do
Those who can’t, waffle on about what those who can should do
Agree with John Clarke, whole structure has to be changed, though Seamus Coleman is a poor example, he was on the u21 side for 2 years while at sligo rovers, better example would be matt doherty. THink the 8 team first division is pointless, might aswell have 20 team league and it might encourage players to play senior football here
Selecting English players who aren’t good enough to play for England is not the way forward. England are barely even that strong in depth to begin with. If an English player has no chance of playing for them, then he is hardly going to make much of a tangible difference to us, is he?
Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes, Aaron Lennon, Gary Cahill, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, even Kyle Naughton; all of those guys could/would potentially improve us but Sean St Ledger, Paul Green and Jon Walters are scarcely better than the Irish born players whose places they take in the team.
Even use Anthony Pilkington as an example. He is hardly any better than McClean, Brady or McGeady.
We should stop depending on Granny rule players and start improving our domestic infrastructure and make soccer a more attractive proposition than Gaelic and rugby to our kids. You can’t make money from Gaelic so the former theoretically shouldn’t be that hard.
Who are these wonderful, match changing Granny rule players Martin O’Neill is scouring by the way? Focus on nailing down Jack Grealish, Conor Henderson and Samir Carruthers and hope that they fulfill the hype because for all of the excitement over them, they could easily end up like Conor Clifford or Stephen Elliott.
Totally agree, pulled this article form the Irish times, in 2010-2011 Irish people spent 145 MILLION going to see British teams & thats excluding merchandise & skysports subscription, imagine if a fraction of that was spent on Irish soccer! We could have Irish clubs competing in the europa & chapions league!
”In the 2010-2011 season there were 164,000 visits by Irish fans to British grounds.
The average spend for foreign fans was €776 (€884.64). Multiplying 164,000 by €884.65 gives a figure of €145 million. I ran the numbers many times. Surely, Irish fans couldn’t spend that amount of money in a year? Surely the decimal point was in the wrong place?
It must be €14.5 million, but the decimal point was in the right place. ”
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/english-soccer/somebody-has-to-shout-stop-as-english-premier-league-stranglehold-in-ireland-strengthens-1.1496636
Conor will be back I hope! He’s some shot on him.
whiner
Good luck to Martin and the Irish team but I was appalled to see him and Roy Keane in a recent BBC interview when they took up their posts wearing the poppy. What is it with Irish people? They are Irish, appointed managers of the Ireland team. It was the BBC who requested the interview but they are allowed to insist that the boys wear poppies.
Fair play to the young Derry premiership player who refused to wear a poppy recently and who was dropped from the team How could he ever hold his head up in his native town if he had paid homage to those in the Army that killed so many Irish people there while Irish nationalists are not allowed to remember their dead. Shame on Martin and Roy.
We lose face a little whenever we recruit players with tenuous connections, and were widely sneered at during the glory years for doing so. There will have been some (Aiden McGeady, James McCarthy, or going back much further the likes of Seamus McDonagh and Tony Grealish) for whom the sense of Irishness is very genuinely heartfelt, but the logical terminus of exploiting FIFA’s rules to the full could be a team consisting entirely of English-born players with English accents whose presence in the team owes more to career advancement than national allegiance.
Personally, I think a parent is fine, but once you get into grandparent territory it becomes a bit ridiculous. I’m Dublin-born and could have played for Scotland in the unlikely event of me being remotely good enough to make the team, and would have represented either nation with pride. But a line needs to be drawn somewhere.
You could say that borders and nations are arbitrary constructs in the first place, but if international football is to remain meaningful it should be contested by teams whose players, by and large, were born and reared in the nation they represent.
On a related note, Kerr makes many valid points but I was deeply disappointed with his recent comments to the effect that we should leave Northern-born, Irish-identified players to the North and stop pursuing them. The McCleans and Gibsons are 100% within their moral rights to represent a Republic rather than a partitioned North. And that’s before we even consider players from the ‘other tradition’ such as George Best and Keith Gillespie who have said they would have liked the chance to play for a united Ireland team.
Many people are bit abroad to Irish parents and consider themselves Irish. That’s one thing. Then there are the ones who realise they’ll never play for England and suddenly discover their grandmother was from Mayo. I don’t honesty think Andy Townsend, Mark Lawrenson or John Aldridge ever called themselves Irishmen until Jack Charlton came calling. Then again, John Barnes is Jamaican, and Owen Hargreaves never lived in England until he played for them, so they can’t preach. And let’s not even get started on their Cricket team….
“Born” abroad – spellcheck