Here is an article that I wrote that was published in the Late Tackle Magazine (Jan/Feb 2023. Issue 84)
After beating Ukraine 1-0 earlier this year, Wales confirmed their place among 31 other nations at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The last time the Dragons qualified for the World Cup was in 1958, a completely different time in football, much has changed especially the use of technology.
Wales advanced through the groups, knocking out Mexico and the legendary Hungarian side, despite drawing all their games in the group stage.
Wales met the eventual Champions, Brazil in the quarter-finals. They would come across a young forward called Pele, who scored the only goal of the game in the 66th minute. After an impressive display from the Welsh players, who would have believed it would take 66 years before their next outing on the World stage?
It wasn’t just the World Cup that Wales couldn’t qualify for, they also failed getting into the newly formed European Championship.
From Ian Rush to Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes to Neville Southall, Wales alluded all International tournaments, up until 2016.
After winning 6 of their 10 games in their qualifying group, Wales reached their first International tournament since the World Cup in Sweden. They finished four points ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and just behind Belgium, but that wouldn’t be the last time they met the Red Devils.
Wales drew Slovakia, England, and Russia in the groups. Despite a narrow 2-1 defeat to arch-rivals England, Chris Coleman and his men qualified for the Round of 16.
They were triumphant over Northern Ireland in the last 16 and met Belgium once again in the Quarter Finals.
They found themselves 1-0 thanks to a Radja Nainggolan goal. However, the fairy tale would continue when Ashley Williams, Sam Vokes, and an infamous goal from Hal Robson-Kanu secured a 3-1 win and sent the Dragons into the Semi-Finals.
The Semi-Finals would be the end of the adventure for Wales, as they met Portugal who beat them 2-0, with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Almedia, before they would beat France in the final, but Wales could hold their heads high after such a great performance.
After an incredible display in the Euros, many would have predicted Wales to return to the world stage in 2018 in Russia. However, they struggled in their group and ended up finishing third and were unable to advance.
At Euro 2020, they had a successful campaign once again, as they reached the Quarter Finals, but the nation wanted one thing, and that was qualification for the World Cup in Qatar.
Wales finished second in their group behind Belgium, and knew they were two wins away from ending their World Cup drought.
Wales met Austria in the Semi Final, and their hero, Gareth Bale put them two goals ahead in the 55th minute. Marcel Sabitzer found the back of the net just after the hour mark, but Wales held out and won and would meet Ukraine to see who would be at the World Cup.
The tension was high leading up to the game at the Cardiff City Stadium, with this seen as the last chance for many of their key players.
However, that didn’t faze the players when Bale once again stepped up and put the Dragons ahead halfway through the first half.
Ukraine pushed for an equalizer, but it wouldn’t come as Robert Page and his players secured World Cup qualification for the first time since 1958.
The Welsh players will be delighted to have reached the World Cup finals, but many believe that this is their only motivation.
If there is one thing they have taught people is to not underestimate them and after great performances in their last two International tournaments, can they supply anymore surprises?
Final Whistle 