It was mission unattainable for Wales coming into their last Group B sport at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on the outskirts of Doha, however they made a superb fist of it in opposition to a much-changed England line-up.
With the primary of the day’s video games ending at 8pm, it was a rush for a lot of followers to get to the Mall of Qatar, and there have been scenes of despair because the late-arriving crowd was filtered to the secondary entrance a superb half-mile from the stadium with solely minutes till kick-off. In the long run England had been too good for Wales, who fairly rightly bowed out of the World Cup within the group phases.
England followers had been of their standard kind, one unlucky volunteer having ‘nonce’ screamed him for no cause in any respect as the group filtered by the safety space and into the stadium. In fact this was the exception to the rule; the overwhelming majority of followers had been merely in good spirits from a day at Souq Waqif or within the lodge bar. There was loads of ribbing of the Welsh followers and their anticipated departure from the event, the Welsh followers taking it in good humour.
Danny Ward continued the place he left off in objective for Wales, having come on to concede two late targets in opposition to Iran by no fault of his personal. There have been begins for Joe Allen and Daniel James. England rested Kieran Trippier, with Kyle Walker coming in. Jordan Henderson began and Marcus Rashford got here in to begin on the left with Luke Shaw.
(Photograph by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA by way of Getty Photographs)
Rousing anthems from each units of followers had been effectively obtained, the Wales followers taking over half of the underside tier of 1 finish, whereas the England followers had an enormous financial institution on the different finish, with an unprecedented variety of St George flags draped over the fence on the entrance. The Welsh followers sang “We all know who we’re, sheep-shagging bastards, we all know who we’re.” This was a night they’d exit with a facet dish of black humour.
The opening exchanges had been scrappy. England had been set as much as assault, Wales had a conservative line-up with Kieffer Moore as their lone attacker. and Phil Foden gave us the primary probability from an early free kick, firing Shaw’s cross large. Danny Ward sprayed a ball straight out of play to groans from the group.
Harry Maguire was slowing all the things down, as was the case within the earlier sport in opposition to Iran. Neco Williams took an enormous hit to the pinnacle and was later substituted, the brand new concussion sub rule coming into play. God Save The King stuffed the stoppage in play, and on the half-hour “you’re going residence within the morning” echoed across the stadium because the England followers reminded their opponents of precisely the predicament they had been in.
Harry Maguire then confirmed us why he’s a defender, twice making a foray deep into the Wales half, first blasting his cross out for a throw-in, then fully misjudging a easy ball. Jude Bellingham virtually completed off a flowing transfer, blasting over the bar, then Rashford tried the spectacular overhead kick which went harmlessly large.
The wild-armed working fashion of Foden conjured up an opportunity, however Rashford’s cross yielded nothing however a nook. John Stones had Danny Ward frightened with a header on the far put up, and he plucked the ball out of the air beneath strain.
The half ended with Daniel James chopping in from the precise and unleashing a shot from the sting of the world together with his left foot, the ball whistling over to sign the tip of the extra 5 minutes of stoppage time. Chesney Hawkes serenaded us at half-time together with his one and solely hit from years passed by, with everybody within the crowd nudging one another and asking if it was actually him.
The second half was three minutes outdated when the Welsh lastly succumbed. Foden’s dazzling run was halted on the sting of the world for a free kick in a harmful space. Rashford stepped up and curled the ball into the online – not precisely a postage stamp, however it was a formidable end. Free From Need accompanied the objective, and the celebrations had been lengthy, the rating having are available in entrance of the England followers.
Extra was to return two minutes later. Rashford hassled down the precise, Harry Kane stole the ball and performed the proper go throughout the face of the objective for the unmarked Foden to put a shot previous Ward. It was one other quick-fire double for Ward, and the England followers lapped up the sudden domination and gave it to the Welsh followers once more.
The Welsh responded with two efforts in fast succession, Daniel James recycling an overhit cross to bend a shot round Jordan Pickford however firing simply large earlier than Moore let rip from a speculator distance that Pickford adopted intently and pushed large.
Quite a few substitutions confirmed simply how a lot England had been having fun with this experience. Kane got here off for Callum Wilson, and Kyle Walker and Damien Rice had been additionally rested as England appeared to the Spherical of 16.
Stoppages in play broke the momentum, Shaw making approach for Kieran Trippier, and the followers took their flip in offering the leisure, the Welsh hymn e book out, whereas England gave us Jingle Bells.
Marcus Rashford then broke by onto an extended ball by Kalvin Phillips and took his time to step inside and end low previous the unlucky Ward, once more left on his bottom because the England followers celebrated behind him. This was classic England, taking their time and selecting out arcing runs with direct passes because the followers bayed for extra. Wilson then unselfishly laid off to Rashford, with Ward pushing his shot large.
Substitute Brennan Johnson was not less than offering some direct working for the Welsh, first turning Trippier inside out after which firing in a shot that was cleared for a throw-in. Moore continued to plough his lonely furrow up entrance, profitable each header however having little in the way in which of help. The sport was effectively and really over as a contest by now and it was a query of simply what number of targets England needed to offer their followers. Rashford made approach for Jack Grealish, suggesting that targets maybe weren’t the highest precedence.
Daniel James made approach for Harry Wilson, and the following England transfer noticed Jude Bellingham launched after a mistake. His shot was saved, and Foden swung on the ball however couldn’t assist it into the empty internet. England had been making this a torrid final quarter-hour for Wales, who additionally misplaced Joe Allen after taking a knock. Grealish and Rashford tried to unlock their opponents’ defence, however it was all too rushed.
When Maguire was adjudged to have introduced down Moore, a free kick was awarded centrally a good distance out. Wilson shot straight into the wall to typify Wales’ efficiency tonight. Substitute Rubin Colwill blazed over from the sting of the world, the England followers coming again to life to roar their crew by the ultimate moments of the sport.
The wonderful Moore discovered himself effectively positioned late within the sport, his try excessive and large prompting the England followers to sing “that’s why you’re going residence” – by no means a more true phrase spoken. Wilson’s persistence teased a late nook for England, Maguire headed again throughout objective and Stones leant again and pumped the ball approach into the England followers as a substitute of the gaping objective. Little doubt he’ll obtain some ribbing from his teammates for that one.
The England followers had been in tremendous voice as the sport drew to its conclusion after 4 minutes of stoppage time, and the match ended with England spurning an amazing probability for 4, Grealish having danced into the field.
After a primary half that gave little indication of what was to return, the second half was an absolute procession, and England completely deserved their passage into the knockout phases. Candy Caroline accompanied the gamers as they applauded the followers – this was good, and the English media might be lenient this night.
There have been marvellous scenes on the finish because the Wales followers sang to their crew, a poignant goodbye to their World Cup journey.
