Another World Cup home game, another 2-0 defeat but this time everyone seemed quite happy and cheerful rather than outraged and indulging in the blame game, however what a contrast. After last weekend's gutless 2-0 collapse to Finland, a 26,000 Millennium Stadium crowd and those watching in tv land were heartened by a fighting display in the whole side played well, the team were positive and only German class and efficiency combined with bad luck and terrible officiating saw them fall.
The Red Dragon had their problems pre-game with the fall out of the Finland defeat then Jason Kouumas and Craig Bellamy pulling out, officially with injury. It disrupted John Toshack's plans to make wholesale changes while Simon Davies, who was about to be dropped, instead found himself as Captain while Aaron Ramsey got his first World Cup game in a Welsh side that featured 1 current Bluebird and 4 former ones.
Meanwhile, John Toshack, as if to confirm he got his tactics badly wrong last weekend, overlooked using either of his ageing defensive midfielders of Fletcher and Robinson while Earnie and Vokes were recognised striker if it the formation wasn't a flat 4-4-2. Why the hell didn't he do that against Finland?
Wales: Hennessey, Ricketts, Ashley Williams, Collins, Nyatanga, Davies, Ramsey, Ledley, Bale, Earnshaw, Vokes.
Subs: Myhill, Evans, Fletcher, Cotterill, Gunter, Robinson, Edwards.
Aaron Ramsey put in a mature and classy show and must surely be a permanent resident in the Senior side and he inspired those aroudn him but after a promising start, Wales were rocked by the game's star performer - Chelsea's Michael Ballack blasting a deviating 25 yarder past Wayne Hennessey after 11 minutes. Fanastic shot but you felt the keeper should have got to it.
While Wales collapsed going behind last weekend, they hit back tonight taking the game to the Germans and were denied by an appalling decision midway through the half as Joe Ledley charged into the box, Tasci slipped in front of him and so clearly pushed the ball away with his arm on the ground as Joe was going around him. The Norwegian ref in a perfect position somehow refused a blatant penalty that could/should also have seen the Germans reduced to 10 men.
It remained 1-0 at the interval, Earnie denied at one end, Hennessey making tow good saves at the other but with Wales threatening to get back into the game, hopes was dashed, if not ended, just two minutes into the 2nd half as a German got a lucky rebound off a James Collins challenge and Swansea City man Ashley Williams turned into his own net under no particular pressure. Why couldn't the useless Jacks have done that on Sunday against Cardiff at Ninian Park ... hopefully, he will !!
Earnie was denied as Wales repsonded again but there was to be no consolation. However pride was restored. Maybe that's all we could possibly have hoped for.
The Red Dragon had their problems pre-game with the fall out of the Finland defeat then Jason Kouumas and Craig Bellamy pulling out, officially with injury. It disrupted John Toshack's plans to make wholesale changes while Simon Davies, who was about to be dropped, instead found himself as Captain while Aaron Ramsey got his first World Cup game in a Welsh side that featured 1 current Bluebird and 4 former ones.
Meanwhile, John Toshack, as if to confirm he got his tactics badly wrong last weekend, overlooked using either of his ageing defensive midfielders of Fletcher and Robinson while Earnie and Vokes were recognised striker if it the formation wasn't a flat 4-4-2. Why the hell didn't he do that against Finland?
Wales: Hennessey, Ricketts, Ashley Williams, Collins, Nyatanga, Davies, Ramsey, Ledley, Bale, Earnshaw, Vokes.
Subs: Myhill, Evans, Fletcher, Cotterill, Gunter, Robinson, Edwards.
Aaron Ramsey put in a mature and classy show and must surely be a permanent resident in the Senior side and he inspired those aroudn him but after a promising start, Wales were rocked by the game's star performer - Chelsea's Michael Ballack blasting a deviating 25 yarder past Wayne Hennessey after 11 minutes. Fanastic shot but you felt the keeper should have got to it.
While Wales collapsed going behind last weekend, they hit back tonight taking the game to the Germans and were denied by an appalling decision midway through the half as Joe Ledley charged into the box, Tasci slipped in front of him and so clearly pushed the ball away with his arm on the ground as Joe was going around him. The Norwegian ref in a perfect position somehow refused a blatant penalty that could/should also have seen the Germans reduced to 10 men.
It remained 1-0 at the interval, Earnie denied at one end, Hennessey making tow good saves at the other but with Wales threatening to get back into the game, hopes was dashed, if not ended, just two minutes into the 2nd half as a German got a lucky rebound off a James Collins challenge and Swansea City man Ashley Williams turned into his own net under no particular pressure. Why couldn't the useless Jacks have done that on Sunday against Cardiff at Ninian Park ... hopefully, he will !!
Earnie was denied as Wales repsonded again but there was to be no consolation. However pride was restored. Maybe that's all we could possibly have hoped for.
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