Wales’ wait to qualify for a World Cup goes on.
The country reached the 1958 competition in Sweden, and were expected to end that 60 year exile from the World Cup by qualifying for next summer’s tournament in Russia.
Wales were top seeds in Group D, ahead of rivals Serbia, the Republic of Ireland and Austria, and went into qualifying on the back of a fantastic showing at Euro 2016, where they lost to winners Portugal in the semi-finals.
Their form didn’t carry into qualifying for the World Cup, but Chris Coleman’s side went into the last game at home to Ireland on Monday night with their fate in their own hands.
However, for the first time in four years, Wales lost on their own patch. James McClean’s second-half goal was enough to win the match for Martin O’Neill’s team and secure a play-off place.
Wales dominated possession, but couldn’t find a way through a determined and resolute Irish defence, creating few chances of note. Gareth Bale’s absence meant Coleman’s team had no-one to call upon for a moment of magic, and the forced substitution of Joe Allen in the 36th minute proved the turning point in the match.
The Stoke City midfielder had been Wales’ best player, dictating proceedings from deep and getting his teammates on the ball with some clever passing. When Allen went off, Wales’ suffered a lobotomy and the game became more even. Aaron Ramsey, who had started the match in an advance midfield position, dropped deeper into Allen’s position, but couldn’t mirror the performance of his teammate.
Ramsey was excellent for Wales at Euro 2016, but had a frustrating night as nothing he attempted came off. His performance was summed up by a wayward free-kick in the second-half, which flew over the bar from 35 yards out.
@aaronramsey free kick summed up #wales night ⚽️😬😂 @FAWales #WorldCup bring on Euro 2020👀🤙🏼 pic.twitter.com/QxoaqKhltS
— luke phillips (@LJP93) October 9, 2017
Very few Wales players did themselves justice in the defeat, but Ramsey’s performance, in particular, came in for heavy criticism.
The Arsenal midfielder possibly felt the added burden to drag his team through the game with Bale and Allen absent. However, his efforts were criticised.
Aaron Ramsey is so Arsenal it's so obvious to see.
😂😂
— Ricky Sacks 🎙 (@RickySacks) October 9, 2017
Number 10-Ramsey probably one of the best international players in the world. CM-Ramsey looking worse much than Jeff Hendrick.
— reverse_ball (@reverse_ball) October 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/samueljoshua90/status/917488595719671808
https://twitter.com/afranklin27/status/917489374249537537
https://twitter.com/KaizerT8_/status/917651018510413824
https://twitter.com/petetwm/status/917503270788231173
In all seriousness, can you realistically award Ramsey anything more than a 3/10 tonight? Been incredibly poor
— Nathan Salt (@NathSalt1) October 9, 2017
looll remember when people said ramsey was as good as bale🙂
— chloe (@chlo_l99) October 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/tom_powell06/status/917551474590322694
Well done Ireland. We were crap tonight. Ramsey was poor. We missed Allen when he went off.
— Mikey Roberts 🏴 (@mikeyroberts81) October 9, 2017
