The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I was in tears. Although they suffered a 2-0 defeat in Bosnia, other results managed to go their way and they had finally managed to qualify for only their second major tournament. So this was a special celebration.
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The 2-0 defeat by Bosnia ended Wales’ unbeaten run in Group B, and was their first defeat in 11 competitive matches.
Kevin Blom had his work cut out as fouls were plentiful and Andorra were guilty of time wasting on more than one occasion. They deserve everything they have got. Cardiff was chilly – but it was buzzing.
“It’s exciting times for Welsh football and exciting times for us”.
In previous campaigns, a home game against such limited opponents would have had the Football Association of Wales fearing banks of empty seats and all-round apathy, but a 33,000 sell-out was a testament to the achievements of Coleman’s squad.
“My father talked about John Charles, Ivor Allchurch and Cliff Jones and it was a big psychological barrier to climb”. Even the great Ian Rush, giving interviews pitchside before kick off. In 1977 and 1985, controversial penalties against Scotland meant Wales failed to make another tournament.
“In this campaign we’ve got better at making the right decisions, when to close teams down and when not to close them down”.
In front of a sold-out crowd at the Cardiff City stadium tonight, Wales’s Communications Manager Ian Gwyn Hughes has revealed there will be a bit of a show after tonight’s match.
“They did not come as a tourist, but to play well and pose us problems I would like to congratulate them on qualifying for the European Championship”, Bazdarevic said.
The Andorrans predictably sat back in numbers.
Bale, Wales’ talisman throughout the campaign, menaced with a pair of free-kicks and had a rasping drive parried by goalkeeper Ferran Pol, who also had to tip a header from his own defender Max Llovera over the bar and claw a header by Ramsey out from beneath his crossbar.
Wales captain Ashley Williams added: “Everyone is over the moon”.
Second-half goals from Ramsey and Bale – his seventh of the campaign – got the qualification party started at the Cardiff City Stadium and ensured that Chris Coleman’s men signed off on a winning note.
Wales have friendlies against Portugal and Poland potentially lined up as Coleman tests his side for the battles to come in France next summer.
And after a lengthy stoppage inside the opening ten minutes, when midfielder Victor Pereira was floored following a clash of heads with James Chester before being carrier off on a stretcher, Andorra dug in to frustrate Wales with only the lone forward Aaron Sanchez playing ahead of the ball. This was relaxation time, party hat time, fancy steps on the dancefloor time.
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Earlier on Saturday, Italy also made sure of their place in the finals in France next summer with a 3-1 win in Azerbaijan.
