This was a day where spirit and stickability got Wales through, a day when Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey stepped aside and let other people shine.
Joe Rodon and Connor Roberts were excellent in their defensive work – they threw themselves in the way of everything – and Chris Gunter used all of his experience.
It was all about determination and fight and, as a result, although Italy dominated the game – as they are well capable of, as they’re a good team – our goalkeeper, Danny Ward, didn’t have to make too many big saves.
If you’d told me before the tournament that we’d lose 1-0 in Italy with 10 men and still qualify in second place, I’d have taken that.
It’s great that Wales have got out of the group for the second Euros running and the probable opponents in the next round – the Group B runners-up, which in all likelihood means Russia or Finland – both look beatable in a straight knockout match.
At the same time, because Wales have raised expectations, I always expect more so while I’m delighted they got the job done, I don’t want to celebrate losing.
They conceded an avoidable goal from a set piece when they were ball-watching and they missed two decent chances to equalise.
Ramsey’s chance was difficult as it was at an angle and the goalkeeper did well to give him nothing to shoot at. As for Bale’s volley, sometimes he can hit them so sweet but he didn’t get over the ball and it was miles wide.
On reflection I wonder if Robert Page could have been less adventurous in his starting XI. He could have picked another defensive midfielder and made it more difficult for Italy to get through, and then sent on one of his match-winners when the game got stretched.
Instead, we invited pressure. We dropped deep like against Switzerland, which meant too big a gap to the front. Moreover, with a front three of Bale, Ramsey and Dan James, every time the keeper kicked it, none of those three was ever going to win the ball in the air and so it kept on coming back.
As for the sending-off, although Ethan Ampadu caught him above the ankle, I thought it was just late, rather than intentional – so just a yellow for me. Wales have got five days’ rest now and that’s going to be important because three games in a short space of time is a lot for Bale, Ramsey and Joe Allen given none of them have played much football, so the recovery will help them.
And the stickability they showed in Rome is encouraging. In knockout football, it doesn’t have to be pretty, you just have to get the job done. Remember when Greece won it in 2004? They did enough to get through each time and that’s what Wales have to keep on doing.
More from i on Euro 2020
- The football nomad who became a hero for his role in saving Eriksen’s life
- How Ronaldo’s Coca-Cola stunt could change the face of football sponsorship
- In praise of Emma Hayes, the best pundit at Euro 2020 so far
- Eriksen collapse has thrown a spotlight on football’s relentless thirst for more
- How to watch every Euro 2020 match on TV and online in the UK
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3cXiBcf
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