CARDIFF — The pre-match atmosphere at Wales home games must rival anything in world football. Nothing stirs like a throaty folk song; Yma o Hyd has become a celebration of the rise of a national football team that slept for too long. Hear the Red Wall roar its defiance – “Despite everyone and everything, we’re still here” and, sat in the stands, even you think you could win a major tournament play-off if asked. I probably won’t be, not least because I’m not Welsh.
This is a symbol of Wales’ reconnection with its national team because, like everything that came with it, it is drenched in the desire to use patriotism as fuel: Welsh language, Welsh identity, Welsh pride, Welsh football. It has brought a generation with it and taken care to include them all. I’m not saying that you can tell the story of this team through thousands of red, yellow and green bucket hats, but I’d read 5,000 words on the theory.
That the Cardiff City Stadium hosts nights like these is itself a symbol. The Millennium Stadium is down the road and the biggest matches could fill it. But this is home because it created a sound and sight that seemed to stir something new. In 2012, Wales played in front of 6,253 people against Bosnia. Times have changed irrevocably and for the better. Whether they sing through lament or triumphant pride, they do it loudly.
You could argue all day about whether the success drove the culture or the culture drove the success. The best answer is one of symbiosis. In 2016, Wales’ players described the European Championship as like going on holiday with a group of mates. An environment was forged through the tragedy of Gary Speed and used patriotism as its core, but nothing generates goodwill like unexpected, overdue achievement. There are giants everywhere offering their shoulders to stand on.
That decade created two different mini-ages of Wales. The first – the “Go and wake up your kids” era (a nod to Robbie Savage’s magnificent co-commentary line) – gave way to the ageing superstar era: Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen, Chris Gunter all 31 or older and finally realising the World Cup dream. Qatar was a step too far when they got there, but the six-year journey was etched indelibly into folklore.
Now Wales are entering a new era. Part of this is driven by the expansion of major international tournaments, but largely it reflects the natural path of success: hope has become expectation. They went to France nine years ago in disbelief that they were taking part. Now there will be anger at ever missing out again.
That would be difficult to manage anyway, but the personnel within Wales’ squad is complicated as the last fumes of the great generation slip into football old age. Last week’s 1-0 win in Liechtenstein was the first competitive Wales game without Bale, Ramsey or Davies since losing to Georgia at home in September 2008.
There is talent, and the hope is that teamwork may be the trump card. Neco Williams and Joe Rodon are Premier League regulars and leaders, Ethan Ampadu the same when available. But there had been a chronic lack of goals, Brennan Johnson hadn’t shown his best and Harry Wilson was the lone creative force.
Uncomfortable questions surrounded Craig Bellamy, although he had evidently earned patience and goodwill. Are we sure he’s any good? Are we sure we’re any good? Wales had beaten one nation in the world’s top 70 since their World Cup playoff win in 2022. They had only beaten Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein in 2025.
We could watch that Harry Wilson free-kick on repeat
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) November 18, 2025
A hat-trick for the Fulham midfielder in his first game as Wales captain#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/oGvwidgwWC
That changed on Tuesday, or at least that’s the hope; those two droughts are certainly over. Johnson was the game’s best player off the left and driving inside. Wilson played as a false nine, linked play and scored a hat-trick. Each of the four most attacking starters scored.
There was finally the zippy, one-touch build-up play supporters have urged for. Wales scored seven for the first time since 1978 and it felt like a breakout night. Put simply: Wales looked like they were having fun. There were oles a few days after beating Liechtenstein 1-0.
All of this is hard to process for supporters. Some may disagree, but that age of overperformance seemed to suit Wales’ own identity as a football team. It’s mainly a compliment because of how the team and the public have come irrevocably closer to each other, but in recent months the negativity surrounding results and team selection has been noticeable.
The only answer is for Bellamy to make this team better again and maintain its standards. The superstars aren’t coming back and there are no natural heirs to their majesty. The component parts don’t always fit and it isn’t always easy to see the best tactical plan anyway. As for depth, the ten outfield substitutes on Tuesday were split 6-4 between Championship and League One. If that means squeezing more out of less, it is the only choice.
But the place to start will always be at home. In May 2025, the FAW published its national syllabus on the game: “First kick to national team”. It is a mightily impressive document, covering elite coaching development, small-sided football at every age group and the reinforcement of Welsh identity that runs as the aorta through the sport.
Your next read
Fifteen years ago, that may have been laughed out of town. Now it’s the legacy landmark. Forget the tales of Wales and ales and Bales for a second, although they obviously matter deeply. Those teams didn’t just create memories; they created a future.
Home will always be where Wales’ heart resides. That is why winning – and winning so heavily – on Tuesday was so important, because Cardiff has played witness to how they can drag a team on during win-or-bust occasions and they will play at least one of their playoff matches here.
Perhaps it might be best to draw one of the bigger boys and be the underdog again. They will fear nobody. Despite everyone and everything, and because of them too, they are still here.
from Football - The i Paper https://ift.tt/4evTw2K
Post a Comment