Euro 2016: Win over Slovakia proves Wales are not here to make up numbers

Wales made it to the European Championships on the back of two things. The first was their miserly defence that conceded just four goals in 10 qualifying matches. The second was Gareth Bale who scored seven and set up two of the 11 goals that Wales scored on route to their first major championships since 1958. Both those elements to Welsh success were on show in the opening minutes of their clash against Slovakia in Bordeaux. In the fifth minute of the game Marek Hamsik waltzed past one player, then two, and then a third before he beat the keeper with a shot that looked to heading into the Welsh net. In a piece of foresight that would have made Spiderman’s precognitive abilities look so-so, Ben Davies slid and hacked the ball clear. For a Wales defence that had been so strong in the qualifiers it was a worry to see them looking so ragged. [caption id=“attachment_2829846” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Wales’ Gareth Bale shoots at goal in the match against Slovakia. Reuters[/caption] It will have been Danny Ward that was most relieved. The Liverpool reserve goalkeeper, who has been on loan at Aberdeen, came into the side for his third Welsh cap after Wayne Hennessy suffered a back spasm in the build-up to the game. It did not take long for Bale to make his presence felt at the other end. A free kick 30 yards out and in front of the goal was conceded after Jonny Williams was brought down. It was only ever going to be Bale that took the set-piece, and obviously he scored. Such is the talismanic nature of the Real Madrid striker for this Welsh team, come the end of this tournament, Bale could well be bronzed, mounted on a plinth and paraded around the ground before, after and during every game Wales play from now on. After that Bale goal Wales took control for most of the first half, and were unlucky not to get another chance of a goal when Martin Skrtel crashed into Williams, seeming to elbow him in the face. The official behind the goal was a matter of yards away and didn’t flag for a penalty. Quite what he was watching as Williams was poleaxed by Skrtel’s elbow is something only he can know. It is difficult to not feel sorry for Williams who seems to be fouled as often as anyone in world football. He has quick feet and is fond of a step over and as a result he seems to get chopped down by clumsy defenders more than most. If he is fouled as often as he was in the opening fixture of this group he will be in line for a lucrative contract as the face of an ice pack manufacturer. Throughout the first two thirds of this game Wales were the more dangerous attacking threat, regularly springing the Slovakian offside trap and forcing a save from Slovakia keeper Matus Kozacik. Perhaps the closest Wales came to going two goals clear was when Joe Allen put in a great cross that Bale headed down and across Kozacik who saved well. That changed on the hour mark when Slovakia brought on Ondrej Duda and Adam Nemec. Duda had an immediate impact when he ran on to an excellent lay off from Robert Mak, ran into the Welsh box and finished with ease. The equaliser came against the run of play but from then on it was Slovakia that took control for a sustained 15 minute period. Wales were happy to ride that out and came out the other side strong. During the closing minutes, the Welsh supporters were back believing, although they were vocal throughout. Then the Welsh confidence and their singing supporters were rewarded. Aaron Ramsey managed to make a run through the Slovakian central defence and dink the ball into the path of Hal Robson-Kanu. The big striker fluffed his shot, hitting the ball with his shin and it dribbled into the goal. This back and forth match wasn’t over there, with the last ten minutes full of action. It would have been 2-2 but for the goal post. A well-directed header from Nemec meant he was nearly the second substitute to get on the scoresheet for the Slovakians. Once the ball was cleared from that near miss Gareth Bale found himself with the ball and in about 40 yards of space. He was supported by Ramsey and the two of them only had two defenders and the goalkeeper to beat. Bale laid the ball off to Ramsey who decided to take an extra few touches rather than go for goal. It cost him as he was closed down by the opposition defence. A near identical situation presented itself a few moments later with Bale with the ball but this time it was Robson-Kanu in support. This time Bale went for goal himself from 25 yards out but scuff the shot. The worry when you have had the chance to finish a game off and haven’t taken it is that you will be made to pay for it. This time Wales did not have to regret those spurned chances as they closed out a 2-1 win. This result is seismic for this group, and with England and Russia playing out a draw, puts huge pressure on England, Wales’ neighbours and fiercest rivals. Having struggled in the warm up games – winning just one game in their last seven – many were wondering if the real achievement for Wales would have been making it to the tournament rather than achieving anything once they are there. This win proves that the Welsh are not here to make up the numbers.