Danny Gabbidon never struck me as someone who would make much of a pundit during his playing career, but the former City centreback is making a decent career for himself in the media. He is a regular on the excellent Elis James’ Feast of Football podcast and has become a regular summariser on Radio Five’s coverage of recent Wales matches.
Tonight he was there at Cardiff City Stadium giving his thoughts on Wales’ Nations League game with Denmark in which a win would have seen us top the three team group which also includes the Republic of Ireland.
I’d been looking forward to the game all day and was convincing myself that we had a decent chance of beating the Danes, but just a minute of listening to Gabbidon talking about the upcoming game changed my mood completely.
That’s not meant to be a criticism of Danny, because as he talked about how Wales under Ryan Giggs had yet to put on a convincing showing against any of the stronger teams they have faced under their new coach, I knew that he was right.
Uruguay were worth more than a 1-0 win over us when we faced them in the China Cup in Giggs’ second match in charge, Spain won at a canter in the Principality Stadium last month and Denmark were too good for us when played them in Aarhus in September. The only result against a stronger side we have gained so far under Ryan Giggs was a 0-0 draw with Mexico where grim and resolute defence was the order of the day.
Go down a level from that and Giggs’ Wales looked like they could become something special as they stuffed China 6-0 and did a double over a Republic of Ireland side which is obviously struggling at present. However, Gabbidon was right before a ball was kicked tonight and he was even more right after a watchable encounter in which Denmark were worthy of their 2-1 win over opponent that fought commendably and had their plans disrupted by injuries to defenders which saw them have to make a couple of substitution which a team trying to claw back a 1-0 deficit would only make if they were forced upon them.
The BBC’s match stats show Wales having more of the ball, more shots (on and off target) and more corners and yet for so much of the game it all looked pretty comfortable for the Danes who have an outstanding record over the past two years – particularly in terms of goals conceded where they averaging something like half a goal a game let in over their past twenty odd games.
The Danes are a physically imposing side who were just too strong for their Welsh counterparts on many occasions, they also gave us no time on the ball in the middle of the park and were able to show that they do not have to rely on Christian Eriksen for their flair and stylish football.
Wales weren’t blameless when it came to either of the goals they conceded, but credit has to be given to the Danes for the way they opened us up on the counter attack for their first goal (they got their opportunity to break when Tom Lawrence was robbed off the ball on the edge of their own penalty area in a passage of play which tended to prove my point about Denmark being too physically imposing for us when it came to many of the one on ones all over the park).
For the second one, Martin Braithwaite, a player who seems to be so much more effective playing for his country than he is when representing Middlesbrough, took advantage of slack marking by sub Ethan Ampadu to volley in an unstoppable goal.
However, Gareth Bale finished in exemplary style as he latched on to Ashley Williams’ ball forward to round Kasper Schmeichel and slide the ball in within a minute of Braithwaite’s effort to set up a finish where the sell out home crowd still had hopes that Wales could snatch a draw.
It’s been a while now since Bale has been as influential in a game for Wales as he was being as a matter of course in the period covered by his last couple of seasons at Spurs and his first one at Real Madrid, but tonight he was closer to being that player than he has been for some time.
Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Aaron Ramsey who contributed little in a withdrawn role alongside Joe Allen. Ramsey, who it was claimed today is likely to sign for Bayern Munich in the summer when his Arsenal contract runs out, looked the same distracted player who is in danger of slipping quickly down the pecking order with the Gunners as his career with them winds down.
I feel Ramsey would have been better suited to the sort of number ten role he was given in France 2016, but, instead, Giggs went with the youthful trio of Tom Lawrence, David Brooks and Tyler Roberts to accompany Bale when we attacked.
For me, this was an over reliance on youth in forward areas against a side which has considerable defensive expertise and power – Brooks did well for much of the game, Lawrence had his moments, but also tended to struggle in the physical battles , while Roberts had a tough time of it against a pair of dominant centrebacks.
Despite all of this Danish superiority I talk about, the truth is that a bit more precision to Welsh finishing could well have seen us celebrating a historic victory tonight – James Chester should certainly have scored with the first of two good headed chances he had from around eight yards out and Bale would normally be expected to put away the opportunity given to him by an excellent Connor Roberts cross not long before half time.
Add on a Brooks shot which looked to have beaten Schmeichel before whistling just past an upright and a Bale free kick which brought the save of the match from the keeper and Wales could legitimately argue that the chances were created for us to win the game.
Wales also did not have much luck over the ninety minutes as injuries to Chester and Paul Dummett saw them both forced off before the game was fifty minutes old. The two casualties were replaced by Chris Gunter, winning a record equaling ninety second cap, and Ethan Ampadu, so the only change attacking Giggs could make as his side chased the goals to win their group was to bring on Harry Wilson when Tyler Roberts was withdrawn.
So, the group is already settled with Denmark promoted to the A group which will include all of the top sides, Wales staying where they are and the Republic being relegated – we’ll also be in the Play Offs for Euro 2020 if Denmark qualify through the group stage. These groups are drawn next month with fixtures starting during the next international break in June – based on what we’ve seen so far of Giggs’ Wales, I’d say that draw will have to be pretty kind to us for us to qualify through from our group.
Finally, good luck wishes to Blaenrhondda FC who travel to Cwmamman United for a Second Round Welsh Cup tie postponed from last weekend. Their hosts are in the Welsh League Division One (the same one Ton Pentre play in) which is four divisions above Blaenrhondda in the Welsh football pyramid, but they can take hope from the fact that they won at the ground of a team from the division below Cwmamman, Garden Village, in the last round – the prize for the winners is an attractive home tie with Aberystwyth Town who are currently sixth in the Welsh Premier League.
Hi Paul. Thanks for this.
I was there and real missed opportunity. At the beginning I thought a brave move with the decision to go with attacking youngsters but they were well marshalled by the experienced Danes.
There were genuine moments of good play and individual brilliance – especially Brooks who is turning into some player. However , for all that, after initial exchanges the Danes bossed midfield and were knocking on the door before they split us open for the first goal.
No doubt that Ampadu is a class act and precociously talented, but his needless retribution and conceding of consequent free kick led to him not being in the zone when the splendidly named Braithwaite scored what turned out to be the winner.
Lots of nonsense on Radio Wales phone in about poor performances and Giggs tactical naivety . Some of this true, but more important that lessons now learned and we don’t forget this is a talented new team which is still evolving and finding its best formation etc
Anyway, mighty Albania next and then back to the City next week for some light relief!
Again it had to be a tv live watch for me: As soon as I saw the team pre-match, I was concerned for our defence. I accept that Wenger and Giggs know a whole lot more than me about football than me! But I will never be convinced that Ramsey (who I admire hugely) is the right fit for a predominantly defensive midfield role. His ability to get up an down the field together with his experience enables him to play a useful role when needed in defence but that is not where he should be based. It is with some sadness that I also find myself agreeing with Paul’s comments about his apparent distraction at times. I don’t know if Ampadu was fit enough to start but, if he was, then I would have liked to have him employed in the role given to Ramsey. Pre-match I was also disappointed to see that Tyler Roberts had been preferred to Sam Vokes as the central striker. With 2 lively wide players to provide the crosses I felt that he should definitely have started and could have been replaced if he ran out of steam in the second half. Vokes has been getting more starts of late and is regularly up against better quality defenders than Tyler. In one of his post match interviews Mr. Giggs said that he thought his players will have learnt a great deal from playing against a stronger and well organised side. I hope he meant to include himself in this learning process!
Thanks for the replies Huw and Mike.Huw, I agree with most of the conclusions you come to – we were too reliant on youngsters up front and you’re right about Ampadu’s reaction to a challenge which, to be fair to him, should have seen a red card shown to Dolberg for what looked to me to be a premeditated challenge. While I agree with Mike when it comes to Giggs’ selection (Tyler Roberts could well turn into a good player for Wales, but he was given a huge task on Friday and Vokes, or Bale in a more central position, would have been a better option for me), I tend to take the view that we probably would have lost whatever the selection and however we were set up tactically because, at the moment, Denmark are simply a better team than us (their captain and best central defender was missing through injury). As I mentioned in the piece, I would have used Ramsey in a more advanced position with Ampadu or, probably, Smith alongside Allen, but he should be a good enough player to produce better in a deeper position than he showed on Friday. For me, Ramsey’s a bit like Ken Zohore this season in that neither of them have been at the races so far – he did make a big impact when coming off the bench at Fulham, but, apart from that, he’s shown little or nothing for club or country.