Wales lost their first match since their Euros last sixteen tonking by Denmark in Copenhagen almost a year ago tonight as Poland came from behind to beat them 2-1 with a couple of goals in the final twenty minutes.
Of course, the absolute priority for this group of June games is Sunday’s Play Off Final where the winner will take part in the World Cup in Qatar in November and December and so what would have been a very attractive campaign in the top tier of the Nations League will take something of a back seat with Wales’ prospects of an immediate relegation back to the second level, already looking on the cards in a group that includes Belgium and the Netherlands as well as the Poles, being made all the more likely.
It was no surprise therefore to see what was close to a reserve Welsh team lining up tonight. Danny Ward and Wayne Hennessy played a half each in goals, there was a back three which, to my mind consisted of a centreback in Chris Mepham and two natural full backs in Chris Gunter and Rhys Norrington-Davies.
At left wing back, Wes Burns of Ipswich was given a debut – Burns has made a career for himself in the lower divisions after City’s Academy decided not to offer him a deal at the age of sixteen. However, he appears to have taken a step forward in 21/22 with an impressive twelve assists at League One level. Tonight, Burns started confidently and did not look out of place in the slightest – he didn’t look a third tier player on this evidence and you wouldn’t think he’ll end up as a one cap wonder..
On the right, it was a surprise to see central midfielder Matt Smith lining up in that position (more on him later). Dylan Levitt, who became very popular with Dundee United fans as his loan spell at that club proceeded and Joe Morrell. Johnny Williams was used in a number ten role and Keiffer Moore and Dan James combined up front.
The last named player was the only one in the side who could be called a regular performer at Premier League level last season. Indeed, I make it there were one who’s playing at League Two level, three in League One and one in the SPL involved and none of the three Championship players have been getting regular games at their current clubs.
Yet, it was a Welsh performance which showed how much more strength in depth we have these days compared to even five or six years ago and, in the end, it seemed to me that a draw would have been the fairer result.
Indeed, Wales were the more impressive of the two sides when it came to things like keeping possession in tight areas and working the ball around the pitch in general whereas the generally physically stronger Poles had the more effective press and had the closer misses in an even and open first half.
The best chance of the opening period came in just the third minute when the unmarked Piotr Zielinski headed about a yard wide from a central position eight yards out. By and large, the impressive Mepham coped well with Robert Lewandowski, but the player who is probably the best striker in the world currently did go on a long run down the right which took him through some pretty powder puff Welsh tackling and he was only foiled in the end by a fine save by Ward.
Up the other end, for all of Wales impressive build up play and some high quality link ups between Moore and James, Poland were only seriously troubled once when the latter fired wide from fifteen yards out.
Besides the change in goal, Wales swapped Moore and James with Mark Harris and Rabbi Matondo at half time and we’re never quite as impressive again. That’s not to say they were poor though, far from it – in fact, for much of the second period, they looked to be on their way to an impressive win after they had scored on fiftytwo minutes through their League Two player.
Matondo, quick and confident in possession after his fine season in Belgium caused problems down Poland’s left before the ball was worked to Jonny Williams who struck a skimming twenty yarder with his right foot into the far corner of the net. At first, it seemed to me that Grabara in the Polish goal should have saved it, but, on watching replays of the goal, I’m not so sure now.
The Poles had little to offer in the minutes following the goal and it was all looking pretty comfortable for Wales, but, out on their right, Matt Smith was looking like a central midfielder playing at wing back – that’s not meant as a criticism because that’s exactly what he was and, generally speaking, he was playing well, but, for me, the instincts of a wide player weren’t there as evidenced by the way he controlled a ball that was heading out of play in a manner which presented possession to Poland and set them on the way to a dangerous attack.
A few minutes later, Smith was easily beaten on his outside in the build up to the equalising goal, but I wouldn’t blame him much for that because, for one of the few times on the night, he was left exposed in a one on one situation and when the cross came in, Gunter was probably guilty of standing off Kaminski too much because, in effect, all he did was present the Polish sub with bigger target which he managed to hit with some style
Still though, Wales looked like getting a point as Matondo moved deeper to help Smith out, but, with five minutes left, a casual piece of play by the ex City youngster turned over possession in a dangerous position. However, the home side still needed a lot of luck to get their winner as, first, Lewandowski’s shot was deflected into the path of Swiderski who scuffed a shot from four yards that the desperate Mepham was just unable to keep out of the net.
Smith had a chance in added time when the unconvincing Grabara flapped at a corner from Sorba Thomas, on as a sub for Williams, but he had no time to really set himself and couldn’t keep his shot down.
So Wales now move on to face Ukraine on Sunday who played like a team on a mission as they deservedly beat a Scotland side who didn’t really turn up until the last fifteen minutes 3-1. On tonight’s evidence, it’s going to be very tough for Wales against a side that appear to be inspired by the horrible position their country is in, but I did at least think their goalkeeper looked to be a weak link we might be able to exploit.
