By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
Wales’ dreams of reaching the EURO 2016 final were ended in
gallant fashion in the semi-finals by Portugal on Wednesday night.
Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani in three second-half
minutes earned a 2-0 win for the Portuguese in Lyon. It ensures they take their
place in the showpiece event against France in Paris on Sunday evening.
The Welsh dragon was finally tamed and although disappointed
they fell at the final hurdle; they should be proud and ecstatic of these
amazing efforts over the last few weeks.
In memory
of Gary
Wales have been one of the most united camps from the outset
at EURO 2016. Their ‘Together Stronger’ motto has been
demonstrated throughout; whether it was anytime they celebrated a goal, to the
joy they showed in their team hotel when Iceland stunned England in the Round-of-16.
They’ve done it from the depths of despair and a national
tragedy that united the game and the country. Deep down, they’ve done it for
the missing leader, Gary Speed.
In December 2010, Speed was appointed Wales’s manager with
the international team in crisis. They were ranked as low as 117th
in the FIFA World Rankings and were continuing to underachieve. Yet, Speed saw
a vision and starting putting in the building blocks for the future.
He appointed Aaron Ramsey as skipper, brought in sport
scientists onto the coaching team and new training regimes that gave the
national team a huge lift. They won three of their last four qualifiers for
EURO 2012, charged into 45th in the rankings and then beat Norway
4-1 in a friendly in November 2011.
Two weeks after this great performance, Gary Speed was found
dead. He had apparently committed suicide. He was just 42 years old.
Welsh football was united in grief and astonishment. The
questions of why and how this could happen began. He was a born leader, an
inspirational man and a well-respected member in the game.
Chris Coleman, who was very close to Speed, took the job two
months later. Things started badly.
They lost 6-1 in Serbia in World Cup
qualifying and he contemplated walking away. However he stuck with the job,
made some tinkering changes to what Speed had laid down and it has led Welsh
football now to be the pride of the home nations.
Despite all of their success and joy, they’ve always thought
and had a place in their hearts for Gary Speed. This journey would not have had
its vindication had he not put the foundations in place. I’m sure Gary is
looking down on the team and smiling. He would be proud of what they’ve
achieved this summer in France.
Ronaldo
comes good at last
Wales shouldn’t have any regrets about this tournament but
there was a feeling that Portugal were for the taking. They didn’t win any of
their group matches, edged out Croatia in a dreadful game of football and then
needed penalties to end Poland’s dreams.
You could say they’ve done it the ugly way but you don’t
reach a EURO final by accident. Portugal have shown great resolve, dug in deep
and when it has been necessary, provided the quality needed to settle matches.
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| Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates breaking the deadlock in the Lyon semi |
It has been a frustrating competition for Ronaldo (pictured). Apart
from his two goals against Hungary in the final round of group games, the
Portugal captain hasn’t had a vintage tournament. On the semi-final stage
though, he came good as you would expect him too.
Ronaldo broke the deadlock in the 50th minute
with a towering header that saw him climb above a static James Chester. It
means he now moves level with Michel Platini in terms of being the top
goalscorer in European Championships history. He will be desperate to break
that record at the weekend. This was the night where he put his fellow Galactico,
Gareth Bale in the shade.
Once again, it was a game that never really got going in
terms of overall quality but Portugal won’t care about that. They are into the
final and have a shot now at becoming major tournament winners for the first
time in their history. Can they overwrite the demons of that EURO 2004 final
defeat on home soil to Greece when they froze at the final hurdle?
Wales have fallen but along with Iceland, theirs has been
the best story of these past four weeks at EURO 2016. They now have the
platform to become the leading light in British international football for many
years to come. They did it stronger than the other home nations and they did it
together as a team too.
My best
three players of the match
Man of the Match: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
This was Ronaldo’s night. He bossed the aerial battles and
although James Collins kept him in close quarters throughout, you always
thought he was in a losing battle. His leap to head home the opening goal was
dynamic and he will claim an assist for Nani’s goal – even if it looked like a
shot. If he delivers on Sunday, he can still claim to be the Player of the
Tournament.
2nd: Jose Fonte (Portugal)
After Hungary scored three goals past them in the group
stages, Fonte was called into the team as Pepe’s regular central defensive
partner. Since then, they’ve conceded just once. He looked assured, confident
and solid throughout. Never put a foot wrong and even at 32-years old, he has
certainly shored things up at the back for Portugal.
3rd: Gareth Bale (Wales)
Bale was overshadowed by Aaron Ramsey for most of the
competition but the latter’s suspension for this match meant he was always
going to be the main danger. He kept pulling into dangerous positions and always
looked the most threatening for his team. It wasn’t a classic display but he
kept going right until the final whistle and has underlined here why he is one
of the world’s best.
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