But on the plus side we were finally there! I think we'll all feel some disappointment for some time as it really felt like a missed opportunity, however, it's the only time in my lifetime so far that Wales have made it to the finals and so for that alone I am grateful. TBH I reckon we, over time, will feel much better about our experience of this World Cup than say Germany, Spain, Belgium and even England. The day we start going into major tournaments with expectation rather than hope is the day I'll really start cringing as in my view it'll mean our fans will have fallen into the same trap as the English in believing all the media hype etc, and as a result will have developed a sense of entitlement and arrogance rather than the humility and hope that we've seen to date.
Reflecting on the last month - some super WC football and a fantastic final to cap it off - breathtaking stuff, but............................ Come on, be honest, aren't you really glad it's all over?
I thought overall the football was brilliant. Didn’t watch the final - driving back from Exeter at the time (in a monsoon) and really didn’t care who won - don’t like either side and can’t give a fk about Messi. On England’s exit; no complaints from me about the actual FOOTBALL - France’s opener was a world class strike and their second was a well taken professional finish from a great player. Kane’s miss was unfortunate but no complaints there either - he missed. End of. I did think the referee made some, let’s say, questionable decisions regarding the ‘fouls’ on Saka and Kane - which might have changed things - who knows? Either way I don’t think we would have beaten Argentina so hey ho ………..
Home nations aside, it was for me more about seeing so many nations we never really see - Japan, Korea, Morocco, Mexico, Australia, USA, Ghana, Senegal etc - play decent open attacking football. Plus the Final was truly breathtaking.
He's gone................. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64214855 EDIT - if I was to be unkind I could say he was just about 2 months late anouncing it......
Shame.... he could still have played a part in the Euro qualifying campaign even in a reduced capacity. One of, if not THE best Welsh player ever to date... cheers Gaz and good luck with whatever you turn to next.
Being amongst the Welsh squad could have worked both ways - we need to move on. Can't argue with what he's been in the past but there's no doubt he's been unable to replicate it for the past couple of seasons. In truth his international cult status has been maintained during that period by some game deciding dead ball free kicks and penalties. Other than that his mere presence in the squad was deemed to be enough. I think he's had other personal priorities since he was virtually frozen out at RM, and continuing in football was the vehicle to achieving them for him and his family. The way it's panned out, I think we dodged a bullet when he chose LA rather than CF11. Best of luck to him wherever he sets down permanent roots - but I doubt it'll be Cardiff over California.
