Goodbye to Wales

The dream is finally over. Wales couldn’t repeat their glorious victory over Belgium and went out at the semi-final stage to possibly the worst team, bar Greece to ever reach a European Championships final. But as their players and fans have all been saying since last night, they should hold their heads up very high.
Certain parts of the British Isles have not had a lot to smile about in the last few weeks. Politics doesn’t seem to be working, the England football team is even worse than it has been in the past and the weather has been shit. But the performance of first Northern Ireland and then Wales has made everyone and I include most open minded English people in this a little bit better about ourselves. Perhaps these Islands can produce happiness and sporting excellence after all.
In hindsight, although Wales are not a two man team, they are massively reliant on those two men. Gareth Bale was obviously still one of the best two players on the pitch although it’s possible he was trying just a bit too hard last night. But in full flow, he’s still a sight to behold and there’s really nothing he can’t do with a football. When most players get the ball forty yards out, my first thought is not ‘go on, have a shot’. But with him, you think ‘why not?’. As for Aaron Ramsey, losing him was a huge blow for Wales. He was the glue that held everything together. It’s hard to believe that the guy I’ve watched labouring in Arsenal’s midfield for the last few seasons is the same person who has appeared to be one of the best players in Europe these last three weeks.
As for the rest of the team and the squad, it’s only when they were bringing on the substitutes that I stated to realise the magnitude of the achievement. Simon Church (“who’s that?” said me. “He plays for Milton Keynes Dons” said my son), Johnny Williams (“who does he play for?” said me. “No idea” said my son). It’s phenomenal what they’ve done.
Chris Coleman should get so much credit. He’s taken a team that often pulled in three or four thousand for international matches and transformed them into a team that will be greeted by hundreds of thousands of fans when they land in Wales sometime on Friday morning.
As for Portugal, they are so unadventurous and lacking in style that I can barely watch them. And I fervently hope that France or Germany beat them in the final. But it’s always worth tuning in to see Ronaldo. And that header was a thing of beauty. Whatever you may think of this preening, selfish narcissist, there is no doubt that when he puts his mind to it, he’s a great athlete. If Wales were going to lose, at least they lost to greatness.