Let’s hope that in a year’s time we don’t all think: “If only Ashley WIlliams had scored.”
No quibbles with the outcome, a fair reflection of a strangely entertaining game. Not many 0-0s are so engrossing.
But it would be nice to have an unfair reflection of the game in the scoreline someday, unfair in our favour.
It’s now or never, isn’t it?
If we can’t qualify when the gates gape as wide as Euro2016’s do, it isn’t going to happen.
Twenty-three teams go through and, after sifting out the no-hopers, that means about 36 countries are vying for those slots.
It all started so well. Was it an omen? The clerk at Sarajevo’s Lion Hostel (Grrrrrrr!) asked: “English?”
“No, Welsh!”
He’d heard of us!
“Wales? Jimmyfloydhasselbaink! Very good game against Coventry.”
Germany matches are always a thrill.
Back in the day if they lost and you were there you were guaranteed an unforgettable experience and a warming dose of schadenfreude that flooded organs you didn’t know you possessed.
Since seeing them three times at the 2006 World Cup, even their wins have become something to relish as my weltanschauung has widened and I learned that the childhood Victor comic German was an embarrassing cliche..
Here’s the cracking 11 Germany games I’ve been to, each memorable in its own way.
I blame the Dutch for everything, good and bad.
Continue reading Chewed lips in Amsterdam – Holland 2 Wales 0
Welsh fans drew 3-3 in a 70-minute friendly in the shadow of the Amsterdam Arena this afternoon.
And still they don`t come.
Wales under-21 games have never been a crowd-puller – Aaron Ramsey was the only player ever to make it a night to relish.
And even the old enemy as opposition were unable to pull in the crowd in Swansea.
They missed a decent contest played with real passion and pace.
The Welsh women’s team wasted a wonderful chance to enhance their World Cup qualification hopes in this fitfully entertaining draw.
An equaliser in the 78th minute from the home side’s best player Natasha Harding clawed back a point after Wales showed a lack of wit and trickery.
A win would have opened up a headlong charge for the top spot, with group favourites England to be hosted in August and the result seemed like a missed opportunity.
Did cosmic intergalactic forces divert David Icke from a key mission? And how did Ray Davies survive the curse of Neath to prosper?
Just some of the conundrums the 2014 Laugharne Festival failed to solve.
Icke did not attend and his entourage were reportedly uncontactable. The Kinks’ genius fortunately did appear and was full of bizarre, well-observed tales from an extraordinary career.
St David’s Day, so it had to be the Welsh Cup.
Aberdare. Off the beaten track, somewhere almost no one goes to unless they live nearby or over the other side of the valley.
To no fanfare at all, the new Wales away kit was unveiled in Cardiff’s Queen Street just after 2pm today.
About five fans were present to see the JD Sports red stickers stripped away to reveal the Adidas strip.
Absolutely not my cup of tea at all.
It’s not just the Olympics that dishes out gold medals – the National Eisteddfod does so too.
Cardiff’s cultural crachach were out in force for the launch of the new exhibition at the city’s Millennium Centre this evening.
To celebrate the centre’s tenth anniversary an exhibition of art by winners of the gold medal for art at the National Eisteddfod is running until mid-March.
Continue reading Aur – the golden gang at the Millennium Centre
Miles from Nowhere 