Try keeping a lid on expectations in Wales now. This will go down as the night when Chris Coleman’s side took a significant step towards the European Championship finals in France next year as Gareth Bale, with a free-kick of the highest quality and a superbly taken second goal, delivered the best possible response to his critics and all that talk at Real Madrid about his apparent loss of form.
Bale was unplayable in the second half as Wales took command of Group B with an outstanding performance. With his side ahead through Aaron Ramsey’s first-half header, Bale struck twice after the interval to take his tally for Wales to six in his last six games and 16 in 49 internationals, overtaking the great John Charles in the process. He would have left the pitch holding the match ball but for an instinctive save from Ofir Marciano in the 86th minute.
It was, in short, a perfect evening for Wales as Coleman’s team ended Israel’s 100% record in emphatic fashion and leapfrogged their opponents at the top of the group.
Still unbeaten and with 11 points from five matches, now is the time for Wales to dream, despite the wins later in the night for their group rivals Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Fittingly, and emotively, the Wales players dedicated a result that Coleman described as the best of his reign to Dai Williams, their kitman who passed away last month.
Israel were comprehensively beaten and by the end it was an exercise in damage limitation for a team that threatened only sporadically and were forced to play the final 39 minutes with 10 men after the hapless Eytan Tibi was booked twice in three minutes for fouls on Bale. Eli Guttman, Israel’s coach, has some task on his hands to pick his players up for Belgium’s visit on Tuesday.
Bale’s first goal was a beauty and felt like a prod in the ribs for Cristiano Ronaldo, given that his Real Madrid team-mate has taken more than 50 direct free-kicks without scoring. Bale proved more reliable here and it was tempting to feel sorry for the Israel player who broke from the wall and retreated to the goalline to try and help Marciano. Two goalkeepers would have struggled to keep the ball out.
Thirteen minutes from time Bale linked up beautifully with Ramsey and struck again, sweeping home a left-footed shot that prompted raucous scenes among the 950 travelling supporters.
“We are top of the league” was ringing out in the final minutes on a glorious night for Welsh football.
“We’re in a good position now and we’ve got a chance of qualifying,” Bale said. “It was a great evening. We knew this would be a big game. It was a top-of-the-table clash and that’s something we don’t often get to say, but it’s amazing to be top. We came out for the second half buzzing and showed what a good team we are. Dai, the kitman, passed away a few weeks ago and this is for him.”
Coleman was full of praise for Bale. “What’s a plus with international football is when you come away from your clubs, then your mind is on something else,” he said.
“It’s been widely publicised about what’s going on with Madrid, there’s a bit of criticism flying at Gareth, but he did tonight what he’s been doing for some time with Wales. He got his sleeves rolled up and mucked in like everyone else. When you’ve got the ability that boy has got, then anything is possible. But he’s doing the hard work as well.”
While Bale and Ramsey provided the defining moments in a one-sided game, Joe Allen’s contribution should not be overlooked. Snapping into tackles in front of a three-man defence and using the ball intelligently, the Liverpool midfielder set the tempo for Wales. Coleman described Allen as magnificent.
The only surprise was that Wales had to wait until the stroke of half-time to take the lead. James Collins squandered a wonderful chance in the 19th minute, when Bale picked him out at the far post and the West Ham defender contrived to tread on the ball. Ramsey was not so generous when opportunity knocked. Running on to a flick on from Bale after Wayne Hennessey’s punt upfield, the Arsenal midfielder sent a looping header over Marciano.
Things got even better for Wales shortly after the restart. Brought down by Tibi on the edge of the area, Bale picked himself up and struck a splendid free-kick that flew inside Marciano’s near post.
Tibi was cautioned on that occasion and the defender picked up a second yellow card moments later for another foul on Bale.
With Wales rampant and Israel in disarray, Sam Vokes came close to adding a third before Bale, striding on to Ramsey’s lovely cutback, applied the coup de grâce. Next up for Wales is the visit of Belgium in June. Optimism abounds. “We’ve got the chance to do something special,” Coleman said.
