That’s about it from me. I’ll leave you with two things. First, our match report...
...and this, from Owen Davies:
“I think you might be right with ATB, although it does put me in mind of this classic, famously adopted by the Cardiff City fans. I still believe, something good is coming... I’m booking my ticket to France!”
That’s the spirit. Thanks for joining me. Goodbye!
Don’t panic! Wales still need just one point from their final two games to qualify, and those games are against the group’s bottom two sides: Bosnia away, and Andorra at home.
You can’t see the plucky Pyreneans putting up the kind of rearguard action that Israel did; the visitors deserve credit for keeping Wales at bay for ninety minutes, when they were nearly sunk within the first nine.
Israel, who seemed more concerned with wrapping up a playoff place than chasing the top two today, will also need to win their last two games, including a trip to Belgium, to really ruin Wales’s party.
The sense of anticlimax is still palpable, particularly after Simon Church’s (correctly) disallowed goal, and the penalty that wasn’t given against Tibi. Welsh eyes will turn once again to Cyprus, to see if they can deny Belgium and get them through tonight regardless.
Wales haven’t made it in today, but Czech Republic have, after a 2-1 win in Latvia. If Welsh fans need cheering up, they could do worse than look at the plight of Holland and Croatia, who have both lost to dent their qualification chances. More here, from Lawrence Ostlere.
Full-time: Wales 0-0 Israel
They’ll surely still qualify, maybe even tonight, but the Brains stays on ice in Cardiff.
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAA Bale gets a head to an awkward high ball, and flicks it on to Church, who heads in – but the offside flag is up, and rightly so. Chris Coleman spots it, points at the assistant, and the celebrations subside.
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93 mins: Ramsey gets the ball out of his feet, and swings for goal. His shot takes a deflection off Biton, leaving Marciano with an awkward goal-line catch. Despite the collective will of those around him, he takes the ball cleanly.
92 mins: Sahar off for Zahavi. It’s not the speediest substitution you’ll ever see. Time is running out...
90 mins: Wales are penalised for a foul on Marciano from the corner, which looked like pretty much every other corner in the game. Four added minutes.
89 mins: A corner, but the ball sails into Marciano’s gloves. Wales would still be set fair to qualify, but let’s be honest, this would be an anticlimax. They have another corner, though...
88 mins: It’s not ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’, or ‘Seven Nation Army’. It’s a club classic, people! I think it might be this. Wales still haven’t scored.
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86 mins: ...but there’s still time, especially with Gareth Bale around. Bale twists and turns before flicking an early shot towards the far corner. Marciano gets a hand to it, but for a second, it’s loose in front of an open goal. It’s a white shirt that gets there first, though.
85 mins: Chris Coleman goes for broke, throwing on centre-forward Sam Vokes in place of midfielder Andy King. The clock ticks ever onward...
83 mins: Wales take their turn to gambol up field, with Bale opening up the opposition with a dazzling reverse pass, before Ramsey returns the favour, picking out the Real Madrid man in a central spot. There are options, but he’s always going to shoot, and it sails over.
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81 mins: It’s scrappy as you like at the moment, with stewards around the pitch unsure whether to brace themselves for a pitch invasion. Basa makes a fine sliding tackle to rob Taylor, and Israel break, with Ben Haim II picking out Hemed for the left. Hennessey tips the ball over, just to be on the safe side.
79 mins: Ben Haim has been through his full repertoire of time-wasting skills today, hitting the deck or booting the ball away expertly. A Benhaimian Rhapsody, if you will. Ten more minutes, plus stoppage time.
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76 mins: A reminder that with a draw, Wales can still go through tonight, if Belgium fail to win at Cyprus. That’s not how it’s supposed to happen though, and Wales will keep pushing. Simon Church is coming on for Robson-Kanu, who has been very good indeed.
74 mins: Wales are camped in the Israel half once again, but the visiting defence is standing firm. I’m not trying to jinx it, they really are – but Bale’s deep cross causes a ripple of panic, before Richards is penalised for a foul on Ben Haim.
71 mins: Robson-Kanu continues to be a nuisance, brushing off challenges left, right and centre as Wales search for the goal. They have twenty minutes or so. “Sounds like Born to Run to me” says my colleague Dan Lucas (see 63 minutes). No, that’s not the one.
69 mins: Israel have ridden that storm out, and are knocking the ball around in midfield with a sudden degree of comfort.
Apropos of nothing, here’s Russell Richardson: “Perhaps you could help by putting the Guardian curse on? Something like ‘Israel looking pretty solid at the back, now’ or ‘Israel looking very dangerous on the break at the moment’”. Absolutely no way, Russell.
66 mins: Now, this should be a penalty. Taylor swings a cross towards Robson-Kanu, but Tibi cuts across the striker, and deflects the ball behind, via his arm. Robson-Kanu bellows at the official behind the goal, who is unmoved.
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65 mins: Robson-Kanu holds the ball up for Richards, whose cross is flicked on by Ramsey, but cleared in a hurry by Dasa. Israel try to break upfield, but Hennessey hops out of his deckchair to collect the ball.
63 mins: Bale is front and centre as Wales push for the goal, causing Marciano problems from a hopeful high ball. The goalkeeper collects at the second attempt, as the crowd belt out another wordless club classic, whose name escapes me. It’s the one that goes duh-DUH-DUH-duh...duh duh... you know.
60 mins: The hosts are knocking, with King getting a free header from the corner, but powering it straight at Marciano.
More goal news of significance, as Norway lead Croatia 1-0.
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59 mins: After that excitement, Richards is booked for his latest over-zealous challenge. Israel work the ball forward, but Wales, wise to their game, pounce on the break, and Ramsay picks out Bale with a terrific through ball. The recently booked Dgani does well to shepherd him away from goal, conceding a corner. Bitton is booked for a hack on Robson-Kanu in the build-up.
57 mins: ...no. Expectation accelerates in the 30 seconds Bale is made to wait, but with the ball begging to be smashed mercilessly towards goal, Bale goes for a chip into the top corner. It’s close, but not close enough.
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56 mins: Dgani is booked after hauling down Robson-Kanu. The crowd think Bebek has awarded a penalty, but the foul was just outside the area. Gareth Bale, then, 20.5 yards out, and central. Is this the moment?
55 mins: Bale goes down after a clash of heads with Tibi, but both players get back to their feet and head to the touchline to recover. Bale allows himself about three seconds before jogging back into the fray.
54 mins: Wales are stirring, and Ramsey robs Ben Harush before sliding the ball through to Bale, who charges towards goal and takes a pot shot from thirty yards. It’s not one of his finest long-range efforts.
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52 mins: As they wait for their team to get their act together, the Cardiff crowd enjoy renditions of ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ and, er, ‘Zombie Nation’. They’re snapped out of their reverie by a deep cross from Richards, which Robson-Kanu connects with but can only nod over the bar.
49 mins: Israel are certainly more expansive, with their new front three stationed upfield and Ben Harush looking to involve Zahavi with a probing ball forward. Wales are being patient.
“Following the MBM from a cabin in the mountains of Big Bear, California.” brays Bette Bleu. “I have a feeling there’s a sucker punch in this one for the Welsh. I hope I’m wrong but seems like the dragon is hiring and puffing too much. Cymru am byth!”
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47 mins: A more attacking line-up from Israel, then, but it’s Wales who look the more purposeful in the opening exchanges. Dasa makes another burst forward, but he’s caught offside (see 32 minutes).
Peep!
Double change for Israel: Tal Ben Haim (the attacking version, listed on the team sheet as Tal Ben Haim II, no less) is on for Kayal, with Brighton’s Tomer Hemed replacing Dabbur.
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Here are the other half-time scores from the European qualifiers, with one scoreline rather jumping out. Azerbaijan winning in Malta! You can keep up with all those matches here, but if you miss the goal, you’ll only have yourselves to blame.
Latvia 0-2 Czech Republic
Turkey 2-0 Holland
Malta 0-1 Azerbaijan
Norway 0-0 Croatia
Wales 0-0 Israel
One half down, one to go. Predictions, anyone? Can Wales get the goal? Who’s going to get it? Will they need more than one?
I’ll stick my neck out and say yes, Gareth Bale, and no.
Half-time: Wales 0-0 Israel
Having already given Marciano a lecture, Bebek books Dasa for taking thirty seconds over a throw-in. Its not even half-time! OK, now it is – and Wales, despite starting like a freight train, are yet to get the goal they need.
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44 mins: Wales try a more direct approach, with a long ball to Robson-Kanu shaking down the visiting defence and getting a corner out of them. Bale is penalised for holding Tibi though, and that may be that for the first half.
42 mins: Half-time approaching, with Wales perhaps needing the break to regain their collective composure. The openings are there, but the flowing football of the opening fifteen minutes isn’t, with Ramsey’s radar particularly askew as another move breaks down.
40 mins: Ashley Williams has been a match for the Premier League’s best in the last year, so he has no problem controlling and clearing a potentially awkward long ball from Kayal to Dabbur.
39 mins: Dasa makes a foray down the right, but his cross flies out of play. That’s the best the visitors have managed going forward, but the slow momentum shift has clearly got the home fans worried.
38 mins: The first hints of frustration from the Cardiff crowd; there’s still plenty of time, everyone. Having weathered the early storm, Israel have ventured up the pitch – and Robson Kanu has the space and time to pick out Bale, but miscues a hurried pass.
36 mins: Bale tries to inject some momentum, chasing down Marciano, who looks a little rocky under pressure, shanking the ball out for a throw-in. Ramsey rushes his pass, and Israel clear the danger.
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34 mins: Ten minutes until half-time. Wales certainly should be ahead, but they’re not, and the clear-cut chances have diminished. Israel are at least stepping forward on occasion, trying to involve their creative lynchpin, Eran Zahavi. Their fans won’t be happy with their efforts so far – look, here’s one now:
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32 mins: Israel enjoy a spell of possession, and after looking unsure what exactly to do, Bitton lofts a pass forward to Dabbur, who is offside. Things in football that really grind my gears Part 854: teams playing ultra-defensively then getting caught offside on the break. It’s unacceptable.
30 mins: “I think the Welsh lads are quicker than the Israeli lads” says Barry Horne, who doesn’t sound like a man who enjoys heatmaps and possession statistics. He has a point though – the faster Wales have moved the ball, the quicker the gaps have appeared.
28 mins: Still almost-total domination of the ball from Wales, but they’re struggling to make inroads at the moment.
I hear he had a brief stint at Spurs – that’s the fate awaiting a few of these players if they aren’t careful.
26 mins: Israel started their campaign with three straight wins – there may be some jealous looks at Wales and Iceland by the end of tonight. They’re not playing like a team who once fancied their chances of winning the group – it’s been niggly, defensive stuff so far, with Ben Harush the latest to give away a needless free kick.
24 mins: Ben Haim clashes heads with Robson-Kanu, and has to leave the field for treatment. Play is delayed, and the crowd whistle in pantomime fashion. Halfway through the first half: can Wales keep up this intensity?
23 mins: Ramsey pings a cross in the direction of Robson-Kanu, but there’s too much power for the Reading man to get it under control.
21 mins: The national anthem gets another airing, as the hosts enjoy a more relaxed period of possession. If Wales were to draw, they could still sneak through tonight, if Cyprus can get something against Belgium later on. I think it’s better for all concerned if we put that permutation out of our minds.
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19 mins: Richards, a menace down the right-hand side, seeks out Robson-Kanu with an inswinging cross, but the forward is crowded out. 65% possession for Wales so far; at what point do we enter ‘should have scored by now’ territory?
17 mins: Tal Ben Haim, still the worst footballer I’ve seen in the flesh, gets up well to head away another set-piece, before a brief break upfield ends with Beram Kayal picking up a spectacularly needless yellow card for hauling Edwards over.
15 mins: Bale wins a corner, but from the set-piece, Robson-Kanu can only head wide. It really feels like a matter of time, though – Israel have come to defend, to the extent that they can’t escape their own half.
13 mins: A concerted penalty shout, as a ball across the six-yard box strikes Dasa on the hand. It certainly didn’t look intentional, but you know, seen them given and all that. The crowd murmur for some time but the team get on with it, continuing to press mercilessly.
12 mins: Israel concede a free-kick from that throw-in, and Bale’s delivery is dangerous, but Marciano gets a punch to the ball.
11 mins: Williams comes forward and looks to spread the ball out wide to the enterprising King, but an awkward bounce takes it out of play. The hosts have been relentless so far, holding the ball permanently in the Israel half.
It’s Turkey 1-0 Holland in that crunch Group A game – get the latest from Lawrence Ostlere. Iceland can qualify from Group A tonight, and Holland might still finish outside of even the play-offs.
8 mins: Oooof. Richards forces the ball away from fellow wing-back Ben Harush, and with Wales running hard at a ragged defence, Andy King is set free, but his low angled shot is repelled by Marciano. It loops in the air to Ramsey, but he heads over. It was tricky, but on target, at any pace, that would have been 1-0.
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6 mins: Eli Gutman, the Israel coach, is apparently known as The German because of his defensive style. Er... did they see the last World Cup? Wales are still very much on the front foot, with Marciano claiming a lofted Ramsey cross to end the latest attack.
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4 mins: Wales have settled with impressive speed, with Edwards and Bale involved in a series of neat triangles around the Israel area. The atmosphere is celebratory, but it’s very, very early doors.
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2 mins: Robson-Kanu, an undervalued cog in this Wales side, gets into space on the right and crosses towards Bale. It’s intercepted, before Ramsey lashes at goal from 20 yards. It’s deflected behind, and from a short corner, Ramsey gets the first shot on the target, a near-post sweep that Marciano gets behind.
1 min: Israel had looked to set up in a 3-4-3, but that’s immediately exposed as a sham, with a back five squaring up to the hosts from the start.
Here we go
One more win; with their defensive record, maybe just one more goal. Easy, right? Referee Ivan Bebek gets us started.
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The anthems are played: first Israel’s, then an almighty rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. Goosebumps? You’d better believe it.
Ten minutes. That’s enough time for three viewings of Wales’ journey to today, from the fightback in Andorra to putting Belgium in their place – and all to a ferocious dubstep soundtrack.
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Chris Coleman has been in front of the mic, thanking the Cardiff crowd for “getting them over the line” against Belgium back in June, and asking today’s baying mob to “be patient with us”. Good luck with that.
He’s better than most at playing a straight bat, is Coleman, but given the circumstances of his appointment, and the dreadful start he made, he surely can’t believe this day is actually here. Maybe now, he can get a suit that fits him.
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Permutations
In short, there aren’t any. Win, and Wales are in. Draw or lose, and they’ll endure a wait until October’s final qualifiers (away to Bosnia and at home to Andorra) to book their ticket. Don’t believe me? Fine, here’s the table.
There are plenty of other games kicking off at 5pm, and indeed at 7.45pm. Lawrence Ostlere is your man for all of that action, including Turkey v Holland and Norway v Croatia. We’ll be keeping our eyes firmly fixed on the Cardiff City Stadium. How are we all feeling? Excited? Terrified? Sort of over this whole Euro 2016 thing already? Get in touch.
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Team news
To confirm, Chris Coleman names the same team that started, and won, in Nicosia.
Wales: Hennessey; Gunter, A Williams, Davies; Richards, King, Edwards, Taylor; Ramsey, Bale; Robson-Kanu.
Subs: Ward, O Williams, Chester, MacDonald, Church, Vokes, Vaughan, Cotterrill, Collins, Lawrence, J Williams, Henley.
Israel: Marciano; Dasa, Ben Haim, Tibi; Ben Harush, Dgani, Bitton, Natcho; Kayal, Zahavi, Dabbur.
Subs: Levi, Halmov, Meshumar, Melikson, Hemed, Buzaglo, Ben Haim, Davidzada, Vermouth, Tzedek, Sahar, Kehat.
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The teams are in...
Preamble
June, 1958. Charles de Gaulle returns to power in France, Sheb Wooley’s ‘Purple People Eater’ storms the charts, and Brazil finally win the World Cup. The seleção’s run to a first world title included a hard-won quarter-final against Wales, who held the champions to a narrow 1-0 win despite the absence of the injured John Charles.
Wales have never been back – not to a World Cup, nor a European Championship. Despite the best efforts of the class of ‘93 and Mark Hughes’ underappreciated team of the early 21st century, their last taste of a major tournament came in an event where three of the final eight nations no longer exist. Today, after missed chances and fallow periods where a Cardiff-backed moon landing may have seemed more realistic than qualifying for a finals, Wales are one win from rewriting history.
That is an overplayed phrase, but Wales are hoping to finally follow up a campaign that belongs to a different era. Mel Charles’ memories of the Brazil match and aftermath suggest a lack of home interest that certainly won’t be replicated should Chris Coleman and co secure passage to Euro 2016. In all honesty, qualification should be the lowest bar for this team to vault – they are ranked in the world’s top ten, and unbeaten in seven games in their group. It’s hard to find a method of analysis that would land this team outside Europe’s sixteen best sides right now – never mind the top 24.
The recent renaissance has been led by Coleman finding the right balance between getting the most from an outstanding individual – Gareth Bale, desperate to avoid the fate of Ryan Giggs, has stepped up, scoring six and setting up two of the team’s nine goals, while behind the marauding front man sits a defence that hasn’t conceded once from open play in this campaign.
Wales are five points clear of today’s opponents with three games to go, and still have Andorra to play at home, with Israel travelling to Belgium for their final match. The touchline scenes when Bale scored the winner in Cyprus told their own story. Today should be a celebration: final confirmation of a tournament place this team has indubitably earned.
When you’ve waited this long though, it’s all about getting over the line, and Wales know that better than most. It’s time to end 57 years of hurt. Can Wales seal the deal? We’re about to find out; kick-off is at 5pm.
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