Chapter 113 Wales

Although Wales belongs to the Commonwealth with England, its record in international competitions is not the same. If England, a pseudo-strong team, can still have a little relationship with the strong team, then Wales football can only be with the fish.

The 1958 World Cup was the first and only time for Welsh football to reach the final stage of the World Cup. It was also the first time that four British teams advanced to the final week together.

Welsh could only win the second place in the qualifying competition, but the Israeli team in the qualifying match in Asia and Africa abstained for political reasons, so that Israel could qualify for the final week without playing.

However, FIFA ruled that no team can advance to the final week without a game, so it arranged for one of the teams in the qualifying match between Israel and Europe to play two rounds of play-offs to determine the qualification for the final week. Wales was lucky to be selected to represent the European region, and Wales scored in two rounds. Don't win 2:0 and get the last ticket to the Swedish World Cup final.

In the group stage of the World Cup, Wales was included in Group C of the host countries Sweden, Hungary and Mexico. In the end, Wales drew three games, beat Hungary and Mexico, and joined hands with the host Sweden to qualify. In the four-point final, Wales faced the final champion Brazil and was shot by the young Bailey. Once scored, he lost 0:1.

Wales's best result in the European Football Championship was 1976, ranked in the second group in the group qualifiers, surpassing Hungary and Austria with 5 wins and 1 loss. In the four-point final against Yugoslavia, he conceded a goal in the first minute of the away game, and finally lost 0:2. He returned to the home court and was sent off by a player. In the case of one less player, he drew 1:1 with Yugoslavia and was out 1:3 in two rounds.

However, since then, the Welsh team has not been able to attend the finals of international competitions. The best result in recent years was in 2004. The qualifiers ranked second in the group after Italy and qualified for the playoffs against Russia. The first cooperation team was 0:0 and played at home in the second round, with 0 :1 Lost and lost a great opportunity to advance to the finals of the competition.

Although the record of Welsh football in international football is very average, this small Commonwealth country has given birth to many famous stars in international football, the most famous of which is former Liverpool star Ian. Rush, Rush began his professional career in Chester City and reached the peak of his career after transferring to Liverpool in 1980.

Rash helped Liverpool win the league and League Cup in 1983, and was selected as Europe's best youth player of the year. In addition to winning these two championships, Liverpool also won the European Champions Cup. Rush won both European Footballer of the Year and England Footballer. In the 1986 FA Cup final, Rush scored twice, helping Liverpool beat their rival Everton 3:1 to win the championship, together with the league championship.

In the 1989 FA Cup final, Liverpool met Everton again, and Rush scored two more goals to help Liverpool win 3:2. In the next season, Rush tasted the league championship again in Liverpool.

Rash played for Liverpool until 1996. After that, he spent a short season at Leeds United, moved to Newcastle United the following year, and then moved to many teams, and finally announced his retirement in 2000.

In terms of the national team, Rush played 73 games for Wales and scored 28 goals, which is still the highest record in Wales. Although Rush performed well, due to the overall strength of the Wales team, Rush has never had the opportunity to attend the finals of large-scale competitions.

After Rush, the title of Welsh football leader fell on Giggs. Giggs came to England at the age of seven and joined the Dien youth team and began to receive more formal football training.

There, Giggs' football talent began to be perfectly demonstrated, and he quickly became one of the best players in his football school.

Since then, Giggs, who performed well and has the potential of "a thousand miles" attracted the attention of Manchester United coach Ferguson. In 1986, shortly after Giggs' 14th birthday, the founder of the Manchester United dynasty visited him personally and lodged Giggs to join Manchester United as a schoolchild.

Since winning the first league championship in 1993, Giggs and Manchester United have forged glorious years together. Among the powerful lineup of the Red Devils stars, Giggs has always been the brightest and longest.

The clock came to 1999, a lucky year for both Manchester United and Giggs. In this harvest season, Manchester United has won four championships in the Super League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and Toyota Cup, and Giggs has performed outstandingly in various competitions.

In the rematch between the FA Cup semi-finals and Arsenal, the two sides were inseparable and failed to win until the last minute of overtime.

At this time, Arsenal's midfield Vieira made a mistake in passing the ball. Giggs got the ball on the left side of the midfield and made a high-speed breakthrough. First, he shook the Vieira to block it with a fake action, and then passed Grimandee, Dickson and Adams with a wind-like speed and dazzling breakthrough, and finally made a strong shot. , breaking Seaman's ten fingers, thus leading Manchester United to the finals. Such a long journey is only comparable to Maradona's classic goal against England in the 1986 World Cup and Ronaldo's wonderful goal in Barcelona in 1996.

In fact, at a very young age, Giggs represented the England national team under 15. He had the opportunity to play in international competitions with the England team, but Giggs finally chose to play for his hometown Wales, although he knew very well that this choice would keep him away from the international arena from now on. . Perhaps at that moment, Giggs understood Rush, and it was at that moment that the fans admired Giggs more.

In 1994, Wales was only a penalty distance from the World Cup gate. After ending the impact in a tragic beauty, Giggs' Wales team was getting worse and worse and farther away from the World Cup finals.

Someone asked Giggs if he had the opportunity to choose again, would he join the England national team?

Giggs answered affirmatively: "No! Because I love Wales, which is the place where I was born and raised. My parents hope that I can fight for my motherland. Up to now, I have never regretted it, even if it's just a minute!"

Now, Giggs has withdrawn from the Welsh national team and concentrates on playing for Manchester United, but Welsh fans do not lack new idols, Degan's teammate Gareth at Tottenham. Bell took over Giggs' flag.

As early as the age of 16, he was regarded as the greatest genius in the history of Welsh football, and he was always compared with the left wing Giggs.

Yes, he is Bell.

Bell has shown his extraordinary talent in football since he was a child. At the age of 9, he was sent to his satellite club by the Southampton Club for training. Bell's physique, endurance and technical level have gradually been greatly improved.

In the 2005/2006 season in the Champions League, Bell played for the first time for Southampton at the age of 16 years and 275 days against Millwall.

In the 2006/2007 season, after Southampton failed to rush the Super League, Tottenham Hotspur defeated Manchester United, Arsenal and many other giants, and put the superstar into the account with 12 million pounds.

After the first season of adaptation, Bell's performance in the 2007/2008 Premier League was obvious, especially in the 156th North London derby against Arsenal. His free kick crossed a perfect arc and flew into the near corner, making Tottenham fans ecstatic. .

In recent seasons, Bell's performance in Tottenham has become better and better, and it has also attracted the attention of countless rich clubs. Last summer, Real Madrid even offered 70 million euros in transfer fees and invited Bell to join.

In terms of the national team, Bell appeared as a substitute in the Welsh national team against Trinidad and Tobago in June 2006, becoming the youngest international in Wales history.

Just like his predecessors Rush and Giggs, Bell can never avoid the reality of the weakness of the overall strength of the national team. In many international competitions, Bell can only watch the club's teammates go to the national team to report together in the World Cup and the European Cup, and Bell But I can only be secretly sad.

In the European qualifiers of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Wales played away against Serbia in the first round. Compared with the strength of the two teams, Serbia was obviously better, but in the end, with Bell and Ramsay's goals, Wales won a difficult victory at 2:1 away. For a time, Bell seems to see new hope.

In the second round, Bell still seemed confident even if he faced the Belgian team, which had just defeated England 3:1 and was led by the club's teammate Degan.

"Rod is a great player. He is the best striker in the world. On this point, as his opponent, he can never see it clearly. Only by playing around him can he realize it more deeply. However, for the game, we will not give up. We will fight for the honor of Wales and strive to be at home. Take this game!"

Although Welsh football is not in the flow, the national team also has a large number of excellent players, among which Bell is naturally a flag figure, and Ramsey, Williams, Huntez and others are also good players in the Premier League.

Although the two teams are very different in international rankings, when it comes to the game, it is really uncertain who will lose and who will win.

At the Cardiff Millennium Stadium in Wales, the world preliminaries is about to begin. In the player channel, Degan is greeting Bell, the captain of Wales.

Although they are not as familiar with Hecto, Promo and Hurdlestone, Degan and Bell had a very good relationship when they were in the club. When Degan came to London with Fiorentina to play against Arsenal, he prepared for the battle at Tottenham's training base and guided Bell's free kick at that time.

"I'm sorry, Gareth! We are going to leave today with victory!"

Bell snorted: "Don't be delusional, Rod! You can't win. This is the territory of the Welsh!"

Degan smiled and said, "Of course I know, but continuous conquest is our joy. You should be careful today!"

Digan is very confident in the game. Although Wales has gathered a group of young talents, when it comes to the overall strength, Digan is very confident in Belgium, and victory should not be a problem.

Walking on the field, the game officially began.

England's fans are enthusiastic, Wales' fans are more enthusiastic, and the cheering of the tsunami has given Wales the initiative from the beginning of the game. Bell's side raid and Ramsey's long-range shots have tested Kurtois's nerves several times.

However, after resisting the Welsh's three-board axe, Belgium was the first to score the goal. The goal was scored by Denbelle. After this season's transfer to Tottenham Hotspur, Denbelle has only been a substitute, but in the national team, he is the best choice in the midfield.

In the 32nd minute of the first half, Degan headed the ball back on the penalty area line. Dembélé followed up in time and volleyed. The football wiped the turf and flew directly into the lower left corner of the goal.

1:0!

After scoring the first goal, the Belgian team became bigger and easier on the field, and the Welsh team made a big attack due to equalizing the score, resulting in a omission in the defense line.

Before the end of the first half, he was seized by the Belgian team. After Degan broke into the penalty area and knocked on the middle, Lukaku easily pushed the ball into the empty goal without defense.

2:0!

Two consecutive goals stunned the Welsh. Although they immediately made adjustments in the second half, the overall situation of the game was irreversible.

In the second half, Digan scored two goals in a row in just ten minutes, completely locking the victory.

Wales only scored in the 82nd minute, Bell's free kick and scored a goal to save face.

4:1!

Belgium won two consecutive victories, ranking first in Group A.

After the match with Wales, Degan also shouted the slogan to defend the World Cup champion for the first time in an interview: "Our only goal is to defend the World Cup champion and win the championship in four consecutive world-class competitions. Before achieving this goal, no one or any team There is no way to stop us from moving forward!"

After the game with Wales, the Belgian national team disbanded on the spot, and the players also went to their respective clubs. Then, Tottenham Hotspur encountered another strong enemy in the Premier League, Chelsea, who is also in London!