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WALES FIND HOPE IN YOUTH
Sport Express teams up with Wales Online to bring
all the latest news from the Welsh camp ahead of crucial World Cup qualifier
in Cardiff. Read the view of Wales Online correspondent on tonight battle
at the Millenium Stadium.
By Chris Wathan
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Russia vs. Wales, Moscow, September 10, 2008
Photo SPORT EXPRESS
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WHEN Wales' last trip to Moscow ended in agonising defeat
inside the final ten minutes, it came as no real surprise. Because followers
of Welsh football have become all too accustomed to becoming the nearly
men of the international scene.
Whether it was Pavel Pogrebnyak's late strike at the Lokomotiv Stadium
last year after a rousing Welsh performance, or the undeserved defeat
to Germany courtesy of Piotr Trochowski's wonder-goal a month later, it's
not a modern problem.
In fact, Wales' 50-year effort to break a qualifying jinx and make it
to a major finals have been littered with such examples of glorious failure.
A ghost handball in 1978, floodlights failing in 1982, a poor penalty
call in 1985, a penalty miss in 1994, and of course Russia's Euro 2004
play-off victory against the backdrop of the Egor Titov scandal . . .
all hard luck stories with nothing to show for it.
And being brave but beaten in both Moscow and Moenchengladbach has meant
this latest qualifying campaign pretty much ended before it began.
But while South Africa may be out of reach, Wales have found hope from
within. While only Craig Bellamy can be considered an established star,
John Toshack has pushed through many stars in the making.
And his plan to begin this process less than a year after his appointment
in 2004 has seen several young Dragons earn valuable experience and plenty
of caps despite their tender age.
In truth there has been little choice with the lack of quality and quantity
around and it has seen Toshack field sides with an average age of just
22 at times.
And with their collective prime still to come, there is genuine optimism
that the hard luck stories will be over.
In particular, West Ham's Jack Collison is a shining light in the centre
of midfield, Wolverhampton's Wayne Hennessey is a goalkeeper who will
frustrate even the best strikers and, as shown in Russia, Gareth Bale
is one of the best full-backs around - if only he could take a penalty.
But the real gem in this golden generation is playmaker Aaron Ramsey,
Arsenal team-mate of Andrey Arshavin.
One of the youngest players ever to score a Champions League goal, 18-year-old
Ramsey is being groomed as Cesc Fabregas' natural replacement by Arsene
Wenger, but his vision and tenacity could see him become an Emirates regular
much sooner than that.
He missed the match in Moscow for Under 21 duty, but is now slotting into
the middle of Toshack's team to ready him for the next campaign, his ability
important to Wales' eagerness to play a passing game, not typical of traditional
British style.
And with seedings important for the European Championships, Russia will
not find victory easy in Cardiff.
Wales are determined to finish third ahead of Finland and are looking
for the big scalp to boost confidence that beating Russia would bring.
And the side is now taking shape with senior defenders Danny Gabbidon
and James Collins back after long-term injury.
However, Bale will miss the Millennium Stadium meeting with a knee problem
he developed while playing in his back garden during the summer and Collison
is a doubt following the recent death of his father.
Midfielder Jason Koumas retired from international football last week
after being forced out of squads by the youngsters, proving there always
seems to be problems to follow former Real Madrid manager Toshack.
He has come under pressure during his reign, especially after fans grew
frustrated following the poor 2-0 defeat to Finland in March that really
ended qualification hopes for the World Cup.
But with patience given to the players of the golden generation, fans
are looking for a big result before the start of the next campaign to
prove these boys can end the days of the nearly men.
Sport
Express Daily, 09 Sep 2009
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