Wales’ Euro 2024 hopes dashed after defeat to Poland on penalties
Wales 0-0 Poland (0-0 a.e.t., Poland win on penalties 5-4)
Dan James and Wales suffered Euro heartbreak at Cardiff City Stadium last night as the Leeds winger missed the decisive penalty that cost his nation a place in Germany at Euro 2024, now claimed by Poland.
Former Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny guessed correctly, and saved well, from James who produced the only miss of the 10 kicks taken in a tense shoot-out.
The first penalty shoot-out in Welsh international history thus ended in disaster, as Poland qualified for the 2024 Euro Finals and a place in a group alongside France, Netherlands and Austria.
Chris Mepham missed the shoot-out, sent off for a second yellow card in the closing seconds of the match as Wales sought a place in a major tournament for the fourth time in five attempts.
Jakub Piotrowski came close in extra-time for the visitors, with a curling shot that flew just over, while Kieffer Moore could not capitalise on a Polish defensive mistake as spot kicks beckoned.
Seeking their fourth major tournament in five attempts, Rob Page’s team struggled to find the killer touch that has been a feature of so many of those previous campaigns.
With a place at Euro 2024 at stake, and a place in a group alongside France, Netherlands and Austria, there was so little to choose between the teams. Indeed, the high stakes nature of the play-off helped explain why neither keeper had a save to make in the first half.
But Wales would still feel hard done by not to take a lead into the interval after Ben Davies’ injury-time header was ruled out for offside.
Neco Williams’ accurate long cross found the head of Kieffer Moore who nodded goalwards, allowing his captain to steer the ball over the line from an offside position.
The goal briefly led to delirious scenes inside the Cardiff City Stadium which had been suitably vocal in trying to inspire their national team to a third consecutive Euros. But the Welsh were missing the influence of the likes of the now-retired Gareth Bale as they sought to win the play-off against Poland.
Moore, a constant headache for the Polish defence, especially from set-pieces, headed over Harry Wilson’s 17th-minute corner from six yards and was guilty of a similar miss soon after – caught in two minds as to whether to aim for goal or for the far-post, he made poor contact.
There was a superb run from Wilson and a dangerous ball across the Polish area which his teammates inexplicably chose to ignore and the lively Connor Roberts suffered similar frustration after a promising attack down the right.
Roberts, whose “lucky” moustache had become one of the cult storylines of this unlikely march towards the Finals, summed up the Welsh spirit on the night. But they were always at risk of being picked open by a Polish side which had the immaculate Robert Lewandowski up front.
Early on, Przemyslaw Frankowski drilled over an inviting cross which Karol Swiderski just missed as he slid in at the far post and the Poles maintained the attack which ended with Jakub Piotrowski sending a shot flying harmlessly over.
Having ended the first half by almost taking the lead, Wales opened the second doing likewise, from a free-kick won by the irrepressible Moore. Wilson curled in a perfect delivery which Moore headed towards the top corner only for Wojciech Szczesny to make a spectacular, one-handed flying save.
It took until the 57th minute for Lewandowski to have a sight of goal, only for the Polish legend to head over Piotr Zielinski’s corner, under pressure from Davies. Poland were finally applying pressure and Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior missed their best chance yet, volleying over from six yards after a well-worked corner.
By the time Swiderski’s flicked header, from another threatening set-piece, just floated beyond Lewandowski and the far post, Page had seen enough and rang the changes, with James warming up.
First, Moore missed a difficult chance, heading into the ground for an easy take for Szczesny as tension mounted and the tie hung in the balance. After a scoreless extra-time, James’ missed spot-kick proved the crucial difference.
