Wales pair Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale have the quality to help their national side to qualify for Euro 2016
Wales took another step closer to qualifying for Euro 2016 by winning 3-0 in Israel on Saturday in Group B.
Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale scored a brace, while Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey also got on the scoresheet for the Dragons.
Tricky
Israel traditional are not of course a powerhouse of international football, but had enjoyed an unbeaten start to their qualification campaign.
The fact they were reduced to ten men after 51 minutes of course helped Chris Coleman’s team, but Wales did still have to complete the job.
The key to victory was that Wales two star players Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey produced good performances and had a big impact on the game, both getting on the scoresheet.
Standout
Football is a team game and Wales seem to be developing a pretty decent one, but for every successful team there are usually a few standout players who sprinkle some stardust on proceedings.
Those players for Wales are Bale and Ramsey. The Welsh team has lacked their sort of quality in past years and they both seem to have a crucial impact on their national team.
Difficult
The players have endured difficult seasons for one reason or another at club level. Ramsey’s season has been hampered by injury and he has been prevented from building on the progress he made last season.
However in the last few games for club and country he looks to be returning to somewhere near his top form.
Arsenal star Ramsey is just 24 years-old and can still get better if he can now stay injury-free. Without doubt he has the quality to become a top player and is already a key player for national side.
The midfielder dedicated his goal in Israel to his recently deceased grandmother and I am sure he will continue to make her proud with his performances on the pitch for his country.
Gareth Bale seems to thrive for Wales in international football. His performances for Real Madrid have been heavily criticised by the media in the Spanish capital. Bale has not enjoyed the best campaign, but he is competing with Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo for the ball at Real.
The former-Spurs star is often overshadowed by the 30-year-old at club level and sometimes does not seem to be enjoying his football in Spain. The standards at Real Madrid are ruthlessly high and when a player’s performance drops just slightly he gets criticised by both fans and media.
In a Wales shirt he looks like the Gareth Bale who tore up the Premier League while with Tottenham and in turn earned a move to the Spanish capital. His frustration at club level put to one side and his smile returns.
Match winners
Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale are match winners in their different ways. Bale is the sort of player that can produce a breathtaking bit of individual magic that can win a game, while Ramsey is more likely to arrive in the box to be in the right place at the right time to net a vital goal.
Wales boss Chris Coleman is lucky to have two such quality players available to him. They are still young and have time to make a big impact on international football.
Impressive
Wales have an impressive record in qualification considering that they have not qualified for a major tournament since 1958. Coleman’s team currently top Group B above Israel and favourites for the group Belgium.
Belgium are still considered favourites to win the group. However the Welsh have already collected an away goalless draw against the highly-rated young Belgian side.
The next game of their qualification campaign comes on June 12th, as they face Belgium in Cardiff in what could be the game that defines the whole qualification campaign. A positive result will keep Wales in the driving seat for qualification for next year’s competition.
Key
If Wales do make it to Euro 2016, then no doubt their star duo will have had a major hand in the qualification. Football may be a team game, but it is the individual talent of the likes of Bale and Ramsey that makes a team special.
Can Wales’s star duo inspire qualification for Euro 2016?
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