Can Real Madrid star Gareth Bale inspire Wales to qualification for Euro 2016?
Wales drew 0-0 with highly-fancied Belgium in Brussels last night in Group B of Euro 2016 qualifying.
It was not the best attacking display we will ever see from Gareth Bale and company, but defensive wise they produce an outstanding performance.
Second
A draw away at the group favourites is not to be sniffed at and took Wales onto eight points, second place in the group table, although some of their rivals do have a game in-hand.
The Welsh points tally at this stage of a very competitive group is a good one.
The likes of Belgium and Bosnia and Herzegovina will still be fancied to come back from their currently low positions in the group and Israel are the surprise leaders, but Wales look to have a very decent chance of qualifying for Euro 2016 in France.
History
Wales have not made it to a major international tournament since the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, when gentle giant John Charles was Wales biggest star. In fact they have never qualified for the European Championships, despite at times having some world-class players at their disposal.
During the 1980’s Everton and Liverpool were major forces in the English game. Wales provided three of the star players from those Merseyside giants in Neville Southall, Kevin Ratcliffe and of course Ian Rush.
All three of those players would now arguably be considered world-class. Southall is still seen by many as one of the best keepers to ever have played the game. While Toffees captain Ratcliffe was a player who led by example and the sort of player who would cost millions in today’s transfer market.
Then there was the fox in the box Ian Rush. The Liverpool striker is Wales top scorer with 28 goals from 78 appearances for his country. However, he was always far more effective for the Reds than his national team.
Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs was another star of the English top-flight, who featured for Wales but never played in a major tournament because his country failed to qualify.
Promise
The current Wales team does contain some bright talents. The biggest star in the Wales setup is Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, who has already scored 14 international goals and looks set to eclipse Rush’s scoring record on the international stage.
The world’s most expensive footballer has already shown in this qualifying campaign how effective he can be and started last night’s game at centre forward, a position that is slightly alien for the former-left-back.
Bale without a doubt has the ability to win games almost on his own, but he also has a very useful teammate in Arsenal central midfielder Aaron Ramsey. The former-Cardiff star was outstanding in the first half of last season, before sustaining an injury and missing the second half of the campaign.
He does not seem to have got back to his best form at club or international level yet, but there is no doubting his talent. When on form he will be a vital player for his country.
Tight
Wales group is a very tight one so far. Israel has collected maximum points from three games and currently leads the group, a point ahead of Wales with a game in-hand on the Welsh.
Both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Belgium are struggling so far in the group, although Belgium could move level on points with Wales with a victory in their game in-hand. At the moment anybody could make the two automatic qualification spots from the group.
Possible
It looks like Wales now have their best chance in a long time of qualifying for a major tournament. Wales are odds of 6/4 to qualify for Euro 2016, which at this moment in time really does not look like a bad bet.
Wales are certainly no longer pushovers at international level and I for one will not being betting against them qualifying for their first ever European Championships by finishing in the top two spots in Group B.
Can Wales qualify for Euro 2016?
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