World Soccer - UK (2022-06)

Hope...Scotland

are aiming for a

first World Cup

appearance

since1998

WORLD SERVICE

The two sides were due to meet in
Glasgow onJune 7 for their Nations
League group clash, but that has now
been moved back to September to help
accommodate the World Cup play-off,
which will be of huge significance both
on and off the pitch.
As Scottish FA chief executive Ian
Maxwell stated: “While, understandably,
there will be two sets of competitive
players who are committed to taking
another step closer to World Cup
qualification, we also understand
and appreciate the wider context
in which the match will take place.”
Steve Clarke’s side are two games
away from their first World Cup since
1998, and go into their semi-final on
the back of an eight-game unbeaten
run. Only between October 2019 and
November 2020 have the national
team enjoyed a longer unbeaten
streak under Clarke.
Their two friendlies in March –
against Poland and Austria – ended
in1-1 and 2-2 draws respectively,
although they did surrender leads
in both games; something which
Clarke described as a “little downer”.
Perhaps more disconcerting are the
recent injuries to two of his star men
from the draw with Poland; goalscorer
Kieran Tierney and Man of the Match
Nathan Patterson. The Arsenal and
Everton defenders are in a race to
return to fitness but, even if they do
recover, thay may not be at their best.
Home advantage shouldn’t be
ignored though, with every ticket
snapped up by the Tartan Army. There
should be a raucous, but respectful,
atmosphere at Hampden, which
could definitely play its part.
The same could be said for the
33,000-seater Cardiff City Stadium; the
venue for the play-off final, where Wales
have now gone16 games unbeaten (and
18 games at home overall if you count
friendlies in Swansea and Wrexham).
Last November, Football Association
of Wales (FAW) chief executive Noel
Mooney even rejected the idea
of maximising
revenue by hosting
the final at the
74,500-capacity
Principality
Stadium.
“Anyone who
wasthere[at
the Cardiff City
Stadium] at the
Belgium game to
see the ‘Red Wall’,
the anthem for
me was quite
spectacular, the
atmosphere

throughout the game.

“I’m convinced the fans got us

through in the end, along with the great

efforts of our players, because the energy

from our fans was just amazing.”

The atmosphere was equally, if not

more, electric for their 2-1 victory over

Austria in their play-off

semi-final in March,

with Gareth Bale’s

majestic free-kick

sparking ecstatic

celebrations both

on and off the pitch.

It was a remarkable

moment of quality from

the Wales captain, who was a doubt for

the game after missing Real Madrid’s

defeat to Barcelona; something that

didn’t go down well with the local media.

Limited to just five La Liga games this

season by the end of April, the 32-year-

old will, as always, be the focal point of

attack for The Dragons. He’s proven on

countless occasions his ability to raise

his game for his country, even when

“Red Wall”...the

passionate Cardiff

crowd awaits

the winners

not playing regular club football.

But Rob Page’s side certainly

aren’t a one-man team. This is the

most successful period in Wales’ history,

with the national team qualifying for

back-to-back European Championships

and progressing to the knockout rounds

in both. That’s the sign of a good side,

not one reliant on a single player.

There is genuine belief that this

will be the team to end The Dragons’

64-year wait to play at a World Cup,

and avoid painfully falling at the final

hurdle as many previous Welsh sides

have infamously suffered.

“Unfortunately, the plan to prepare for the

match against Scotland in the western region

of the country has been abandoned. It is far

too dangerous”

Ukraine coach Oleksandr Petrakov

Wales talisman...

Gareth Bale