Declan Mcveigh
21 June 2016•Update: 21 June 2016
ISTANBUL
It was a night to remember for Euro 2016 newcomers Wales at the Stadium Municipal in Toulouse as they put a flailing Russian side to the sword with a 3-0 score line to run out Group B winners.
If Russian coach Leonid Slutsky looked beleaguered at the final whistle, the same could be said of his side’s defense which was run ragged by a skillful and determined Wales.
Monday night’s loss means this Russian side has failed to win a single group-stage game while Wales – whose odds of winning the tournament have been given as 125/1 by some bookmakers – top Group B, after England managed only a 0-0 draw with Slovakia.
Wales looked keen to both bury both their disappointing last-minute, 2-1 loss to old foes England last week and also take advantage of a Russian team in clear disarray.
Real Madrid star Gareth Bale signaled his intent early on, forcing Russian ‘keeper Igor Akinfeev to make a diving save in only the second minute.
Russia were clearly on the back foot as a determined Wales pressed forward with confidence. A series of wild efforts in the Welsh end in the first half – with too many Russian players committed to their attacks – allowed acres of space for the Welsh to charge down the pitch.
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey fired home the opener in the 11th minute, after a disastrous failure on the part of the Russian midfield saw Wales latch onto the ball. The number 10 kept his nerve in the face of onrushing ‘keeper Igor Akinfeev to put the men in red ahead.
Wales’s reputation for being a vehicle for Bale suffered a blow as it was defender Neil Taylor who struck in the 20th minute, his initial shot coming off a beleaguered Akinfeev, before the Swansea clubman stuck home the rebound. However, even here Bale worked his magic, with a left-footed pass to Taylor setting up the score.
From there Russia recovered enough composure to push back, with Aleksandr Kokorin forcing Wales ‘keeper Wayne Hennessey into a top-class save in the 27th minute. At the other end, Ramsey again caused nightmares for the Russian defense, with a strong effort from 30 yards deflected by Akinfeev.
If Wales were to have any regrets it would have not being 3-0 up at the end of the first half, as a little more composure in the Russia penalty box would have seen the contest effectively over.
After the break, Wales piled on the pressure, with Bale in particular coming more and more into the game and dominating the Welsh attack.
Russia’s attacks looked ad-hoc and unprepared with a 63rd minute effort from Spartak Moscow’s Denis Glushakov looking dangerous but not troubling Hennessey.
Bales’ persistence paid off in the 68th minute as a pass from Ramsey across the face of the Russian goal gave the Cardiff native the chance to send home a left-footed strike to wrap up the game for Wales. A fan favorite, Bale was subbed in the 83rd minute to rapturous applause from a sea of red-clad fans, some in tears.
Having not qualified for a major international tournament since the 1958 World Cup, Wales leave Toulouse not only as Group B table-toppers but as history makers.
