14/08/2013 Match of the Day Wales

World Cup campaign. Croatia are all but ended Wales's hopes of making

Brazil at the Liberty Stadium in March. Chris Coleman's contract

expires in the autumn. He says he wants to stay in the job and lead

Wales to 2016. The man making all of the headlines misses out. John

O'Shea wins his 90th cap for Ireland. Giovanni Trapattoni, he was

Italy coach when Wales beat them on that memorable night and Cardiff.

It's ten years since Wales looks like qualifying for a major

tournament, with that win over Italy. Tony Pulis will give us and

on honest assessment. Gareth Bale is out with a foot

injury. Despite the speculation linking him to Real Madrid, he still

turned up. Liverpool's Joe Allen returns, with

Sam Ricketts at the heart of the defence. The exciting Crystal Palace

youngster Johnny Williams is expected to play just behind Craig

Bellamy, who gets his 74th cap. A special night for Glenn Whelan, who

makes his 50th appearance for Ireland in 18 -- a team captained by

John O'Shea. McCarthy is the only starting player without a Premier

League club. The build-up has been about an absent friend. Watching,

but not playing tonight. Ireland prepared to kick-off. The challenge

for Wales is to win without Gareth appearance tonight. The Stoke City

a leave. He allowed the Welsh defenders to get back, make it

difficult for him. Chris Coleman, big thoughts of the World Cup

tracked back. He really needs to be playing in front of him, rather than

get the ball in. Denied by The that came off O'Shea's head. He was

unaware. Westwood missed it. It just came off O'Shea's head, another

corner. Very lucky, he could have headed it straight into the back of

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Alameda. Just offside, not much in that. O'Shea works his line off the

full-back. He knows that Bellamy is Bellamy. Indications that the next

four World Cup games will be his last for Wales. Thinking of hanging

up his international boots. What a mess he will be. Chris Coleman says

that the Bale Circus, or what surrounds him, has not affected the

Long, but he does well. The last time he it came in, he dropped it.

But he keeps it. That is good shoots wide. What a way that would

have been to celebrate your 50th cap. I think he will be disappointed

he's not at least hit the target. Not under a great deal of pressure.

seem to be a little bit more... Shall we say a little bit more

spaced out, the Welsh defence? Brady, he touched it away from

Ricketts. He should be doing better, at least hit the target. There seems

to be a little bit more space in the Welsh defence, rather than the Irish

the best chance of the night. you say they are a bit rusty? I

don't think you can. You should be ready for the start of the season,

come the weekend. The only thing you can say, he was unaware, when he let

it go. Hoolahan let it go. A lovely little move. A lovely drag back.

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he has been through his career. thinking, if he does make changes,

what changes is he going to make at half-time? You would usually keep

the same players on for four five minutes. The only one I think he

might take off straightaway at half-time might be Craig Bellamy.

The shot by Walters was not too far away. He's had something like four

line as well. Gareth Bale knew that he was not going to be able to play,

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but he was here in camp. He enjoys doubles by Shane Long. But he rolls

it across, tries to bend it into the far corner. He uses the player,

really. It is Ricketts. If it's on Wales' most fluent move of the half

so far. Robson-Kanu with a little flick forward for Williams who runs

onto it. His last touch was a little bit heavy. Even without Gareth

Bale, and there is pace. Bellamy saw the run of Ben Davies. It was a

he gets there. The half-time whistle goes. Not too much to enthrall the

crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium. Ben Davies almost made it a half to

remember. The ball just bounced before the Swansea full-back hit it.

There have been no goals. Will there be changes in the second half? We

are about to find out. Just the one change at half-time. McLean of

Sunderland is on for Manchester United's Brady. Chris Coleman has

stuck to his guns. No changes in the his team at half-time, Kevin?

a difficult one with it being a friendly. The premiership season is

starting at the weekend. Williams concedes the first corner that the

Republic of Ireland have one. little overlap by Coleman.

brought down. It is a long way out, but we have seen Craig Bellamy score

from this distance previously. Westwood made the save. Just the

right height for the keeper. He has done well, Westwood, to see that.

Bellamy did well to hit the target, just maybe needed some more pace.

One of only five coaches to have one league titles in four different

countries. Italy, Germany, Portugal Williams, Mr reliable. Talking about

bar from his West Bromwich team-mate, Long. 14 minutes into the

second half, just about on the hour mark. Craig Bellamy makes his exit

from the Cardiff City Stadium. He is replaced by Leicester City's Andy

what they are used to, Wales. The back four were happy to squeeze the

midfield players up with them. burst through the middle. Excellent

save by the Wales goalkeeper, Myhill lovely diagonal ball. Sam Vokes just

real pain in the side, Walters. does get touches on balls that you

block by Ashley Williams from the rebound. And people say they don't

care about friendly internationals! That is a bit of pride. Great block

by Ashley Williams. It was a great strike as well. Thought it was a

of Ireland sensing there was something on. Once again, Myhill

came to the rescue. Madden, wasn't sure if he could pick Walters out.

The ball has come across. It was a great save by Myhill. What a block

still going. Don't think he will get anything for that? No, there was a

bit of a gap. He did think about shooting early. This is the

opportunity, comes inside. Great strike. There is McLean to follow it

up. Great save by Myhill and Ashley Williams to follow up with the save

as well. Kevin Ratcliffe, has this been a worthwhile exercise for Chris

Coleman? You find out a little bit more about your players. What we

have seen is Sam Ricketts can play centre half. I think when Sam Vokes

comes on, we have to realise if it does go to them, we have to squeeze

in a bit better and change our style. You don't realise these

things. That was almost on for Davies. Almost out of nothing. Only

two places between these sides in the rankings. They have been evenly

matched. Madden saw the whites of the goalkeeper's eyes. This is one

Myhill should come for. His body is there to deal with it. If you are

going to come, take it. That is the final whistle. Chris Coleman wanted

Wales to show they could win without Gareth Bale, but they couldn't. But

they did not lose either. Myhill made some great saves, particularly

in the second half. It was a tame affair all round. There doesn't

appear to be any casualties. Ashley Williams will be ready for

Manchester United at the weekend. Ben Davis to. It finished at the

Cardiff City Stadium with Wales' to zero with Germany in Frankfurt.

But they have Myhill to thank for his terrific saves. Let's hear from

Chris Coleman. Was that a worthwhile exercise?

Absolutely. Republic of Ireland are a good team, well organised. You can

see why they are there or thereabouts in every major

championships. Defensively, very aggressive. They made chances and we

had to call on Myhill a couple of times tonight. For us, in terms of

how we want to play and how we want to play long term, we won't get a

tougher test. How was that for you? It was a good work-out for us. We

have two important qualifiers to come in a couple of weeks and the

Premier league starting in a couple of days. A little bit disappointed

we did not get the victory. We had some fantastic chances. A mixture of

poor finishing, great defending and great goalkeeping kept us out. Lots

to build on. You are a defender, Wales' first draw for 46 games?

was a tough game. They are a great team. They came out the gate very

fast, which we knew they would. We dealt with that which was very

pleasing. Then we settled into the game. We had our chances and they

have birds, but we defended well. Contract negotiations going well?

all need it to be resolved. I have had some chats which have been very

positive. I think from my point of view, the reason I want to take it

again, I think the last 18 months, two years have been difficult. I

think the next campaign, at least I can have a real good run at it and

that is the reason I want to do it again. The conversations we have had

have been pretty good. They want it resolved quickly and so do I.

on his future later. It has been a dreadful 12 months? It has been

difficult. Losing Gary speed in tragic circumstances, Chris has had

an unbelievable task of taking over the job. The last couple of games,

there has been a big improvement. Even tonight, there was certain

things that he will take comfort from. You were there tonight?

disappointing. But look at the first five games Chris took over, we lost

and performances were poor. We went to Serbia and lost and then Chris

said if we are going to fail, we will fail doing it my way. Then he

changed a few things. There is no disgrace in losing to Croatia. We

should have got something against them at the liberty stadium. If

Gareth Bale had taken his chance, we would have gone on to win the game.

Without Gareth Bale, Wales look ordinary. You have picked out a clip

which shows how Wales failed to break Republic of Ireland down.

break Republic of Ireland down. is not just Wales. If Gareth Bale

does not play for Tottenham, they are not at the same side. His first

movement is, if you stop it now. If he drives forward there is two

against two. Gareth Bale would have driven straight at the centre half

and taken the other player with him. Bellamy plays another square pass

out. By the time that has happened, the Irish team have reset and have

almost ten men behind the ball. That is the story of the night for me.

They have an Italian manager whose mentality is to make sure they are

difficult to break down and to beat. They were that tonight. You are

watching this thinking where is Wales' goal going to come from?

one real shot on goal we had came from Craig Bellamy after about 65

minutes. It was a comfortable save in the end for Westwood. We have to

be better than that. We could not break the Irish back four down,

chances were few and far between. Yes, it is our first clean sheet in

11 games, and that is a positive Bellamy on international duty? I

hope he keeps going. He's a great player, and I hope he has a good

season with Cardiff and helps Wales for as long as he can. The other

thing you have to take into account is that the lads have been with

their clubs for five weeks. Especially the ones playing in the

Premiership, everything is focused on Saturday, the first game in the

Premier League. To bring them away for two or three days, expect them

to perform at the highest level, Collins, Ramsay and Bale are all

missing, the backbone of the team. It's difficult at times. To expect

sparks to fly straightaway with those situations in place, it's very

difficult for the lads to perform at the level we would expect, maybe.

a former Premier League manager, what goes through your mind when you

get players leaving for international duty? With just days

to go before kick-off? If I was sat in the Stoke City job, I would be

hoping that Glenn, Walters and Wilson were brought off at half-time

with no injuries. That is what you are hoping and praying. I have a

different view about friendlies. I think friendly matches can be very,

very irrelevant. I would rather have a system where the nations have

their players once a month for two days, they let them train and work

with the managers. You take them away on Sunday, you have they began

on Monday, and then you send them back to the clubs. You can work on

the shape, the pattern and the system, you can give them dossiers

on the teams in the group you are playing against. So, before the

proper games start, the lads are clued up on what the manager wants

and needs from them. As a player in that group. They also have an

understanding of the team they are playing against. Chris has eight

group of players together, some of his best players. A group of players

that he had FIFA days, that have worked in pre-season. Most probably,

they have one eye on the Premier League fixture. I think we are

agreed that Boaz Myhill was their best player? By a country mile. I

think he has cemented the number one desertion. He has seen the

competition off. He made two tremendous saves here. The first

one, Shane Long was a handful all evening. He makes it all himself.

This one, such an instinctive save. Ashley Williams, doing what he

always does, sliding in and making sure that James McClean doesn't get

the rebound. Thank you very much indeed. Wales's U21 teamwork in

action against Finland and it was for this one. But little to

celebrate. Wales were on the road to destruction, the home defence

castrated after seven minutes. Victory over Moldova gave Wales hope

that they could conquer the group favourites, but they were soon 2-0

down. Wales defence showing more holes than a cheese grater. A

flicker of hope, briefly, as Hughes showed good composure to set up

Lucas, but the captain was unable to get his shot on target. That was as

good as it got in the first half, as the visitors effectively ended the

contest with the third. Kieron Freeman will not be putting this on

his show real. A soft back header falling perfectly. Four - zero, game

over. Empty seats and glum faces. There was at least something to

savour just after half-time. Patient probing, the restore city striker

trapped and Wales were given the spot kick. Hughes, converting. His

display was one of the few positives for Wales, who also face England in

the campaign to reach the finals. First, they travel to San Marino and

Moldova, on the back of a 5-1 thrashing which left the Wales boss

dumbfounded. To be 2-0 down at half-time, to not set any standards

that we reached in the last few games, it is one where I have to sit

down and look at my self, first and foremost. Then we look at what we

have done since we have been away, because it is not something I saw

Macedonia beat Bulgaria tonight, unbeaten in their World Cup

qualifiers. That's wales's next interview with Ryan Giggs on Friday.

Catch me on Friday night. Chris Coleman, his future? Some sort of

decision very soon. What would you do? I would give him a new contract.

I think he has done a fantastic job, give him time. Managers need time.

The performances of late have been better. Tonight, if you take any

team, and I mean any team, you take the best three players out, or three

of the strongest players in your group, you are going to be weak. It

is a friendly game. I don't like friendly games. I personally think

that he's done a smashing job. There would be no question. I think so, I

think you have to give him another qualifying campaign. We have spoken

about the difficult circumstances in which Chris got the job. I have seen

close hand, the improvement there has been, in the last five games,

not including tonight. A friendly, three games before the big season

starts, it's always going to be tough. I think he deserves at least

another qualifying campaign. Given your Premier League knowledge, where

is Gareth Bale going to be playing? I will tell you one thing, Tottenham

will not sell him cheap. Trying to deal with Tottenham, it is very

difficult. I think he will be playing in white! Once a club like

Real Madrid come knocking at your door, it's difficult for a club to

turn that down. So exciting, given the fact we have Cardiff and Swansea

in the Premier League. How excited are you? Very excited, I think

Swansea have bought well. He has added to the squad, he spent money

and brought in quality. Excited for Cardiff, the first year for a long

time they have been in the top flight and I pray they get off to a

good start. Whatever happens at Cardiff, everybody has two stick

together. Last year, they had a wonderful season, they got used to

winning. This season they will have to get used to bouncing back. From

the chairman, the directors, players, manager and especially the

supporters, they have to stick together to be successful. Do you

expect them to stay up? I think they will stay up. I think he had a good

group of players. He has bought wisely. And I think he will bring

another couple in before the transfer window finishes. I

certainly see three worst teams in the Premier League than Cardiff. I

think Swansea will have a very good season, I think they will finish

higher than last year. Europe could be a bit of a hindrance. But he has

brought eight players in over the summer and he has strength in depth

now. You took Stoke into the Europa League, is it a hindrance? It's

difficult, coming back from an away game and playing a Premier League

game on Sunday is very difficult. But Michael has played in Europe, he

understands Europe, that is why it is important that he strengthened

the squad. As was said, quality players. They should cope. As a

Newport boy, how nice is it to see them back in the Football League?

I've been at Wrexham. I think Justin has done a wonderful job. Fingers

crossed they have a good season. are looking well. Enjoy the summer?

I've enjoyed it. When are we going to see you back in that cap? We will