Wonderful Wales sail, Russia wail

Toulouse, June 21

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Gareth Bale struck his third goal in as many games as brilliant Wales cruised into the last-16 as winners of Group B with a clinical 3-0 dismantling of Russia.

First-half strikes by Aaron Ramsey and Neil Taylor sent Chris Coleman’s men well on their way to a comprehensive win in Toulouse against an overwhelmed Russian side, who were eliminated.

But Bale was a constant threat all night and grabbed his third goal of the tournament when he cleverly dinked the ball past Igor Akinfeev with the outside of his right boot midway through the second half.

The last players to score in all three group games at a European Championship were Milan Baros for the Czech Republic and Ruud van Nistelrooy for the Netherlands, both in 2004.

Russia had to win to stand a chance of going through after a 1-1 draw with England and a 2-1 defeat to Slovakia left them bottom of Group B. But against the backdrop of a 2000-strong police presence in ‘La Ville Rose’, Leonid Slutsky’s men were left clutching at straws after a lightning start by the fired-up Dragons. After a promising start that saw Bale force Akinfeev down low in the opening minute, it was Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey who got Wales up and running in the 11th minute. 

Ramsey ran on to Joe Allen’s superb pass that split the Russian defence and dinked the ball over the onrushing Akinfeev and in. Ramsey’s maiden goal at a Euros sent the huge Welsh support behind the goal wild, and took the wind out of Russia’s sails.

 Slutsky’s men quickly lost composure in the key area of midfield, and Wales made them pay.  Wales’ last major tournament was the 1958 World Cup, when they reached the quarterfinals, and their fans were keen to make up for lost time, having transformed Bordeaux into a Welsh enclave.

Wales ended a 58-year wait for an appearance at a major tournament by reaching the finals in France and, as their supporters’ terrace chant goes, they don’t want to go home any time soon.— AFP

3.5 million is the population of Wales. Russia’s population is 144 million. What a performance, the skill, work rate, passion, the singing —HEROES ALL. — FA Wales

Tonight Live on Sony Six, Sony ESPN

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