With their qualification for Euro 2016 beginning on Tuesday night, Wales are bidding to reach their first major tournament since the World Cup in 1958.
Goal takes a look at how star man Gareth Bale fared against Andorra...
PERFORMANCE AGAINST ANDORRA |
After a very quiet opening 10 minutes, which saw Andorra take a shock lead from the penalty spot, neat footwork near the left-hand side touchline saw Bale win Wales a free kick. The delivery was good, with James Chester heading the ball on but Simon Church could not turn in a shot at the far post.
The 25-year-old had his first sight of goal soon after, latching on to Joe Allen's corner, but he couldn't direct a header on target and watched the ball fly narrowly over the bar.
Bale, though, didn't have to wait long to find the back of the net and quickly restored parity by running onto Ben Davies's long ball forward, beating Alexandre Martinez in the air and directing a header from 15 yards past Ferran Pol.
Wales again struggled to get going in the second half, but really should have taken the lead just before the hour mark when Bale's whipped delivery from the right found an unmarked Andy King mere yards from goal - only for the midfielder to mistime his header wide.
Bale again was at the centre of everything positive about wales when he beat Pol to a high ball inside the area but the Andorra defence cleared off the line.
The 25-year-old most Wales most effective performer - albeit surrounded by a host of poor displays - and bailed the team out with less than 10 minutes to play with a fine free kick.
Bale's first effort, which Pol fumbled, was ruled out for encroaching by Gabi Rieri and the Real Madrid man made no mistake second time with a dipping strike from 25 yards to seal three points.
HIGHLIGHT |
Bale's 13 and 14th goals for Wales is the obvious highlight surrounding be a sea of poor displays from everyone else in a white shirt.
Despite the obvious step down in the quality of his normal opponents, the 15-yard header directed across the goalkeeper and 25-yard dipping free kick were of world-class quality to beat a nation made up of part-time players.
The winger, playing as a second striker behind Church on Tuesday night, has now scored eight goals in his previous 10 international outings.
LOWLIGHT |
It is hard to point out a lowlight after a two-goal salvo for your national team, but that Bale needed a double to save Wales from a shock result to Andorra is a negative on its own.
Bale may have been his country's most effective performer but the game passed him by for much of the first half.
The 25-year-old will be desperate to reach his first major finals and the victory on Tuesday will be invaluable in a group which looks manageable, but Chris Coleman & Co. will be concerned by their struggles in Andorra.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? |
Having been drawn alongside Bosnia-Hercegovina, Belgium, Israel, Cyprus and Andorra in Group B, many believe Wales could end their long wait for qualify for a major finals, with the top two sides qualifying automatically, along with the best third-placed team and the remainder heading into a play-off round.
And, after an opening 2-1 win Andorra, Chris Coleman will be hoping Bale stays fit for the duration of the qualification period after a number of withdrawals during their failed bid to reach the World Cup.
The Wales boss has previously criticised Real Madrid for pushing the forward too hard but will be more satisfied with Bale's pre-season preparation after his protracted exit from Tottenham disrupted his fitness 12 months ago.
Domestically, no exit is expected so soon after his world-record move just over a year ago and Bale will be concentrated on building on a hugely impressive first season in La Liga.
The 25-year-old will be keen to build upon his return of 15 goals and 12 assists in 27 league outings from a wide position, and has one goal to his name already this term.
Post a Comment