A colossus, passionate and a leader are all words that describe this ever improving Welshman. So far at Euro 2020, Wales have put in a series of committed performances and the contributions of a certain Joe Rodon typify all of those qualities. Fraser Watson believes that Rodon’s defensive contributions may be a long lasting memory of Wales at this year’s major tournament.
Back in March, with Wales hanging on in the dying seconds of their World Cup qualifier against Czech Republic, there was a moment.
Not a Hal Robson-Kanu against Belgium moment. Or a Gareth Bale free kick type moment. Or an Aaron Ramsey in Baku moment. Or any kind of moment for lovers of flamboyance and attacking exuberance to laud for years to come.
But never the less, a moment which underlined the backbone upon which this latest tilt at a major championship for Wales needed to be built.
With the ball pulled across the six-yard box to Ondrej Celustka, the Czech defender looked certain to draw his side level – only for Joe Rodon to throw himself in harm’s way and divert the ball over.
It was brave, it was impeccably timed, and it ultimately sealed a positive result for Wales. To delve deeper, would be to acknowledge it was a moment that offered a premonition into the Joe Rodon we are seeing come to the fore at Euro 2020.
Three games in, the 23-year-old stands alongside Danny Ward as his country’s most critical performer. Colossal for both legs of the double header in Baku, it was advocated a truer test of his maturing talent came in Rome on Sunday against Italy.
Six clearances, four aerial duals won, and two blocked shots underlined another superb display – and yet the significance of it outweighed the statistics. At 23, Rodon has emerged into a defender who can uncannily strike a balance between passion and panache, who can keep his head in the fire while his heart remains in the fridge.
Timing in the tackle, or the air, is being complimented by a calm assurance in possession.
Big moments don’t deter him either. Indeed, had Gareth Bale hammered his late volley into the net on Sunday – as opposed to row Z of the Stadio Olympico – Rodon’s perfectly directed header into his path would have served as the assist.
Those who followed Rodon closely for his 52 Championship appearances in Swansea colours will be less than astonished at recent displays. All the afore-mentioned attributes were apparent to such an extent that when he transferred to Tottenham last October – the only shock was the inexplicable failure of Swansea’s owners to negotiate anything higher than a meagre £11 million fee.
In the subsequent press conference that week, Steve Cooper deflected questions on the figure by saying he didn’t wish to talk about a business deal he hadn’t been involved in. The glare as he spoke betrayed any implication that he considered the funds received to be adequate.
And yet, just eight Premier League starts followed in a campaign that concluded with Spurs caretaker boss Ryan Mason clearly reluctant to use him. Like with Bale, Ramsey, Ward, and Joe Allen – concerns over a lack of game time and match sharpness ahead of a frenzied tournament schedule were justified.
But just like those arguably more esteemed names, such fears have been allayed. Bale has the captain’s armband, Ramsey’s status of talisman is cemented, Chris Gunter’s international experience dwarfs that of most of his teammates.
Joe Rodon is absolute quality, puts everything on the line for Wales. Will be our star centre back for years to come 🏴
— Callum Williams 🏴 (@Callumw_15) June 20, 2021
And yet Rodon’s on field leadership, derived from performance as much as his willingness to organise, is proving every bit as imperative as the three above notions. Come 5pm on Saturday in Amsterdam, his presence on the team sheet will be as critical to Wales’ chances of beating Denmark as any of the other ten names scribbled down.
And therefore, it was perhaps fitting that Rodon spoke this week of embracing the challenge of a last 16 fixture that has essentially inconvenienced Robert Page and co more than it has the Danes.
Joe Rodon: “Our team, we know what we want to do and we know what we’re capable of.”
Two days until the last 16 🙌🏴How’s everyone feeling? Like Joe? pic.twitter.com/edUtpwNwNp
— Welsh Football Fans (@welshfootball_) June 24, 2021
Many column inches, and social media discontent, has been consumed by a situation that has seen Welsh players exceed 5000 miles in travel, while for Saturday’s opponents, their 90-minute flight will represent a first voyage away from Copenhagen.
Add in the factors of our own Red Wall being forbidden from travelling to Holland, and the waves of emotion still searing through Kasper Hjulmand’s side following that harrowing night involving Christian Eriksen, and the excuse that events are transpiring against Wales is a ready-made one.
But progressing through knock out stages of a major tournament should never be simplistic. Rodon, seemingly as unfazed off the field as he is on it, as voiced the necessity of relishing the atmosphere, of rising to the challenge, of defying circumstances in the same manner as that Turkey game in Baku.
Of course – fans, less air miles, home advantage, Ethan Ampadu available, a fixture against Finland or Russia – all concepts which would have boosted Wales ahead of a potential tournament defining game on Saturday afternoon.
Rodon continuing this vein of form in the Johan Cruyff Arena however, would be the biggest boost of all.
