By Paul Jones
Wales manager Rob Page reflected on a “cruel” defeat after his side’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 ended in a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out loss to Poland.
Dan James missed the decisive spot-kick as Wales were beaten 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Page told S4C: “It is a cruel game and that is what I have said to the players. One kick away from qualifying and it hurts.
“I thought we were the better team. I’ve just said to the group, ‘look how far we have come – we are that disappointed we have not qualified for a major tournament’.”
Page offered sympathy to James and praised his squad for their efforts throughout the qualifying campaign.
He added: “We will rally round ‘Deej’. He had the bravery to take that penalty.
“I’m just so proud of that group and the nation should be proud of them. They have put a shift and some in tonight to try to get us there.
“We will be bigger and stronger for going through this horrible experience. We are going somewhere. There is something good happening with this group.
Heartache for Wales.. Dan James was brave enough to step up to take a penalty.. the boy will be devastated he needs to be looked after now not thrown to the lions. Look after your own..
— John Hartson (@JohnHartson10) March 26, 2024
“They are so disappointed but they are hungry for it. We were nearly there, one kick away. There is a lot more to come.”
Wales suffered heartbreak in their first-ever penalty shoot-out as Poland booked their place at Euro 2024 after a goalless 120 minutes.
Spot-kicks were needed on a tense evening in which Ben Davies had a first-half header disallowed for offside but chances were scarce in this play-off final.
Wales were reduced to 10 in the final seconds as Chris Mepham was banished for a second yellow card and Cardiff City Stadium held its breath following an impromptu rendition of the national anthem.
Poland converted five perfect penalties with Robert Lewandowski, Sebastian Szymanski, Przemyslaw Frankowski, Nicola Zalewski and Krzysztof Piątek successful against Danny Ward.
Wales matched them as Ben Davies, Kieffer Moore – via the underside of the crossbar – Harry Wilson and Neco Williams scored.
But Daniel James saw his effort pushed out by Wojciech Szczesny as Wales lost 5-4 on penalties and wild Polish celebrations began.
Really proud of the @Cymru football community tonight. Players and fans. We almost got there. That’s football! I’m already looking forward to the Nations League. Best moment for me over the two games was that amazing Dan James goal against Finland. Let’s all move on! pic.twitter.com/nD3kIar1Te
— Aled Edwards (@alededwardscym) March 26, 2024
It was a cruel end for the hosts who had given everything to qualify for a third consecutive European Championship.
Wales had beaten the visitors only once – a maiden meeting in 1974 World Cup qualifying – and suffered seven defeats in 10 games, including six successive losses.
They also had to nullify the threat of Lewandowski with the 35-year-old striker in rich scoring form for Barcelona and seeking to add to his record 82 Poland goals.
Wales made one alteration from Thursday’s 4-1 semi-final thumping of Finland, with Moore replacing David Brooks in the forward line.
Poland were unchanged from the side that put five past Estonia in their Warsaw semi-final but Aston Villa’s Matty Cash was missing from the substitutes’ bench after damaging a hamstring.
South Wales Police had promised a zero-tolerance approach to anyone attempting to take pyrotechnics into Cardiff City Stadium after Poland’s previous visit in September 2022.
But the Polish end was lit up with flares as the two teams gathered for the pre-match anthems.
Poland sought to take the sting out of a fever-pitched atmosphere by frustrating Wales with their ball possession.
Rob Page deserves all the plaudits, respect as he was thrown in at the deep end with Wales.
I’m sure he took the challenge head on and it’s time to part ways
Do the right thing @FAWales
— Ryan David (@ryandavidtha1st) March 26, 2024
Karol Swiderski narrowly failed to get on the end of a Bartosz Slisz cross and Jakub Piotrowski fired over from 25 yards as Poland settled quickly.
Wales’ best moments were from set-pieces: Davies heading over a Wilson corner and Moore planting another chance wide.
Moore also came close to being the beneficiary of Joe Rodon’s flick-on from a Connor Roberts long throw but ran out of room by the byline.
Wales had edged their way back into the contest as the interval approached and had the ball in the net in the final moments of the half.
Moore met Williams’ cross at the far post and Davies guided his knockdown beyond Szczesny in the Poland goal.
The assistant referee’s flag cut short Welsh joy and VAR showed it was a correct call with Davies offside by a matter of inches.
Wales did manage the first on-target effort four minutes after the restart when Szczesny superbly clawed away Moore’s header from under his crossbar.
It hurts when you can’t blame anyone or anything but that performance was second to none. Rob Page got these past two games spot on and everyone played unbelievable. Poland are a world class side who we dominated for large parts. Feel nothing but pain for DJ. I love you Wales❤️
— Nathan Harris (@NathanHarris98) March 26, 2024
It looked as if Poland were wobbling but composure was rediscovered and crosses began to be swung into the Wales penalty area with increasing regularity.
Jakub Kiwior cleared the crossbar from six yards and Swiderski sent Piotr Zielinski’s free-kick wide.
The tension was also palpable as Szczesny held headers from Moore and Mepham and Lewandowski almost prevented extra time by fizzing just wide from 25 yards.
Piotrowski and Szymanski had openings in an additional 30 minutes that Poland dominated, but Ward did not have a single save to make in the entire match.
FULLTIME! #EURO2024 Quallification Play-Off PATH A FINAL
WALES (4) 0-0 (5) POLAND
C. Mepham 120+1′
PEN :
✅✅✅✅❌
✅✅✅✅✅Officially qualified for #EURO2024 And will be in the same group as (GROUP D) pic.twitter.com/ENN3290xxu
— Olvs (@Onelvs) March 26, 2024
