By Graham Thomas
Danny Ward will have Wales’ World Cup fate in his hands against the deadliest team in the world on Tuesday night – but can’t think of anywhere he would rather be.
The Leicester City goalkeeper will be the last line of defence against Belgium, the No.1 ranked team in the world, in Wales’ vital final World Cup qualifier at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday night.
It means Ward’s task will be to try and keep Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Christian Benteke and others shut out in order that Wales gain the point they require to secure runners-up spot in their group in a match that is live on S4C.
“We’re in football for games like this,” says 28-year-old Ward, who has had to bide his time to become his country’s first choice keeper
“There’s a massive incentive for us all, even more so after what we did in the last couple of major tournaments at the Euros.
“We’ve not been at a World Cup for too long. Hopefully, we put ourselves in a position after the game where we’re a little bit closer.”
Wales have already guaranteed themselves a World Cup play-off spot thanks to their strong showing in the Nations League.
But a win or draw against the Belgians will mean Wales would pip the Czech Republic to the runners-up spot behind the Belgians and stand a strong chance of a home tie in the play-off semi-final next March.
For Ward, standing on the threshold of going to the World Cup finals in Qatar next year would be a huge achievement.
Not only has he had to elbow past Wayne Hennessey, Wales’ regular keeper for the past decade, but his opportunities for regular football at Leicester have been few and far between because of the form of Kasper Schmeichel.
“I’ve really enjoyed this campaign,” adds the former Wrexham trainee, whose other challenger within the Wales squad is Stoke City’s Adam Davies.
“It’s been amazing and it’s fulfilling because I’ve had to bide my time for so long.
My favourite Welsh player is not Bale. It’s Danny Ward. Can’t get the number 12 shirt at Leicester City but plays with his heart on his sleeve for Wales. Without him we would struggle., lets hope his determination pays off and he gets his chance before his clock runs out.
— Shaun Sullivan (@shaun_sullivan_) November 15, 2021
“Wayne has been amazing for Wales for a long, long time, so to finally get the chance after coming away and putting in the hard yards is very satisfying.
“I know I can’t rest on my laurels and I have to maintain a standard because the other boys will take the shirt which is brilliant for all three of us.”
Ward has already proven his resilience by moving on quickly from an awful blunder that cost his team a goal in their 2-2 draw against the Czechs in Prague in October.
He kept a clean sheet in the following game against Estonia and was only beaten late on by Belarus last Friday as Wales stormed to a 5-1 victory.
Belgium, though – managed by former Swansea City manager Roberto Martinez and with Welshman Richard Evans as one of his assistants – will pose a much sharper threat.
Ward was beaten three times when Belgium won their home tie against Robert Page’s side, 3-1, and the keeper knows his own teammates are likely to need as clinical an edge as the Belgians if Wales are to get the result they need.
“The top players are clinical. That’s something we need to work on in terms of being ruthless, especially the Estonia game was something we looked back on and rued the chances that we missed.
“At the top level if you get those chances you have to show the calmness and composure to put the ball in the back of the net. That was ultimately the difference on the night over in Leuven.”
At least Ward does not have to worry about Romelu Lukaku, who scored one of those three goals back in March.
The Chelsea striker, who scored seven goals in his first six games of the season, is ruled out through an ankle injury.
“Obviously, that’s a help for us,” adds Ward.
“He’s an amazing striker. He’s come over to the Premier League back with Chelsea and he has proven wherever he has been he’s always scored goals.
“But Belgium are the number one ranked country in the world so I’m sure they have got some other quality players at the top end of the pitch.”
If it’s not Lukaku firing in shots at Ward, then it could be Benteke, who scored in their 3-1 win over Estonia in Brussels last Friday, or Real Madrid’s Hazard, or his brother Thorgan, or De Bruyne.
Not that Ward will spend too much time worrying about who is loading the ammunition.
“Your job is to keep the ball out of the net. You can’t get really caught up too much in who you are against.
“You have to concentrate on yourselves and make sure your performance is at as high a level as you can be.”
UEFA Playoffs, what we know:
Home:
Portugal 🇵🇹
Russia 🇷🇺Away:
North Macedonia 🇲🇰
Austria 🇦🇹TBD:
Sweden 🇸🇪
Scotland 🏴
Wales 🏴
Czech Republic 🇨🇿Group C, D, G, I still in play
— We Global Football (@We_Global) November 14, 2021
A clean sheet from Ward would definitely give Wales that runners-up place, whatever the Czechs manage in their final game against Estonia.
That would mean a likely crack at home in the play-off semi-final and a decent shout for Wales of reaching their first World Cup finals since 1958.
“It would be a dream for us to get there,” adds Ward.
“Not just the players but everyone involved, including the fans and the staff at the FAW. It’s something we have wanted for so long.”
S4C: Tuesday, 7.25pm – Sgorio Rhyngwladol
Wales v Belgium: Live coverage of the World Cup qualifier from the Cardiff City Stadium.
English subtitles available.
