MX23RW : Monday, July 1 23:30:30| >> :120:5243:5243:
[monks data]
Attendance: 31,745
Wales national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Oct 13, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Croatia national football team

1-1

Bale (45')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Vlasic (9')

Ryan Giggs: 'Wales showed character and didn't panic'

Wales must win their final two qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Hungary to be in with a chance of qualifying for Euro 2020.

Ryan Giggs saluted the character of his Wales team after a 1-1 draw against Croatia kept alive their Euro 2020 qualifying chances.

Gareth Bale's 33rd goal for his country cancelled out Nikola Vlasic's ninth-minute strike to keep Wales within touching distance of a top-two spot.

Wins away to Azerbaijan and at home to Hungary next month would secure qualification, as long as Slovakia do not collect more than four points from their last two games.

Slovakia's next game is in Croatia, where the World Cup finalists will be seeking to book their ticket to next summer's European Championship.

"We showed character coming back, we didn't panic," Wales boss Giggs said after the Cardiff draw.

"We showed commitment, but quality as well. I don't get a lot of time with them, but what they showed doesn't surprise me as I see the quality in training.

"We have played two teams, Slovakia and now Croatia, who can hurt you.

"But it's credit to them, we gave them the information and it's a step forward."

Giggs described Daniel James as "streetwise" after the Manchester United winger was clattered by defender Domagoj Vida in the first half.

James received lengthy treatment from medics on the pitch, but he was able to continue and Giggs said the 21-year-old had passed the concussion protocols.

"The physio came over but there was no problem. We did all the (concussion) tests at half-time and he was fine," Giggs said.

"He stayed down and was a bit streetwise. He told the doctors 'I'm not moving, I'm just sitting still'.

"Not to get anyone sent off, he was just using his nous."

Wales will head to Azerbaijan next month without the influential Joe Allen.

The Stoke midfielder collected his third booking of the competition and will be suspended for the Baku clash.

"He knew he was on a booking, but I don't think he realised there was a player behind him," Giggs said.

"We will miss his composure but we've players who can come in.

"Joe Morrell was fantastic to come on in that situation against Croatia.

"We have to win our last two games but that point could be vital.

"We're relying on Croatia to beat Slovakia, but we need to win our two games. It won't be easy."

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic was unhappy with Bale's equaliser after Mateo Kovacic had been left on the turf by Ben Davies' challenge in first-half stoppage time.

The Chelsea midfielder did not return for the second half but Dalic said: "He seems to be fine.

"But he felt his knee in that challenge so we'll see in the next few days what the diganosis is.

"Mateo was injured and had to leave the game, but we can't allow ourselves to concede a goal in this way.

"We are not very happy. It was similar to the games against Hungary.

"We started well and scored, but we didn't continue in same aggressive way."

ID:374933: cacheID:374933:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4708:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Gareth Bale during a Wales training session on October 12, 2019
Read Next:
Gareth Bale: 'I was lucky not to be sent off against Slovakia'
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Tuesday, July 2
 
8pm
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!