Cymru : A sorry ending that started with so much hope
Wednesday, 1st Apr 2026 16:26 by Rhys Clayton

It was what we expected. After the bitter disappointment of Thursday, this was always going to be a tough watch.

I cannot find any official attendance but I would guess the stadium was 2/3 full.(see below) The players struggled to play at intensity, the fans likewise passive. Not that you can blame any involved. The sense of regret had not dissipated in the four days in between. Frustration was only heightened when news filtered through that Bosnia had equalised against Italy. Later, we learnt that Edin Dzeko's side had made it through, once again on penalties. How we would have loved the opportunity to put Italy under the utmost pressure for the final World Cup spot. Now we will never know.

The most interesting element in the buildup to the game was the controversy surrounding Michael O'Neill and his dual role with the national team and a struggling Blackburn Rovers. His striker Jamie Donley was one of those players caught up in the news cycle, with the Oxford United player -...