Mon Sep 10, 2018 8:16 am
Denmark defeat was merely part of the bumpy road Wales are on under Ryan Giggs who targets Spain shock next -
By Paul Abdanato
Monday 10th September 2018
Wales came down to earth with a bump as they followed Thursday’s 4-1 thrashing of Ireland with defeat in Denmark .
But it was part of the learning curve for Ryan Giggs and his new-look young team and they will be better for the 90 minutes of experience in Aarhus.
Here are some of the things we learned from a disappointing evening...
THE ERIKSEN MASTERCLASS
If Thursday was about Ethan Ampadu, David Brooks and Wales’ other gifted stars, this was the Christian Eriksen night.
Teen starlet Ampadu will have learned more from the 71 minutes he was on the field marking Eriksen than anything that happened at Cardiff City Stadium against the Irish, when he was utterly majestic throughout.
In his defensive midfield role Ampadu was expected to pick up Eriksen and halt the threat from the Danish playmaker, but as most others have found to their cost that’s a darned sight easier said than done.
Denmark's Christian Eriksen won the game
Eriksen ran the show, pretty much from start to finish, and his two goals capped off a man of the match performance. That is 16 goals in his last 19 Denmark appearances, a phenomenal strike rate for a midfielder.
The Spurs maestro was creeping into pockets of space behind Ampadu, a gift the very best players just seem to have, and wreacking havoc as a result.
No-one should blame Ampadu, we should stress. He is only 17, still learning the game - and he will be even better for the experience of what just happened. Wales will reap the rewards of that in time, for international football can be a harsh learning environment.
Denmark 2-0 Wales
The space Eriksen was given for the opening goal, when Joe Allen didn’t track back quickly enough and defenders stood off too much, won’t have pleased Giggs and set the template for the rest of the match.
But I guarantee the next time Ampadu locks horns with Eriksen, the Dane won’t have such a free ride. That is what learning is about.
THE DANES WERE FIRED UP
You just sensed Denmark were going to win this one because of the rumpus that had erupted in the days before the game.
The row over commercial rights would have led to some questioning the players’ passion to play for their country . As such, they were extra fired up to make a point to the nation following events which almost bordered on farce, with Futsal footballers appearing against Slovakia.
The Danes were very much on the front foot for different reasons and that told during the game.
In the end the rumpus worked against Wales, rather than for them.
THIS IS WHERE WALES ARE UNDER GIGGS
Much as an entire nation loved the thumping of the Irish, with many dubbing it the best football Wales have produced in decades, we did warn to expect something of a rollercoaster under Giggs for the time being.
This game was evidence of that. Where Wales were wonderful on Thursday, against the Danes they were blown away.
That will happen with a young team that the manager sends out to have a go. There will be exhilarating highs because of the manner in which they are looking to play, which was being equated to Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp and Manchester United from the Fergie era.
But you cannot expect that kind of consistency with youngsters. It just doesn’t happen at the highest level of the sport and Giggs is using these games - and autumn friendlies to come - to experiment and prepare for the Euro and World Cup qualifiers he will take charge of.
Wales had a down this time
In mant ways this is the perfect moment to learn. A competitive game, but not one that has anything like the importance of a proper Euro or World Cup qualifier. Wales will be up and down for the time being. We’ve just got to accept the ride will be bumpy... but hope there will be a golden prize at the end of it.
WE’D HAVE TAKEN THREE OUT OF SIX
Because of the above, three points out of a possible six is a decent enough return from these opening Nations League matches.
We have a new manager, trying new things with a new-look team. Those ideas, and the young personnel, will take time to bed in and give the kind of consistency Wales need.
One win and one defeat is better than being unbeaten from two draws.
Given where they are, Wales have made a decent enough start to their Nations League campaign. A disappointing defeat in Denmark doesn’t mask that.
BALE WILL BE CAPTAIN MARVEL
Ashley Williams was rested for this game, although he did travel to Scandanavia because Giggs wanted his leadership qualities around the young group.
But it does seem that Chris Mepham has suddenly emerged as Giggs’ first-choice centre-back, with Williams and James Chester each getting a game next to him in this double-header.
Williams will remain Wales captain for the time being, but he knows he is in the twighlight of his international career and succession planning will be on Giggs’ mind.
Other names have been mentioned as possible captains, but the reality is there is only one man for the job - and he wore the armband in this match.
International football is different to the club game. The captaincy has an ambassadorial feel to it and as such very often the talismanic, standout player in the country gets the honour,
Vincent Kompany is one of the greatest leaders in world football, but Eden Hazard gets the armband for Belgium. Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal skipper, Lionel Messi leads Argentina, Harry Kane England. Neymar has been Brazil skipper.
Bale is very much Wales’ version of those afore-mentioned superstars and when Ash does stand down, or is stood down, the job is as clearly his - just as it was for Giggs himself when John Toshack needed a replacement for Gary Speed.
It wasn't the greatest start, but Bale will be a Welsh captain marvel in time.
NEXT IT’S BACK TO THE MILLENNIUM
Well that’s what it was called the last time Wales played there several years ago.
Wales head back to the Principality Stadium next month when Spain come to town fresh from beating England at Wembley.
Robert Earnshaw celebrates the winner over Germany at the Millennium Stadium
The Spanish aren’t the force they were with Xavi and Iniesta, but coming up against another Eriksen-like talent in Isco will be a further fantastic learning curve for Ampadu.
It’s a game that throws up so many fantastic sub-plots, with Bale versus his Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos the best of the lot.
Every so often Wales pull off a major scalp. Giggs has played in a couple of those at this ground, when Wales beat Germany and Italy.