In their debut at the European Championships Wales dispatched Slovakia 2-1 in bubbling and buoyant atmosphere at the Stade de Bordeaux.
Wales kicked off their first Euros with three at the back and talisman Gareth Bale operated as the lone striker.
Slovakia was in a more defensive formation, with a 4-5-1 setup aimed to stifle the Welsh midfield.
Wales’ first choice goalkeeper Wayne Hennessy was missing in action through injury so 22-year-old Liverpool shot-stopper Danny Ward was drafted in as an injury replacement.
With Marek Hamsik and Gareth Bale earmarked as the danger men, it was the Napoli midfielder who almost scored two minutes in. The Slovakian robbed Bale and beat three defenders before firing past Ward, but Ben Davies sensationally cleared off the line.
On 10 minutes, Bale put his mark on the game when he smashed in a rasping free-kick and gave Wales a lead that would last until the 60th minute mark.
Slovakian sub André Duda had only been on the field a matter of minutes, but he converted clinically from 12 yards out to send Slovakian supporters into raptures.
Wales wrestled back the ascendancy and it was another substitute who made a decisive impact, when Aaron Ramsey’s pass found Hal Robson-Kanu and he scuffed home a curling low drive past a helpless Matus Kozacik.
The Welsh held their nerve, rode their luck and secured a priceless three points that will serve them well before their eagerly anticipated clash with England.
Here are some of the major talking points to come out of the match:
Relative Premier League unknown a surprise star
Both respective captains ply their trade for Premier League clubs – Martin Skrtel with Liverpool and Ashley Williams at Swansea City. Others on the pitch in England’s top-flight were Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey and Ward but the player who had the most decisive impact was Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies. The 23-year-old made one of the greatest goal-line clearances in Euro tournament history inside the opening three minutes of play. Hamsik looked destined to score, only for Davies to sprawl himself across the goal and get a boot on the ball and diver it away from goal. The desperate clearance set the tone for a Man of the Match performance from a player who is largely an unknown outside of England.
Wales and coach Chris Coleman win the tactical battle
The first five minutes notwithstanding, Wales did well to nullify the threat of Hamsik and prevent him from playing to his full potential. Lone striker Michal Duris cut an isolated figure for most of the night, as the Welsh controlled proceedings and posed the more dangerous threat. Wales’ coach Chris Coleman outwitted his counterpart Jan Kozak and although the former’s substitution reaped rewards, it was Coleman’s introduction of Robson-Kanu who scored the all important match winning goal.
Supporters deserve a round of applause
The supporters come out in force, with a reported 25,000 Welsh football fans and 20,000 Slovakians inside the stadium – it was a spectacle worthy of a major tournament. To compliment this, the football on display was of a high calibre as both teams scored delightful goals, strung together quality passages of play and above all else demonstrated pride and passion. For those suggesting these two teams are behind England and Russia in the pecking order of Group B may have egg on their face come the end of the group stage on this evidence.
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