Robbie Savage needs to bring out a new book. The Welshman has already secured all the literary trappings a former ball-kicker could wish for: autobiography, ‘explosive’ memoir, Daily Mirror column, etc.
But we need another volume from him, and he’s got under three hours to write it. Please, Sir Savage, explain why you think that Wales beating England would be a bigger upset than Leicester City winning the Premier League.
Perhaps it’s all a ruse to trick Gareth Southgate into underestimating Wales, because Rob Page’s men simply shouldn’t be seen as underdogs on that scale. Yes, Wales are in disappointing form, and yes, their last win against England was in 1984, but they can still do their nation proud and spring a surprise tonight.
The spirit they showed in the second half of their 1-1 draw with the USA exemplified what this team are capable of.
Kieffer Moore’s introduction at half-time proved a catalyst for their advance up the pitch. Suddenly, Wales looked hungrier, the strength of man-mountain Moore energising his fellow countrymen – they began to win their individual battles, pounce on second balls, rise to headers they had no right to win.
When the penalty came, Bale expertly shouldered the weight of 64 years of hope and despair. A game they looked out of became a game they felt they could have won at the final whistle.
And conversely to popular opinion, they can draw hope from the Iran game. Who else in this tournament has provided a model of such fortune-shifting determination? Iran looked hopeless in their first game against England, but converted a humbling defeat into an inspirational performance against Wales.
With the surprises we’ve seen so far in this World Cup – Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Morocco have all claimed major scalps – who’s to say Wales won’t do the same against England? The Three Lions hardly exhilarated against the United States and don’t need to go out all guns blazing, so this could well be an attritional affair in which Wales bag a late winner.
This is a team that can play without pressure, knowing that nobody expects them to beat England –not even their beloved Robbie Savage. It’s a privileged position to be in. England can’t put one foot wrong without unleashing a geyser of fury from their fanbase, and will be feeling the heat of the populace tonight. Wales, meanwhile, can experiment to their heart’s content.
Page has hinted in the build-up to this game that Bale could come off the bench, a prospect to be feared after his rip-roaring Champions League final brace after coming on against Liverpool in 2018. Whether he starts or not, this is a team with its fair share of experience at the highest level of football and youngsters with points to prove and names to make.
So don’t expect England to tear through Wales tonight. Sure, it may happen, but don’t be surprised if it’s a close-run affair. You’d certainly be hard-pressed to find a 5000-1 bet offer on a Wales win.
