Wales boss Rob Page said missing out on Euro 2024 would be “cruel” for his players as Poland advanced 5-4 on penalties in Cardiff on Tuesday. The two sides could not decide a winner in a tense 0-0 draw, with Leeds winger Dan James the only player not to score in the penalty shootout. With five perfect penalties, Poland secured a place in a tough Group D at Euro 2024 in Germany this summer, along with France, the Netherlands and Austria.
“We produced a good, exciting game. It’s a very important day for us,” Poland coach Michal Probilz said.
Wales’ new generation fell behind the home fans and their manager in heartbreaking fashion at Cardiff City Stadium after losing their talisman in retired Gareth Bale.
“It was a brutal game, that’s what I said to the players, being one step away from qualifying. It hurts,” Page said.
“We will come out stronger after this horrific experience. This team is going somewhere. There’s more to do and there are good times ahead.”
Despite having the threat of Barcelona star Lewandowski up front, the Polish team failed to achieve a single shot on target in 120 minutes.
However, Lewandowski, Sebastian Szymanski, Przemyslaw Frankowsky, Nikolai Zalewski and Krzysztof Piatek fired confidently and the visitors found range.
James had to score to stay with his country, but Wojciech Szczesny’s low shot from the right sealed Poland’s fifth successive European Cup title.
Prior to this, they had only managed to reach the quarter-finals in the 2016 European Cup group stage.
Wales lacks creative spark
In Thursday’s play-off semi-finals, the two sides exchanged scores, with Wales sweeping Finland 4-1 and Poland sweeping Estonia 5-1.
However, this is a tighter, tighter game, and qualification is at stake.
Page changed his forward options and despite scoring against the Finns, David Brooks was dropped on the bench to make way for Kiefer Moore.
Moore’s physical presence has been an important weapon in Wales’ arsenal since Page took over four years ago and provides a greater threat than Lewandowski at the other end.
At the end of the first half, the home team took the lead in stoppage time.
Ben Davies headed in after Moore’s knockdown, but the Spurs defender was inches offside.
Just two minutes into the second half, Szczesny stopped Moore’s opener with a superb save, preventing the on-loan Ipswich striker from heading into the top corner.
Poland’s form away from home has already earned them automatic qualification after defeats against Albania, the Czech Republic and Moldova.
Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward has yet to play a minute of club football for Leicester this season but he also had not been tested before the penalty shootout.
The home side dominated the 90 minutes but lacked the creative spark to create the breakthrough that Bale or the injury-plagued Aaron Ramsey have often provided over the past decade, with the latter being Unused substitute players.
The tide turned in Wales’ first extra-time in international football when Page’s exhausted side insisted on penalties.
Jakub Piotrowski came closest to winning the game for the Poles, with his shot from the edge of the area inches above the far post.
Wales responded with 10 men in the final seconds, with Chris Mepham picking up a second yellow card.
Their first penalty experience was abysmal, although Davies, Moore, Harry Wilson and Neco Williams scored on the first four attempts.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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