Wales draw with Czech Republic
Makes the AW's result look even better, as the Czech's are ranked 10th in the world.........
Ryan Giggs said his farewell to international football as Wales produced their best performance in their Euro 2008 qualifying group to earn a 0-0 draw at home to the Czech Republic.
They had started looking short of confidence and wary of what was to face them, but the match ended with Giggs taking a standing ovation having tried everything to fashion an unlikely victory.
The draw will do more for the Republic of Ireland's chances now in Group D, but Giggs gave everyone a lasting memory of his brilliance in a much-improved Wales second-half display.
The Czechs soon settled and looked dangerous at every set-piece with Tomas Rosicky controlling the possession.
Wales, though, were bright and keen to attack.
One neat pass from Jason Koumas was scooped off the waiting Craig Bellamy's toes in the six-yard box by David Rozehnal early on, while Giggs curled a 13th-minute free-kick just over Petr Cech's bar.
But Jan Koller and Milan Baros were always a threat for the Czechs up front.
Rosicky was just wide with a side-footed effort from 18 yards, as the Czechs were constantly given far too much time.
James Collins charged down a Koller effort but the ball still kept coming back at Wales' defence and Jan Polak was allowed to venture forward some 30 yards before firing a drive over.
Wayne Hennessey produced a fine diving save to his left to turn away a Rosicky 25-yarder.
Bellamy and Koumas combined well after 42 minutes to allow the West Brom man to force Cech into his first genuine save of the game.
Wales almost took the lead when a foul on Koumas produced a 30-yard free-kick which the midfielder curled against the bar.
Koumas had a shot saved by Cech before Giggs set off on a stunning, weaving 50-yard run.
He got past four defenders and found the angle for a blistering shot from 15 yards.
Cech could only parry it into the air before defenders got back to clear.
Hennessey saved a close-range effort well after Jaroslav Plasil had put substitute Marek Kulic clear, as the game opened up.
There was confidence about Wales now, with Giggs going out in style.
Koumas fired just over from a Giggs free-kick and Collins headed over from a Giggs corner.
Then, after 85 minutes, Koumas and Giggs combined to almost send Bellamy clear, the final chip being just too strong. Giggs duly departed to a standing ovation.
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Only a fine save from Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech denied Giggs a 13th Wales goal to add to his 64th and final cap.
Wayne Hennessey was equally impressive for Wales, the 20-year-old commanding his area and denying Tomas Rosicky and Marek Kulic with excellent stops.
The draw suited neither side's Group D hopes but showed promise for Wales. <!-- E SF -->
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Interview:
Former Wales midfielder Ryan GiggsThe pre-match build-up may have been all about Giggs ending his international career to concentrate on club football, but after kick-off it was all about qualification points.
The Czechs needed a win to keep pressure on Germany and the Republic of Ireland at the top of Group D.
For Wales three points were imperative to keep afloat their already distant hopes of making the Euro 2008 finals.
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Milan Baros and Rosicky showed the Czech's intent to shoot on sight with hurried efforts that skewed wide of Hennessey's goal.
The Wolves youngster was preferred to veteran Danny Coyne and, in his second international appearance, showed early poise by calmly plucking a floated free-kick out of the air.
In front of him Danny Gabbidon was deployed as a sweeper, looking far more positive than in last week's friendly draw with New Zealand, with Lewin Nyatanga partnering James Collins at centre-back.
The first real goal threats came from Wales and fittingly it was captain Giggs who supplied them.
First the Manchester United wing got lucky from a rebound but seized on the chance to thread the ball towards skipper-in-waiting Craig Bellamy.
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Only the outstretched leg of defender David Rozehnal denied Bellamy a gilt-edged scoring chance, then moments later Giggs sent a free-kick curling just over the Czech crossbar.
A driving run from Marek Jankulovski, recently a European Cup winner with AC Milan, down the left carved out a shooting chance for Rosicky.
But the Czech skipper could not get any power into his shot and Hennessey was able to watch the ball trickle wide.
The biggest threat to the Wales goal by far - in all senses - was giant centre-forward Jan Koller, whose strength when the ball was played into feet was causing problems.
If Koller was the threat close in, Rosicky was getting closer with his long-range efforts.
As the half-hour mark approached only a flying save from Hennessey prevented the Arsenal midfielder from finding the top corner of the Wales net with a 25-yard drive.
The combination between Bellamy and Giggs still showed promise for Wales, while Jason Koumas looked lively in the home midfield.
The midfielder, being courted by Premiership clubs following West Brom's Championship play-off loss to Derby last week, had Cech scrambling across his goal to touch a snap-shot wide.
Simon Davies' charged down shot was the last significant action of the first half, with the Czechs on top but by no means in control.
Sparta Prague forward Marek Kulic replaced Baros for the Czechs after half-time but, as in the first half, it was Wales who carved out the first opportunity.
Collins' deep pass sent Bellamy scampering away down the left channel and the Liverpool man cut the ball back for Giggs, only for Rozehnal to produce another fine tackle.
But the Czechs' response was a cross for Koller, nodded on for Rosicky, with Sam Ricketts' saving header averting a dangerous situation.
Then the woodwork came to the Czech's rescue as Koumas cannoned a free-kick off the junction of post and crossbar with Cech beaten.
The Chelsea goalkeeper's next task was far more simple as Giggs failed to get enough curve on a shot and instead clipped the ball into Cech's midriff.
David Jarolim replaced defender Jan Polak to support Rosicky in the visitors' midfield, the danger man who soon after blasted a free-kick against Collins.
With 68 minutes on the clock Giggs picked up a loose ball on halfway and sped upfield.
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The 33-year-old ghosted past the first Czech defender before jinking past a second, a third, then a fourth white shirt and onto his favoured left foot.
The Welsh fans were on their feet anticipating a fairytale ending only for Cech to prove the ogre of the piece, standing firm to pull of a fine save high to his right.
Hennessey pulled off an equally impressive stop soon after as Kulic broke through, spreading all of his considerable frame to block the goal-bound shot.
It was end-to-end stuff and Davies fired over from Giggs' back-heel, Koumas blazed over, before Jarolim had a shot charged down by Collins at the other end.
Two minutes before the end Giggs was replaced - to a huge standing ovation - by Rob Earnshaw, handing over the captain's armband to successor Bellamy.
Kulic nearly dampened things with a header that flew over the Wales bar, but Wales were able to bid farwell to one of their finest ever players with a draw full of pride, fight and no little skill.
However, the point leaves Wales on seven from six games and almost certainly out of the qualification picture.
The Czech's lead Group D by a point but will almost certainly lose top spot later on Saturday when Germany, who have two games in hand, play San Marino.
Wales: Hennessey, Ricketts, Nyatanga, Gabbidon,
James Collins, Robinson, Ledley, Koumas, Simon Davies, Giggs,
Bellamy.
Subs: Coyne, Evans, Earnshaw, Arron Davies, Fletcher,
Crofts, Llewellyn.
Czech Republic: Cech, Ujfalusi, Kovac, Jankulovski,
Rozehnal, Polak, Sivok, Rosicky, Plasil, Koller, Baros.
Subs: Blazek, Matejovsky, Pecka, Jarolim, Hubschman, Kulic,
Zapotocny.
Referee: Paul Allaerts (Belgium).
