Bale salvages draw for Wales against U.S. in World Cup final
It was a day that had all the ingredients to deliver a thrilling climax to what had begun as a tense final qualifying match against Serbia.
By Tom Phillips
3:19 PM Friday Feb 06, 2018
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England’s Gareth Southgate says the players have played extremely well
Away from the pitch, Gareth Southgate has his eyes on next year’s World Cup in Russia, and this year’s final in France
The day had all the ingredients to deliver a thrilling climax to what had begun as a tense final qualifying match against Serbia.
But it was against a side containing the two best players in their history, as Gareth Southgate’s men battled in the rain against the U.S. team to their right.
Now, almost exactly two months later, the draw is out – and England have edged their way to qualification for Russia, while the U.S. are through – and they have booked their place in the final.
As Wales’ national captain, David Edwards, and captain-coach Gethin Williams, left the pitch with the players for the last time before the presentation, their manager was reflecting on their World Cup exploits.
Gareth Southgate admits England’s World Cup performances have left him
“We have played extremely well,” he said. “We always know we have to match the performance we produce in the competition but against an excellent opponent like this we played superbly.
“We have had a difficult qualifying campaign that has been hard to follow and have been disappointed as a nation to be two out of three qualification and not make it to the group stages.
“But the way we have played over the course of the time between the end of the group stage and the World Cup has been exceptional so I think we can look forward to the World Cup with optimism and confidence.”
England have also won their opening two games in the competition, meaning they will meet the French in the quarter-finals in November.
Their task will be not only to make it through to the knock-outs but to complete the greatest ever hat-trick of World Cups.
“We have to get through,” said Gethin Williams, who will follow up his hat-trick against the USA with an attack on the final against Russia. “We are the number one seeds. As a team, we have
