While all eyes dwell on the
marvellous talent of Gareth Bale, the man at the heart of Wales’ unprecedented
vaulting of football ambition has skirted the limelight. Chris Coleman’s
exploits at the helm of the principality’s soccer side has already broken the
fateful heights of Mark Hughes’ tenure a decade ago.
Having followed the often-doomed
adventures of the national side for a number of years, the astuteness of the
tactics I've seen across this qualification campaign, and most pivotally during the
defeat of Belgium on Friday night, is a quality unheard of for Cymru, at least
where an oval ball is not concerned. There is no denying that the Belgians are
rated as the second best side in the world based solely on the whims of a
corrupt organisation, nevertheless, there is equally little debate in
suggesting that the formidable attacking prowess of Hazard, Benteke and Lukaku
was savagely blunted by Coleman’s modern game-plan.
For the ex-Fulham coach, it was
the job that he had spent years preparing for, but when the time came to
finally accept the appointment, they were under bitter circumstances. The
premature and tragic death of Gary Speed left a void that stretched way beyond
the staffing requirements of the Welsh Football Association.
After an immediate sink in form
to four consecutive losses, seemingly derailing everything the late manager
achieved in his final post, there was no case for dismissing the grief that his
players were still carrying. It is remarkable, therefore, that the team’s
fortunes have recovered so vibrantly over the past 20 months.
Coleman, a Swansea man from
birth, has led his charge into uncharted territory after six unbeaten
competitive fixtures. The records are staggering: a probable top World Cup
seeding, Wales’ highest FIFA ranking in its history and leaning on the verge of
a first major tournament since 1958 – the year Castro joined Communist forces
in an invasion of Batista’s Cuba.
Few could have expected such a
promising situation from the person who left Greek side AE Larissa to take the
reins of his homeland’s hopes. Whereas previously comparisons with Alex
Ferguson extended only as far a joking reference to their mutual affection for
chewing gum, it may not be long before he outdoes the Scotsman’s own record in
international competitions.
After three consecutive games
unbeaten against the World Cup quarter-finalists from Brussels, it cannot be
said that the improvement in results is any short term fluke. While Aaron Ramsey,
Gareth Bale and Ashley Williams have rightly claimed the headlines, make no
mistake that the man on the touchline is the real architect of this
unprecedented success – and I don’t mean the fourth official.
Not only has Coleman inspired his
squad of predominantly Championship players into a gutsy, confident unit, but
also has them playing a dangerous brand of counter-attacking football. Aside
from a narrow escape on Andorra’s horrendous artificial turf, each result in
Group A has relied on a solid equilibrium of defensive solidity, exemplified by
only three goals conceded to date, and the exploitation of two star assets in
attacking roles.
Bale’s improved form for his
country is much publicised already. Less chatter, in comparison, is devoted to
the consummate ease with which Chris Gunter (Reading), James Chester (Hull
City) and Neil Taylor (Swansea City) have all worked interchangeably in a loose
defensive five. Each of these defenders harried, blocked and intercepted the
Flemings’ bursts forward with a maturity undiscovered so far in their domestic
outings. This unbreakable backbone extends across the middle of the pitch where
the two Joe’s – Ledley and Allen – play the all-important possession game and
seek to supply their Galactico in fruitful positions.
Unlike the sloppy and
old-fashioned tactical tempo of the other home nations (see ROI vs Scotland for
evidence), most of whom still employ orthodox wingers despite their increasing
irrelevance to the modern game, Coleman’s preference for wing backs and a
condensed core in midfield has led to pacy and direct football. Friday evening
proved that positional pioneers like Belgium, or indeed any continental
opponent, can be humbled by the reversal of their own style of play, as
happened when Taylor and Swansea teammate Jazz Richards had free reign of the flanks
for the entire duration.
As their rivals tire and weaken,
especially in the case of lesser nations such as Israel, Wales have gained
great advantages by unleashing the speed of Ramsey and Bale to blitz their
exasperated markers.
The maturity with which these
plans have been developed and executed is a far cry from the days of John
Toshack, when systems changed as quickly as the team sheet. Whatever is being
said by Coleman (a manager with much less pedigree than his journeyman
predecessor), it is clear that his players are listening and acting on his
words.
On the eve of this campaign’s hopeful
conclusion for Euro 2016, the new unexpected threat to Wales’ dream is that
their leader is lured away by domestic suitors, typically offering higher wages
and more regular workload as their chief temptation. If/when that place in
France next summer is assured, renewed offers are guaranteed to follow.
