Wales was looking to make a comeback into the global competition after a six decades absence, but their opponent was keen not to let it happen. Wales becomes the second Great British side to be bundled out of the 2018 World Cup race after Scotland faced the same wrath only the day before today despite garnering equal points with Slovakia. It was the second time Wales and Ireland were meeting after the first-leg match ended in a barren draw. A winner was needed in the encounter to challenge Serbia for the top spot or merely to secure a playoff berth alongside other eight European sides from the nine groups.
The Dragons of Wales were the favorite in the match given that they were playing at their home ground of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Also, the hosts went into the game while ranking thirteenth while their opponents were at a distant thirty-fifth spot. It’s only a year ago that the hosts shocked the world when they beat the star-studded Belgian team 3-1 in EURO 2016 just to lose 2-0 to the eventual tournament winner, Portugal in the semi-finals.
The sides knew each other well
The two squads are constituted of the players plying their trade only in the Britain leagues with most participants drawn from the English leagues. Walsh manager Chris Coleman coached Premier League side, Fulham at the same period when his opposite number was managing Aston Villa which was also in the same tier.
The two captains of the two opposing sides are Premier League players who both play for the Merseyside team, Everton. The Dragons skipper, Ashley Williams arrived at Everton a season ago and is currently making in the starting of Ronald Koeman. Irish captain is Seamus Coleman who has been at Everton for several seasons. The duos are defenders who receive the same training at the same facility while using the same language.
However, what worries many fans is why the Irish captain shares the name with the Welsh manager and not his (Seamus Coleman) own trainer.
How group F looks after all fixtures
The solitary goal from substitute Aleksander Prijovic in the seventy-fourth minute was enough to ensure that the Serbs go directly into the group stages of the 2018 World Cup in Russia 21 points.
The Green Army of Ireland overtook Wales to secure the second spot in the group with West Bromwich Albion midfielder James Mcclean scoring the crucial goal in the fifty-seventh minute. ‘Our Green Boys’ of Ireland have 19 points and will wait to see if they are among the best eight runners-ups in the nine groups for a chance to take part in the playoff berth.
Wales joins other already eliminated teams in waiting to see if an opportunity to go to 2022 World Cup in Qatar can arise after failing to secure a spot in their continent. Wales bids the race goodbye with 17 points in the third position while Austria occupies the fourth place with 15 points and crashes out of the trip to Russia despite defeating Moldova 0-1 in its final fixture away from home.
Georgia who lost to Serbia is second the last team in the group with just while Moldova is at the bottom with only two points after letting in 23 goals and scoring a paltry three goals in the entire race.
