Be Afraid (of Wales)

With Cardiff City and Russell (#SladeOut) Slade driving the emotions out of football with each passing game, we've even been flirting and fluttering our eyelashes at Cardiff Devils and the world of ice hockey for our kicks lately… if only to 'feel' something. 

Praise the football gods then for our Wales national team, who appear to be on a mission to right the wrongs of the past and qualify for next year’s European Championships in France.

Beating the much hyped group leaders Israel 0-3 in their back yard on Saturday was just the latest statement from a group making their country proud, topping the qualification table with five beastly games remaining. 

There’s work to be done of course with colossal games coming up but the momentum is with Wales and there is a growing raw belief in the camp, in the media and in the support. 

The team spirit is phenomenal with most of it formed by time spent together at under 21 level and the pride and desire to wear the jersey by the talismen Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey is filtering down to the whole unit.  

It’s taken Chris Coleman a bit of time to pick up the pieces from the Gary Speed era (a massively underestimated task) but Cookie and the squad look to have found common ground and are edging closer to something big – euphoria on a scale that our nation has yet to see.

I mean, forget rugby because everyone secretly knows it’s only about beer and daffodil hats. What lurks over the horizon next summer could transcend any Welsh sporting event... ever.

     

Wales sides and big names have teased us into dreaming before of course but ultimately the likes of Giggs, Saunders, Speed, Rush and Bellamy couldn't drag us over the line. 

Neither the nearly men of 1994 or 2004 could lay a claim to staying undefeated for five games though and there are new stars emerging now.   

I’m sure Cookie will be telling the players to be calm and not let the excitement and adrenaline take hold – It’s time to see the job through. 

Not the fans though, whether you’re a Wales ultra, a glory hunter or even a rugby person, bring the noise with you in June. Let the adrenaline in, we can use it in the stands. 

I would seriously like to thank Cookie and the team for making a weary football fan ‘feel’ something again.   

#TogetherStronger #CymruAmByth #Wales