DREAM'S POLE-AXED

DAN JAMES was the fall guy as Wales paid the penalty in a pulsating Euro 2024 play-off game against Poland.

- NEIL MOXLEY

 

The Leeds winger missed the decisive penalty at the end of extra time as Rob Page’s men fell at the final hurdle.

The Cardiff City Stadium has witnessed some of the country’s greatest nights.

Victory over Belgium in 2015, then Hungary four years later, followed by two World Cup play-off triumphs. All fondly remembered.

Page was hoping to add Poland to that list.

It was a formidable record, too, in the capital. In the last decade, the Red Dragons have lost just twice in 25 games at their favourite venue.

But the Poles came with valid hopes. They were one of those victors by a single goal during a Nations League clash 18 months ago.

The opening exchanges were predictably cagey. Przemyslaw Frankowski sent over a cross from the right that just eluded Karol Swiderski’s outstretched leg.

At the other end, Wales’ pace up front caused problems. Brennan Johnson was making a particular nuisance of himself.

From two corners in the opening quarter, it became clear why Page had plumped for Kieffer Moore up front instead of David Brooks.