THIS was a hair-rasing night for Gareth Bale and Wales in more ways than one as they head off to the World Cup.
Their talismanic skipper is clearly not match fit and only took centre stage twice – one of which was when his Alice Band fell out.
By contrast, Poland’s superstar Robert Lewandowski produced the one moment of genuine class to tee up the winning goal just before the hour.
On Thursday it was Kevin de Bruyne – and on Sunday it was the Barcleona new boy undoing the Dragons.
Rob Page’s men are certainly learning the hard way how it is if you want to mix with the best in the world.
They go to Qatar in seven weeks’ time hoping their recent run of just one win in their last seven matches is not a true reflection of where they are.
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Page said planning for that tournament would start as soon as the final whistle blew here – as there was still something at stake for his team.
A win would have meant they stayed in the top tier of the Nations League when it returns in two years time – while it would also have been a nice psychological blow over World Cup rivals England.
Just as importantly, it would have meant almost guaranteed a place in the Euro 2024 play-offs, no matter how the group plays out.
That would have been handy – but it wasn’t to be.
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Wales again had a makeshift look about them with Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen, Ben Davies and Harry Wilson all absent with injury.
Chris Mepham and Ethan Ampadu also missed out due to suspension – so this was a very different team to the one which might start their next game.
That will be against the USA in Qatar on November 21 – with the Dragons taking their place at the finals for the first time since 1958.
Lewandowski and his Poland team knew a point would do for them and they were roared on by a sizeable travelling support.
It was the Poles who made the better chances early on with Joe Rodon making a perfectly timed intervention to deny Szymon Zurkowski.
Jakub Kiwior flashed in a header that forced Wayne Hennessey into his first save of the night.
The veteran keeper was almost left red-faced when he took his eye off a routine back pass from Rodon and had to scramble the ball off the line.
It was a piece of goalkeeper straight out of the Peter Enckelman handbook but fortunately, he was able to recover.
There was plenty of needle in the game with the Polish fans starting the night by singing through the first part of the Welsh national anthem.
Maybe that wound up defender Connor Roberts as he had a tasty running battle with Nicola Zalewski. They weren’t the only ones though.
A big chance for the Dragons came when a long punt forward from Ben Cabango was not dealt with and Dan James got in behind.
The Fulham man used his pace to get clear but lacked composure and fired straight at the legs of Wojciech Szczesny – who also managed to push the cross to safety from the rebound.
Bale’s major contribution came as he attempted to play on while also trying to put his hairband back in place – causing a collective chuckle in the stands.
He could have caused a hairy moment for Poland as he ghosted into space to collect a Roberts long throw-in but could not force the ball under Szczesny from a narrow angle.
The Dragons went close again when Brennan Johnson found room for a shot on the edge of the box but his goalbound effort clipped the heels of James and spun wide.
Page would have been pleased with the way his team had kept the Poles under control but a moment of class just before the hour mark opened them up.
Lewandwski flick with the outside of his foot was brilliant as it bypassed Rodon and sent Karol Swiderski clear to score through the legs of Hennessey.
The US-based forward also got the winner when these teams met in June.
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Wales could have hit straight back as Johnson cut in from the right and fired a low shot that was superbly tipped away by Szczesny.
He was beaten in stoppage time as Bale got his head on a Sorba Thomas cross but his effort clattered against the bar. A draw would not have been enough though.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
