Nov 20, 2022
Cymru at the World Cup
Can the Welsh roar back onto the international stage after 64 years of hurt?
The 2022 World Cup is almost here, and for some teams it will be their first appearance at the biggest football tournament on the planet in decades. One of these sides is Wales. For the first time since 1958, Cymru will be one of 32 sides making the long and exciting journey to the World Cup.
The pre-tournament talk of the situation off the pitch has put off many people from this World Cup, which perhaps makes it unfortunate that this is the tournament Wales have got to. On the pitch, however, the excitement of having Cymru at only their second ever World Cup is huge for the country.
The nation may be small, but they are passionate beyond belief. As a footballing nation, it hasn’t always been this good for Cymru. The blueprint for this World Cup was written up 12 years ago under the watchful eye of Gary Speed. The new, ambitious Cymru was passed on to Chris Coleman following the tragic death of Speed.
The memorable summer of 2016 saw Coleman take Cymru to the semi-final of the European Championships, falling 2–0 to eventual winners Portugal. It was a superb achievement for what was their first ever Euros, and the taste for tournament football was back for Cymru.
This is only Cymru’s fourth appearance at a major tournament in their history, but their third in the last eight years. The qualifying process for these tournaments can be brutal at the best of times, and Wales are becoming a side capable of getting to tournaments and making themselves proud.
Led by Gareth Bale and having players such as Aaron Ramsey at their disposal, the Cymru squad is a mix of youth and experience. These players have given their fans plenty to shout about in the last eight years- the next few days and weeks could well add plenty more memories to this run.
I’ve had the pleasure of living and working in Wales for several years, and the passion when it comes to sport is no myth. Actor Michael Sheen’s impromptu speech on the TV show ‘A League of Their Own’ has gone down in history before a ball has even been kicked. He was asked to tell the audience what he would tell the Wales team before their match against England. A fiery and heartfelt monologue followed, one which sums up the passion that Wales will take to the World Cup.
However Cymru fare in Qatar, getting to their first one in nearly 65 years can be seen as an achievement on its own. You could say the pressure will be off for Rob Page’s side, but they will no doubt see themselves as a match for England, Iran and USA.
The future seems bright for Welsh football, and a strong performance at the World Cup will go far in showing the world what the Welsh are made of.
