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| Wales booked their place at Euro 2016 despite suffering a 2-0 defeat to Bosnia |
WALES booked their place at the Euro 2016 finals despite suffering their first defeat of their qualification campaign in Zenica.
Substitute Milan Djuric and Vedad Ibisevic struck in the final 20 minutes for the hosts to take the Dragons’ efforts to book their place in France on the night out of their hands.
But Cyprus’s victory over Israel in Jerusalem ensured Chris Coleman’s men cannot be caught in the chase for a top-two spot, leading to the curious sight of players and fans celebrating a defeat.
Not that Coleman and his players will mind too much, as 57 years of hurt were finally brought to an end and capped a remarkable turnaround from the desolation felt in Welsh football in the wake of Gary Speed’s untimely death four years ago.
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| Wales boss Chris Coleman celebrating with a fan |
To put the achievement in context, when Wales last qualified Elvis Presley was at number one in the charts with Jailhouse Rock and Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister. Since then the Berlin Wall was built and demolished, man walked on the moon and colour TV and the internet were invented.
With that history on their shoulders, Wales had started brightly, having little trouble dealing with Bosnian pressure while launching promising forward forays of their own.
Gareth Bale was at the heart of them. One surge down the left nearly ended with the Real Madrid player picking out Hal Robson-Kanu, while the Reading man’s pressing led to a chance for Neil Taylor, but the Swansea full-back could not control his volley at full stretch.
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| Gareth Bale celebrates Wales' progress to France 2016 |
However, there was a warning for the visitors when a Ben Davies slip nearly gifted Bosnia the lead. The sodden surface caught out the Tottenham man and Miralem Pjanic reacted quickly to send Edin Visca in on goal, only for the winger to pull his shot wide of the target.
It was the only clear sight of goal the hosts would have in the opening half, with Wales finishing the first 45 minutes by far the stronger. An Aaron Ramsey free-kick nearly caught out Asmir Begovic in the Bosnia goal, while Robson-Kanu just failed to connect with a driven Bale cross.
Wales should have led at the break. Robson-Kanu held off his marker to find Ramsey, who tricked his way into the box. However, the Arsenal man hesitated as he bore down on Begovic and the loose ball was smothered by the keeper.
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| Hal Robson-Kanu applauding the jubilant travelling fans in Zenica |
Bosnia lifted the tempo after the break but a brave Welsh defence would not yield, and instead Bale came close to finding the net, racing on to Joe Ledley’s pass but failing to keep his shot down.
The missed opportunities proved costly when they fell behind in the 70th minute. Vedad Ibisevic flicked the ball on in the box and Djuric, who had been on the field for only nine minutes, rose to loop a header over Wayne Hennessey and into the net.
It was the first goal Wales had conceded in 574 minutes, but it could not prevent a Welsh party as events in Jerusalem did the job on their behalf.
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Begovic, Mujdza, Spahic, Sunjic, Zukanovic, Visca, Pjanic, Hadzic, Salihovic, Lulic, Ibisevic.
Subs: Sehic, Grahovac, Bicakcic, Cocalic, Stojan Vranjes, Ognjen Vranjes, Medunjanin, Dzeko, Djuric, Hodzic, Hajrovic, Buric.
Wales: Hennessey, Gunter, Ashley Williams, Taylor, Ramsey, Davies, Allen, Richards, Ledley, Bale, Robson-Kanu.
Subs: Fon Williams, King, Jonathan Williams, Church, Vokes, Edwards, Chester, Collins, Vaughan, Lawrence, Henley, Ward.
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)
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