' Pride and Passion '
Sunday 3rd July 2016
Media Wales
Gareth Bale dropped something of a grenade when he stated Wales had more passion than England as a football nation.
Cue outcry from Roy Hodgson and Wayne Rooney, who said it was rubbish. Was it, though?
When did you last see a Hodgson team, or a Three Lions side Rooney has played in, display as much stirring pride and passion as we witnessed from Wales in overcoming Belgium on Friday night?
Rooney and his colleagues wilted as they went behind to Iceland. Wales rallied when Belgium took the lead, rolled up their sleeves and forced their way back into the match.
When did you last see an England team interact with the fans the way Wales have with their Red Wall at these Euros?
Liverpool’s fans are generally regarded as the most fervent in the country. Wales have become the international version of them. Appropriate that the two sets of supporters each wear red.
They used to say the Kop would suck in goals at Anfield, make the Liverpool players run faster, tackle harder, shoot stronger.
Well it’s this pride and passion with Wales that enables players like James Chester and Hal Robson-Kanu to suddenly look like world-beaters.
Chester was a West Brom reserve for most of last season. Robson-Kanu doesn’t even have a club. Ben Davies can’t make Tottenham’s team, Jurgen Klopp overlooks Joe Allen with Liverpool.
Yet they come together with Wales, feed off the passion created from the fans and within the team room, and look international giants.
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