London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jul 11, 2025

Wales edge Ukraine to end 64-year World Cup wait

Wales edge Ukraine to end 64-year World Cup wait

Wales overcame another monumental effort from Ukraine to qualify for their first World Cup since 1958 on a night of high emotion and drama in Cardiff.

Ukraine had good chances to score but could not quite find the breakthrough

Having beaten Scotland in an emotionally draining semi-final four days earlier, the Ukrainians - with the backdrop of their country's war with Russia - were deeply impressive once again but fell just short in their attempt to reach only a second World Cup in their history.

Instead, it was Wales who achieved that feat at a delirious Cardiff City Stadium.

Their winning goal came against the run of play as Gareth Bale's first-half free-kick was inadvertently headed in by Ukraine captain Andriy Yarmolenko, a particularly cruel way for the visitors to concede having dominated before then.

Both teams tired but threw players forward in a chaotic second half, with Bale wasting a golden opportunity and substitute Brennan Johnson hitting the post for Wales.

Ukraine also had several chances to equalise but were repelled by the phenomenal goalkeeping of Wayne Hennessey and defending of Ben Davies.

This was not a vintage Welsh performance but they played with great resolve, and the scenes of celebration inside a deafening Cardiff City Stadium spoke of how cathartic it is for this footballing nation to rid itself of its 64-year World Cup drought.

Now Wales can finally look forward to being a part of football's greatest competition in November, where England, the United States and Iran await in their group in Qatar.

As for this Ukrainian team, playing to the backdrop of Russia's invasion of their homeland, they have been an inspiration.

They were cheered on in Cardiff by their passionate supporters, including 100 refugees who were given tickets for free by the Football Association of Wales, while home fans showed their appreciation for the away side with warm applause before kick-off.

However, Wales' mantra in the build-up to this game - as cold as it may have sounded - was that they had to take the emotion out of this occasion and temporarily put their compassion to one side.

And they did it to realise their own, long-held dream.


Wales' 64-year wait finally over
Wales celebrated wildly at the full-time whistle in Cardiff


Since their only other World Cup appearance in 1958, Welsh football history has been littered with tales of near misses. From Scotland in 1977 and 1985 to Romania in 1993, Wales have stood on the brink of history before - only to stumble at the final hurdle.

But these are different times. This is Wales' golden era, in which their players are not burdened by that past.

Qualifying for Euro 2016 ended their 58-year wait for a major tournament and reaching a first semi-final in France took Welsh football to new heights.

Then they followed that success by qualifying for Euro 2020 - but a World Cup is another level again.

And while this Wales side might not be shackled by the memories of previous failures, Robert Page's men were never going to make it easy for themselves.

Wales started in a panic, hurrying into tackles and picking up yellow cards for Joe Allen and Daniel James inside two minutes as Ukraine controlled the early exchanges.

The visitors dominated possession and forced Hennessey into a flurry of early saves, while Oleksandr Zinchenko had a goal disallowed after shooting from a free-kick taken too quickly.

While Ukraine's noisy blue and yellow contingent enjoyed their team's vibrant start, a sense of unease spread through the home fans at Cardiff City Stadium.

Their anxiety increased as Zinchenko, orchestrating matters artfully in midfield, called Hennessey into action yet again with a firm left-footed shot from long range.

Ukraine were devastated after their World Cup dream - and the cheer it had given their war-torn nation - ended


And yet for all the Ukrainian pressure, it was Bale - who else - who conjured the moment, with some luck, which led to Wales' opening goal.

Peripheral for the first half an hour, the Wales captain lashed a free-kick towards the Ukrainian goal but, as the ball seemed to be drifting wide, it was steered in by the diving Yarmolenko.

Ukraine's skipper thought he would have a chance to redeem himself when he appeared to be tripped by Allen inside the Wales box but, after a VAR check, no penalty was given.

Fortuitous as the goal might have been, Wales' lead meant that Ukraine attacked with abandon in the second half and left themselves vulnerable defensively.

Aaron Ramsey had a glorious opportunity as Kieffer Moore pulled the ball back to him inside the Ukrainian penalty area, but the Juventus midfielder miscued his shot wide.

The game soon become so open it was ragged, both sides exchanging chances like two punch-drunk boxers trading blows.

Hennessey blocked instinctively from Viktor Tsygankov, before Davies slid in to deny Yarmolenko in a goal-saving intervention that brought to mind his block against Slovakia at Euro 2016.

Johnson came on to hit the post and, moments later, Bale could only shoot straight at Ukraine keeper Georgiy Buschchan from close range.

The longer Wales went without scoring a second goal, the more the nerves crept back in as Ukraine exerted more pressure.

Hennessey pulled off a majestic, flying save to deny Artem Dovbyk and, the more time ticked away, the more desperate the Ukrainian attacks became.

Their commitment was faultless but so was Wales' as they held firm to free a nation from its past.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
×