England end up coasting through to the knockout stages of the World Cup, while Wales fans might be wondering why their team was so passive.
1) In comparison with the global geopolitical machinations of the other game in this group between the USA and Iran, England vs Wales was never going to be able to really match it for genuine vitriol and antipathy. As various parties lobbed bricks at each other in the build-up to that match, the derby in the desert didn’t quite feel like quite the monolithic occasion it might otherwise have done.
England, barring an unprecedented calamity, were already just about through to the next round of the competition. Wales were almost – but not quite – out. Jeopardy was thin on the ground.
2) Handbrake off, handbrake on, handbrake… off… ish? Switching the formation to accommodate four changes put England tactically somewhere between the goal frenzy of the Iran game and the soporific performance of the USA match which followed.
Jordan Henderson started, to add a little bit of spine to a central midfield that had looked panicky and skittish prior to his arrival from the bench in that frustrating draw, while Kyle Walker was in for Kieran Trippier, Marcus Rashford for Raheem Sterling, and…
3) …because Mr Gareth knows that Christmas is just around the corner and he’s definitely not a Grinch, Phil Foden for Mason Mount, especially for our very own Dave Tickner.
The England team selection for this match felt a little as though it was made on the basis of an FA supercomputer logarithm working out exactly how much of a dead rubber a match might be if only a four-goal defeat or worse will eliminate you.
4) That Wales were so passive throughout the first half was something of a surprise. It is true to say that England can be at their most dangerous when attacking on the break, but there were points throughout the first 45 minutes during which it felt as though Wales were playing for the draw which would not have been close to enough to see them through to the next round.
5) There had been some discussion before the match over whether Wales could really afford to start both Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, players of outstanding quality but who are also somewhat past their peak. Rob Page answered that question by starting both of them, but by half-time Bale had touched the ball on just seven occasions, just one of which was for a pass.
Bale was withdrawn for Brennan Johnson for the second half, with the…
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