It’s the end of the road when it comes to Euro 2024 for Wales and Nottingham Forest star Neco Williams will now be able to start planning his summer holidays.
Last night, it all boiled down to a one-off match. Wales against Poland at the Cardiff City Stadium with the winners claiming the final place at this summer’s tournament.
In truth the game was drab. Forest star Williams kept his place at left-back for the game – having scored a wonderful goal in midweek – but after extra time the match was still goalless.
Penalties are a horrible way to decide any football match. The cynic in us really didn’t want Williams to put his head on the block and take one, risking a morale-sapping miss ahead of a big game against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Although Williams took his penalty like a seasoned spot-kick taker, David Brooks didn’t. His miss ensured heartache for Forest star Williams and all flights are cancelled for Wales when it comes to Euro 2024.
Neco Williams upstages Brennan Johnson as Wales fail to reach Euro 2024
This one will be sore for a little while, but Forest defender Williams can look back on this performance with a lot of pride. His efforts were certainly valued more than his former club teammate, Brennan Johnson.
Through moist eyes, the Welsh journalists still managed to do their player ratings last night. Williams came out of the match with credit – which is more than can be offered about the performance of Johnson.
Wales Online went first and scored Williams a 7/10. They claimed: “Was a willing runner and constant threat down the left. Perhaps didn’t do enough with it when he got into those dangerous areas. Coolly slotted his penalty into the corner.”
Forest number seven Williams was also given praise by Y Clwb Pel-Droed, who also gave him 7/10. They claimed: “He was dangerous at moments down the left-hand side but didn’t do enough to trouble the Poland defence. He did step up and slot away the fourth penalty.”
Williams will come again for Wales but Forest are his focus now
Johnson was the first Wales player substituted last night. He scored a mere 5/10 from Clwb Y Pel-Droed and only managed a 6/10 from Wales Online.
The man who joined Tottenham from Forest last summer was largely tipped as the man to fill the void vacated by Gareth Bale when he chose to retire from the game.
So far, he’s been unable to do that on the international stage and last night he did look a little below-par as Wales failed to reach another major tournament.
For Williams, he must now place his full focus on Forest. Big games against Crystal Palace and Fulham are on the horizon and wins are badly-needed for the Reds.
The 21-year-old has produced two solid performances for Wales and that does bode well for the Reds. Hopefully, he can shake this one off quickly and be raring to go at the weekend.
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