Cymru will return to League B in the UEFA Nations League after Karol Šwiderski 58th minute goal was enough to secure League A safety for Poland at Cardiff City Stadium.
This was a tasty affair as Poland frustrated Robert Page’s team with time-wasting tactics, knowing that a point was enough for them.
Cymru gave it their all in this game though with Brennan Johnson going close on a few occasions and Gareth Bale struck the crossbar late in the game but it wasn’t enough.
The winning goal was a touch of class as Polish legend Robert Lewandoski applied a lethal touch to flick the ball perfectly into Šwiderski ’s path for him to neatly slot home past Wayne Hennessey.
This was Cymru’s final game before they travel to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup and a few players would have put themselves into Page’s consideration having come off the bench to impress in the short space of time provided to them.
On another night, this could have been a different story.
Talking Point
Cymru have enjoyed their time in League A coming up against Belgium, Netherlands and Poland. The most pleasing aspect will be that they’ve more than competed with the elite of Europe and will actually feel disappointed not to have retained their status.
Having gone toe-to-toe with the best and only missing out by the slimmest of margins from adding to their points tally in each game, this campaign can still be deemed a success.
Page has navigated League A without being able to select his first choice eleven, and having the massive distraction of the World Cup Play-Off Final against Ukraine in the middle of it all.
This goes some way to highlighting that Cymru’s squad is getting stronger and that the players absolutely commit all to the Dragon on their shirt.
Teams
Cymru: Hennessey; Cabango, Rodon, Norrington-Davies (Moore 58’); C. Roberts (Thomas 85’), Morrell, Levitt (Colwill 72’), N. Williams, Johnson, D James, Bale. Subs: Ward, King, Gunter, Smith, Roberts, Burns, Williams, Harris, J James.
Poland: Szczesny; Bednarek, Glik, Kiwior; Bereszynski (Gumny 90’), Krychowiak, Zurowski (Szymanski 83’), Zalewski; Zielinski, Lewandowski (C), Swiderski (Piatek 65’). Subs: Skorupski, Dragowski, Kedziora, Wieteska, Milik, Piotrowski, Grosicki, Skoras, Kaminski.
