Wales

Preview

In Wales, Terry Yorath had recently taken up the manager’s role after a long reign by his predecessor Mike England, who had failed to guide the British country to either of Spain ’82, France ’84, Mexico ’86 or West Germany ’88. After four failed attempts at qualifying for a major international tournament, though no qualification tournament under Mike England had ever left them more than two points away from actual qualification, the Welsh FA will have felt the need for a change. Yorath started his first job at international level on a part-time basis, as he was still managing Swansea, one of four Welsh clubs participating in the English Football League, whom he had taken from the fourth to the third division, winning the 1987/88 play-offs. A rather eccentric character, his biography “Hard man, hard knocks” (2004) will surely be an interesting read. Yorath’s assistant was Peter Shreeves, whose acquaintance Yorath had made whilst they were both at Tottenham around 1979/80: Yorath as player, Shreeves as reserve team manager. Read more . . .

World Cup appearances: 1958

Manager: Terry Yorath

Results

Qualifier 1
14.09.1988
Olympisch Stadion (Amsterdam)

Netherlands
Gullit (83′)

1–0
(Report)

Wales

In his first competitive match in charge, Yorath opted for a defensive approach, something which was hardly surprising given the nature of the opposition. The Welsh rode their luck at times, and saw a number of fine stops from their excellent ‘keeper Southall, but had to admit defeat after a late goal.

Line-up (4-4-2): Southall – Hall, Nicholas, Knill, Blackmore – Williams, Horne, Davies, Aizlewood – Hughes (Saunders 78), Rush (c).

Qualifier 2
19.10.1988
Vetch Field (Swansea)

Wales
Saunders (25′ pen.)
Lahtinen (41′ o.g.)

2–2
(Report)

Finland
Ukkonen (9′)
Paatelainen (45′)

For the home fixture against Finland, Yorath chose a much more attack-minded eleven, with Saunders and Pascoe down the flanks. Some sloppiness at the back saw the visitors draw level in first half injury time, after a penalty and an own goal, after a wonderful move, had put Wales in front. Saunders missed a second half penalty which had erringly been awarded to him by the poor Icelandic official. Disappointing for the Welsh not to beat an opponent they would need maximum points from to stand a chance of challenging for second spot. Effectively game over already as far as qualifying went.

Line-up (4-4-2): Southall – Hall (Bowen 58), Van Den Hauwe, Ratcliffe (c), Blackmore – Saunders, Nicholas, Horne, Pascoe – Rush, Hughes.

Friendly
08.02.1989
Ramat Gan Stadium (Tel Aviv)

Israel
Klinger (6′)
Alon (7′)
Driks (73′)

3–3

Wales
Horne (11′)
Aharoni (57′ o.g.)
Allen (87′)

Line-up: Dibble – Hall (Slatter 68), Nicholas, Ratcliffe (c), Bowen – Williams (M Allen 68), Horne, Blackmore, Pascoe – Saunders, Hughes.

Friendly
26.04.1989
Racecourse Ground (Wrexham)

Wales

0–2

Sweden
Schiller (30′)
Ratcliffe (56′ o.g.)

This is most likely Yorath’s first attempt at 3-4-3 with Wales, with Nicholas at the heart of the defence alongside Van Den Hauwe and Ratcliffe, allowing for Saunders to join the front line, and with Phillips and Bowen as wing backs. Williams would be in central midfield alongside Horne.

Line-up: Southall – Nicholas (Aizlewood 67), Ratcliffe (c), Van Den Hauwe – Phillips, Horne, Williams, Bowen – Saunders, Rush, Hughes.

Qualifier 3
31.05.1989
Arms Park (Cardiff)

Wales

0–0
(Report)

West Germany

Wales give their all, but are ultimately content to settle for a draw against mighty opposition. Horne has a very eventful game in the middle of the park, and the visitors find it difficult to live with his tenacity. The same man’s lucky not to be sent off or even booked for a wild two-footed lunge on Reinhardt early in the second half. Wales also owed some debt to Southall for keeping out a second half Häßler effort from distance, whereas Rush came within a whisker of breaching the deadlock right on half time.

Line-up (3-4-3): Southall – Nicholas, Ratcliffe (c), Aizlewood – Blackmore (Bowen 81), Horne, Williams (Pascoe 81), Phillips – Saunders, Rush, Hughes.

Qualifier 4
06.09.1989
Olympiastadion (Helsinki)

Finland
Lipponen (51′)

1–0
(Report)

Wales

Wales seemed somewhat reluctant to accept the battle, and were bullied by physical opponents. The alledged ‘world class’ forward three never had much of a say, and they were desperately poor in central midfield. The wide players were also unable to offer much support, and the game was decided from an early second half corner kick. The Welsh are officially out of contention for the World Cup.

Line-up (3-4-3): Southall – Aizlewood, Ratcliffe (c), Nicholas (Maguire 89) – Blackmore, Williams (Bowen 81), Davies, Phillips – Saunders, Rush, Hughes.

Qualifier 5
11.10.1989
Racecourse Ground (Wrexham)

Wales
Bowen (89′)

1–2
(Report)

Netherlands
Rutjes (12′)
Bosman (70′)

Wales were without some of their best names, and lose to a largely superior Netherlands. Yorath continued with his 3-4-3 despite the absence of Rush and Hughes, showing his confidence in the system. The three front men were expected to do most on their own, and Saunders and Allen did carve out a few chances that they should have buried if they were to get a result here. Horne and Ratcliffe were perhaps more notable absentees on the field than Rush and Hughes.

Line-up (3-4-3): Southall (c) – Hopkins, Nicholas, Maguire – Blackmore, Phillips, Williams (Pascoe 84′), Bowen – Saunders, Roberts (Jones 63′), Allen.

Qualifier 6
15.11.1989
Müngersdorfer Stadion (Cologne)

West Germany
Völler (25′)
Häßler (48′)

2–1
(Report)

Wales
Allen (11′)

Wales shock the eventual World Cup winners by taking the lead in this qualification decider, but are deservedly beaten in the end. Predictably a defensive strategy trying to break forward with their front trio, who especially in the first half created much problem to their mighty opponent. But they looked vulnerable to crosses all evening, and once again let in a set piece goal.

Line-up (3-4-3): Southall – Maguire, Melville (Pascoe 80′), Aizlewood – Phillips, Blackmore, Nicholas, Bowen (Horne 65′) – Saunders, Allen, Hughes.

Conclusion

The Italia ’90 qualification had been a disappointment to Wales. They had finished bottom of their pool and won none of their six matches, indeed losing their final three. All four defeats were by a single goal margin, so it is not as if they were being torn apart. They would also surrender their proud home record of not having lost a home qualifier in the 80s, as the Netherlands won 2-1 in Wrexham. Whilst a limited amount of points against the Dutch and the West Germans could have been expected, just a single point from two matches against Finland would’ve been their greatest cause for concern.

With the UK typically a 4-4-2 stronghold, it had probably come as a surprise that Terry Yorath had opted to switch to the 3-4-3 formation after their first two qualifiers. In theory, it made sense, as it would accommodate their three ace strikers Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and Dean Saunders. Whilst the latter had played wide in midfield to good effect at home to Finland, their only goal from a striker’s position in this qualification had come through Malcolm Allen in their final game away to West Germany.

11 players had featured in four games or more, with nine of these starting that number of games. This indicated a certain consistency and symmetry in team selection, and there were positives in the fact that some individuals had performed capably: goalkeeper Neville Southall was considered one of the world’s top stoppers, Saunders had given a good account of himself, indeed far better than his two more famous strike partners, and Barry Horne had shown some midfield grit in half of their performances. Altogether, though, it had been insufficient. Rush had probably been the greatest disappointment of all, with some dire performances until Allen came in. 23 players were in action throughout the six match long qualification stint.

PosTeamPlWDLGFGAPts
1Netherlands64208210
2West Germany63301339
3Finland61144163
4Wales6024482

Player Statistics

Number of players used: 23
Number of players including unused substitutes: 32
Ever-presents (540 mins): 1 (Southall)
Leading goalscorer: Saunders, Bowen, Allen (all 1)
Yellow/red cards: 10/0

– overview

PlayerAppsXISubUnSubMinsGlsY/R
Southall, Neville66540
Nicholas, Peter66539
Blackmore, Clayton665312/0
Saunders, Dean6514621 (1)1/0
Hughes, Mark554382/0
Aizlewood, Mark441360
Phillips, David44360
Rush, Ian443602/0
Williams, Geraint442336
Horne, Barry4312952/0
Ratcliffe, Kevin33270
Bowen, Mark5232051
Maguire, Gavin321181
Allen, Malcolm22218011/0
Davies, Alan22180
Hall, Gareth22148
Pascoe, Colin413115
Hopkins, Jeff1190
Knill, Alan1190
Van Den Hauwe, Pat1190
Melville, Andy11180
Roberts, Iwan11163
Jones, Andy1127
Dibble, Andy1
Hodges, Glyn1
Holden, Andy1
Jackett, Kenny3
Law, Brian1
Norman, Tony3
Speed, Gary1
Thomas, Martyn1
Willmott, Rhys1

– game by game

NameHol (a)Fin (h)Frg (h)Fin (a)Hol (h)Frg (a)AppsMins
Aizlewood90R9090904360
AllenRR90902180
Blackmore9090819090906531
Bowen329990652+3205
Davies90902180
DibbleR
Hall90582148
HodgesR
HoldenR
Hopkins90190
Horne909090253+1295
Hughes78909090905438
JackettRRR
Jones270+127
Knill90190
LawR
Maguire190902+1181
MelvilleR80180
Nicholas9090908990906539
NormanRRR
Pascoe9096101+3115
Phillips909090904360
Ratcliffe9090903270
Roberts63R163
Rush909090904360
Saunders1290909090905+1462
Southall9090909090906540
SpeedR
ThomasR
Van Den Hauwe90190
Williams90R818184R4336
WillmottR

– ratings

PosPlayerAverage ratingNumber of rated games
1Saunders7,205
2Southall7,186
3Horne7,133
4Aizlewood7,054
5Ratcliffe6,903
6Hughes6,885
7Nicholas6,866
8Blackmore6,736
9Williams6,704
10Phillips6,654
11Bowen6,603
12Rush6,474
Explanation to table: Total number of rated games: 6. Players need to have been rated in half or more of the games in order to appear on the list.

Post-qualification

Friendly
28.03.1990 Republic of Ireland 1-0 Wales
Line-up: Southall – Hall, Maguire, Knill, Aizlewood, Phillips – Davies, Nicholas (c), Horne – Rush, Allen

Friendly
25.04.1990 Sweden 4-2 Wales
Goals: Saunders 2
Line-up: Southall (c) – Phillips, Maguire, Melville, Law, Bowen – Nicholas, Horne, Hodges – Saunders, Allen

Friendly
20.05.1990 Wales 1-0 Costa Rica
Goal: Saunders
Line-up: Southall (c) – Blackmore, Young (Melville 70), Aizlewood, Hopkins, Bodin – Nicholas, Horne, Hodges (Speed 76) – Saunders, Hughes (Allen 75)