England and Wales met in the men’s World Cup on Tuesday. The article has been updated according to the result of the match on Tuesday at 23:50, England won by goals 3–0.
You can watch the video in place of the main picture of the story, which explains how the success of Welsh football has strengthened the country’s identity and the status of the Welsh language.
If the matches between Finland and Sweden are often described as the struggles of little brother and big brother, the match between Wales and England really is like that. Among the countries belonging to the Kingdom of Great Britain, England has the largest population, Wales the second smallest.
England and Wales finished the opening group of the World Cup with their match on Tuesday. For both teams, a win would have been vital in terms of securing a place in the next round.
England won the match between Great Britain with a score of 3–0 and marched to the play-off stage as the top of the group. Wales were one point behind in the tournament.
The meeting was naturally highly anticipated within the kingdom. The football match between the countries has continued closely in recent years, in a very British way. It has become even tighter, as the level of Wales has risen strongly in the last few years on the football fields of Europe.
The foundation was created, for example, by the 2016 European Championships in France. At that time, England defeated Wales in the first group with goals 2–1, Daniel Sturridge’s after scoring a goal at the end of the match in extra time. The English got a moment to acknowledge their smaller neighbor in peace.
However, the Welsh got a laugh in the play-off round. England lost humiliatingly in the quarterfinals to tiny Iceland. Wales, on the other hand, reached their best ever football achievement. It only lost in the EC semi-finals to future European champions Portugal.
One year during the Games, a video in which the Welsh team wildly celebrated England’s relegation in their accommodation went viral on social media. The confrontation grew more.
Currently a member of the World Cup team Jonny Williams filmed the video that went viral.
– We know how much the England match means to our fans. We were devastated when we lost to them in the European Championships. So now it would be nice to beat them. Every game between the British states is a massive encounter, he characterized at the press conference before the match.
The giant tip chose Wales over England
The confrontation between England and Wales is complex in many ways. From the form of government to the nationality of the players.
For example, nine players from the Welsh team were born on the English side and could therefore represent the neighboring country.
One of them is a 30-year-old attacker Kieffer Moore, who was born in Torquay and currently represents Bournemouth at club level in the Premier League. Moore also has one C national match under his belt in England. His father’s father is Welsh, which gives him the right to represent Wales.
Nowadays, however, Moore has sworn to “Dragons”. When asked about his relationship with England before the Games at the Wales press conference, he decided to put water in the mill of confrontation.
– I can’t wait to knock them out of the tournament. “It’s going to be incredible,” Moore said.
– I won’t have any conflicting feelings about who I should represent. I don’t even remember the strangest thing about that C national match. I think it was against Estonia and I played a bit at the end of it.
Moore has continued to check in the direction of England for longer. Bournemouth, represented by Moore, beat Everton 3-0 in the Premier League earlier in November. He managed to put one hit on England’s number one goalkeeper by Jordan Pickford behind the back.
– Nice to get the first hit against him already, Moore acknowledged your hit (you move to another service) then.
The 196-centimeter striker is also a man of big goals. The Welshman, who rose from England’s seventh tier to the top, scored the goal that decided Bournemouth’s promotion to the Premier League against Nottingham Forest last season. Against England, Moore ended up scoreless.
The visit of the Prince of Wales was frustrating
“Big brother” has left a receipt for others. The last time England lost to Wales was in 1984. At that time, Wales won the last organized British championship tournament. England lost with goals 0–1.
The British monarch, the prince, has brought his own mess to the initial setting, almost strangely of all William.
The first heir to the crown simultaneously holds the title of Prince of Wales and also serves as the chairman of the English Football Association. Among other things, William went to a camp in anticipation of the English Games to cheer on the national team, stating that “the whole country is cheering” on them. The same honor was not granted to Wales.
Among other things, an actor who strongly supports Wales Michael Sheen gave William stern feedback On their Twitter account (you will switch to another service).
– He can support whoever he wants and the role of the FA chairman makes his visit understandable. But, at the same time, I guess he understands that when he carries the title of Prince of Wales, this timing is completely irrelevant? Embarrass him at all? Or is he aware of the problem here? Sheen asked after the prince’s visit.
Indeed, Wales’ national self-esteem has grown, especially with its footballing achievements. The younger generation has changed very strongly to support the country’s full independence. For example, Wales in these games official race song Yma o Hyd (you will switch to another service) has become the symbol of the national team. The song in Welsh tells about the struggle of Wales for its own state and people over the years.
Professor of Politics and Sports Administration and former Welsh footballer Laura McAllister told In an interview with The Athletic (you go to another service)that the place in the semi-finals of the European Championship 2016 was part of increasing the people’s faith in their own country.
– In recent years, supporting the national team has also changed more from anti-English to pro-Welsh. Although of course not all being pro-Welshness leads to supporting independence, McAllister describes.
Despite all the acknowledgment, the Welsh Football Association is also seeking more separation from England. Wales may soon no longer be seen under the same name on international pitches. If the football association’s initiative goes through, the country will be called by its Welsh name, Cymru.