Qualification Phase-Part 9- A video Interview and blog presentation with Welsh Football fan, Mr. Gareth Hughes, discussing Wales during the World Cup 1994 qualifiers.

 

For this interview, I look back at Wales’ 1994 World Cup qualification campaign

 

The Interview will be as a video link companion, while the Blog will be a presentation of the events.

The Interviewees are:

Welsh Football fan, Mr. Gareth Hughes,

 

Mr. Hughes’ contact info:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gareth.hughes.37604

Twitter: @pontblyddyn

 

 

My contact information:

on twitter @sp1873 and on facebook under Soccernostalgia.

https://linktr.ee/sp1873

 

Qualification Phase, Part 9 (Wales 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)

 

Former Wales star Terry Yorath had been appointed as Welsh National Team Manager in 1988 replacing Mike England.

His first qualification campaigns were for the 1990 World Cup and then the 1992 Euros.

He failed in these two attempts as the Welsh had the misfortune of being in two tough Groups with Germany (West and then unified), not to mention 1988 Euro Champions Holland for the 1990 phase.

 

Photo From: World Soccer, April 1992

(Terry Yorath)

At this point, Wales were a team lacking in depth that did not have the extra ingredients to mount a qualifying campaign.

That is not to say that Wales did not have quality World class players. Everton goalkeeper Neville Southall was certainly one of the best of his generation.

The frontline of Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and Dean Saunders played for some of the best sides in Europe on their day.

However, Wales did not have enough players of such quality like their neighbors England and Scotland, who regularly qualified for Tournaments.

They were similar to Northern Ireland in terms of depth, who had at least qualified to the World Cup twice in the recent past.

Wales simply had not qualified to the Finals of any Tournament since the 1958 World Cup.

In 1991/92 years, there was the emergence of a teenager named Ryan Giggs. He was the best young talent Wales had produced in decades and many saw a bright future in him. However, he was still too young to have the desired impact.

 

The 1994 World Cup was to take place in the United States and Wales were in a group with Belgium Romania, Czechoslovakia, Cyprus and Faroe Islands.

While not much was expected of Cyprus, and Faroe Islands, the other three sides were a worry and had all qualified to the previous World Cup.

 

The World Cup campaign started at the tail-end of the 1991/92 season, as Wales traveled to Bucharest to face Romania on May 20^th.

Things could not have ended worse for the Welsh as the Gheorge Hagi-inspired Romanians demolished the Welsh (5-1). Already the qualification hopes seemed dour after just one match.

Photo From: Fotbal Plus, NR 40, 27 Mai-3 Iunie, 1992

(May 20, 1992, World Cup Qualifier, Romania 5-Wales 1)

Photo From: Fotbal Plus, NR 41, 3-10 Iunie, 1992

(May 20, 1992, World Cup Qualifier, Romania 5-Wales 1)

The next qualifier would in the following Autumn, and Wales’ next three preparation matches did not inspire any hope or confidence.

Just days after the Romania drubbing, Wales were on the receiving end of another heavy loss, this time to the Dutch (0-4) at Utrecht on May 30^th.

They went on Tour in June and participated in the Kirin Cup in Japan. On June 3^rd, they lost to Argentina (0-1) and days later on June 7^th, they defeated their Japanese hosts (1-0).

The World Cup qualification campaign resumed on September 9^th, as Wales defeated Faroe Islands (6-0) (as was expected of them) with Ian Rush scoring a hat trick.

Photo From: The Faroese national team-10 years in international football, Author Joannes Hansen & Finnur Helmsdal

(September 9, 1992, World Cup Qualifier, Wales 6-Faroe Islands 0)

The following month, on October 14^th, at Limassol, Wales came away with a (1-0) away win against Cyprus with Mark Hughes scoring the winner.

The real test was on November 18^th, as Wales traveled to Brussels to face Belgium, who had won their first four matches.

Belgium won their fifth match in a row (2-0), as Wales lost its second match against a qualification rival.

As this 1992 calendar year ended, Belgium appeared set to qualify with the one runner-up spot up for grabs between Romania, Czechoslovakia, and Wales.

 

Photo From: France Football, Issue 2433, November 24, 1992

(November 18, 1992, World Cup Qualifier, Belgium 2-Wales 0)

As the year 1993 rolled around, Wales traveled to Dublin to face the Republic of Ireland in a friendly on February 17^th to prepare for the upcoming qualifiers in the new year (1-2 loss).

The return fixture against Belgium was on March 31^st at Cardiff. Terry Yorath recalled the Internationally retired former Everton Captain Kevin Ratcliffe for this match.

From this match onwards, Yorath also decided to install Giggs as a starter, who was about to help Manchester United finally win the League title after a 26-yearw wait.

He rewarded Yorath’s faith by opening the score with a free kick. Ian Rush headed in the second in the 39^th minute and Wales inflicted Belgium its first defeat in the qualifiers and revived their faint chances.

 

In the following month, on April 28^th, they earned an important away point from their match at Bratislava against the now renamed Republic of Czechs and Slovaks (1-1 tie).

This was perhaps the best period in Wales’ campaign, but they did not build up on it.

Wales finished off the 1992/93 season with an away win against Faroe Islands at Toftir on June 6^th (3-0).

Photo From: Soccer International, Volume 4, Issue 8, August 1993

(April 28, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Republic of Czechs and Slovaks 1-Wales 1)

Photo From: Soccer America, Vol. 45, No. 16, Issue 1131, November 1, 1993

(June 6, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Faroe Islands 0-Wales 3)

 

The final stretch of the qualification process started in the Autumn of 1993.

The return fixture against Republic of Czechs and Slovaks was at home on September 8^th, at Cardiff.

Wales had to win against a direct rival to strengthen their qualification hopes but were held to a tie (2-2).

This was an important dropped point that was ultimately their undoing.

They did the required minimum, the following month at home on October 13^th against Cyprus (2-0 win).

Photo From: Soccer America, Vol. 45, No. 21, Issue 1136, December 6, 1993

(September 8, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Wales 2- Republic of Czechs and Slovaks 2)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 58, November 1993

(October 13, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Wales 2-Cyprus 0)

There was one last match left and at this point, Belgium were leading the group, one point ahead of Romania and two points ahead of Wales and Republic of Czechs and Slovaks.

Wales could qualify if they defeated Romania at home on November 17^th, 1993, and hope for Belgium to hold off Republic of Czechs and Slovaks at home to at least a tie.

On a dramatic night at Cardiff, Gheorge Hagi gave Romania the lead in the 32^nd minute. Wales fought back and Dean Saunders tied the match in the 61^st minute.

A few minutes later in the 65^th minute, Wales had the chance to take the lead, as they were awarded a penalty kick. However, Paul Bodin missed his attempt, and it was still game on.

As the minutes passed, Wales’ remaining hopes were disappearing, and Romania dealt the final blow by scoring the winner in the 85^th minute by Florin Raducioiu.

 

Wales had started their qualification campaign in disastrous fashion but had pulled themselves to within a match to pull off a miracle of a comeback.

Paul Bodin’s missed penalty kick is one of the greatest what-ifs of Welsh Football History.

For the umpteenth and not the last time, Wales had failed to qualify for a Tournament.

In the aftermath, Terry Yorath was sacked and replaced with John Toshack.

It seemed like a harsh decision given some of the progress shown by the side.

The main bright spot had been the emergence and confirmation of Ryan Giggs. But alas, Rush, Hughes, Southall, and Saunders were destined to never play in a major Tournament.

Photo From: Fotbal Plus, NR. 113, 23-29 Noeimbrie, 1993

(November 17, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Wales 1-Romania 2)

Photo From: World Soccer, May 1994

(Paul Bodin’s penalty kick miss, November 17, 1993, World Cup Qualifier, Wales 1-Romania 2)

Wales players during the qualification matches

 

Goalkeepers:

Neville Southall (Everton Football Club-Liverpool / England) (September 16, 1958, Llandudno, Wales) (10 Matches)

 

Defenders:

Mark Rosslyn Bowen (Norwich City Football Club / England) (December 7, 1963, Neath, Wales) (7 Matches, substituted in 3 matches and came on as substitute in 2 matches)

Clayton Graham Blackmore (Manchester United Football Club / England) (September 23, 1964, Neath, Wales) (5 Matches, came on as a substitute in one match)

Mark Aizlewood (Bristol City Football Club / England) (October 1, 1959, Newport, Wales) (5 Matches, substituted in one match)

Andrew Roger Melville (Oxford United Football Club / England) (November 29, 1968, Swansea, Wales) (5 Matches, came on as a substitute in 2 matches)

Eric Young (Crystal Palace Football Club-London / England) (March 25, 1960, Singapore) (8 Matches, substituted in one match)

Christopher Jeremiah ‘Kit’ Symons (Portsmouth Football Club / England) (March 8, 1971, Basingstoke, England) (8 Matches, substituted in 2 matches)

Paul John Bodin ((Crystal Palace Football Club-London / England), for November 17, 1993, (Swindon Town Football Club / England)) (September 13, 1964, Cardiff, Wales) (4 Matches, substituted in 2 matches)

Kevin Ratcliffe (Cardiff City Football Club / Wales, registered in English League) (November 12, 1960, Mancot, Wales) (1 Match)

 

Midfielders:

David Owen Philipps ((Norwich City Football Club / England), from 1993/94 (Nottingham Forest Football Club / England)) (July 29, 1963, Wegberg, West Germany) (10 Matches, came on as a substitute in one match)

Mark Anthony Pembridge ((Luton Town Football Club / England), from 192/93 seaosn (Derby County Football Club / England)) (November 29, 1970, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales) (2 Matches, substituted in one match, came on as a substitute in one match)

Ryan Joseph Giggs (Manchester United Football Club / England) (November 29, 1973, Canton, Cardiff, Wales) (9 Matches, substituted in one match, came on as a substitute in 3 matches)

Barry Horne ((Southampton Football Club / England), from 1992/93 season, (Everton Football Club-Liverpool / England)) (May 18, 1962, St Asaph, Wales) (10 Matches)

Gary Andrew Speed (Leeds United Association Football Club / England) (September 8, 1969, Mancot, Flintshire, Wales-November 27, 2011, Huntington, Cheshire) (9 Matches, substituted in 2 matches, came on as a substitute in 2 matches)

Jeremy Goss (Norwich City Football Club / England) (May 11, 1965, Dhekelia, Cyprus) (2 Matches, came on as a substitute in both matches)

 

Strikers:

Dean Nicholas Saunders ((Liverpool Football Club / England), from October 14, 1992, (Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham / England)) (June 21, 1964, Swansea, Wales) (10 Matches)

Mark Leslie Hughes (Manchester United Football Club / England) (November 1, 1963, Ruabon, Wales) (9 Matches, substituted in one match)

Ian James Rush (Liverpool Football Club / England) (October 20, 1961, St Asaph, Wales) (10 Matches)

Malcolm Allen (Newcastle United Football Club / England) (March 21, 1967, Deiniolen, Gwynedd, Wales) (1 Match, came on as a substitute in that one match)

 

The following players appeared on Teamsheets, but did not play:

 

Goalkeepers:

Anthony Mark Roberts (Queens Park Rangers Football Club-London / England) (August 4, 1969, Holyhead, Wales) 

Anthony Joseph Norman (Sunderland Association Football Club / England) (February 24, 1958, Mancot, Wales)

 

Defenders:

Christopher Patrick Coleman (Crystal Palace Football Club-London / England) (June 10, 1970, Swansea, Wales)

 

Coach: Terence Charles Yorath (March 27, 1950, Grangetown, Cardiff, Wales)

Team Captain: Barry Horne

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro

 Goalscorers:

Ian James Rush 8 goals

Dean Nicholas Saunders 4 goals

Mark Leslie Hughes 2 goals

Ryan Joseph Giggs 2 goals

Mark Rosslyn Bowen 1 goal

 Clayton Graham Blackmore 1 goal

Eric Young 1 goal

Photos From:

Panini England 1992/93 (Southall, Bowen, Blackmore, Giggs, Hughes, Saunders, Rush, Phillips, Speed, Young)

Panini England 1993/94 (Barry Horne, Jeremy Goss, Malcolm Allen, Anthony Mark Roberts, Paul Bodin)

Premier League 1994-95 (Merlin) (Chris Coleman)

Premier League 1995-96 (Merlin) (Kit Symons, Mark Pembridge)

Premier League 2001-2002 (Merlin) (Andrew Melville)

Panini England 1989/90 (Kevin Ratcliffe)

Missing (Mark Aizlewood, Anthony Joseph Norman)