England Knocks Wales Out of World Cup
England has knocked Wales out of the World Cup, securing its place in the last sixteen. The match, which ended in a 3-0 defeat, saw Wales’ World Cup dreams come to a disappointing end. Nevertheless, Wales’ entry onto the world stage after 64 years marks a historic moment for Welsh football. Meanwhile, a charity has raised concerns over a number of football personalities promoting gambling during the World Cup.
Wales has not played at a World Cup for 64 years. ©Tembela Bohle/Pexels
Cymru Going Home
Wales’ World Cup dreams were finally shattered as England secured their place in the last sixteen. This match was always a long shot for Wales, which has languished at the bottom of the group table since losing to Iran 0-2. Wales has now exited the competition at the group stages, after being defeated 3-0 by neighboring England at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Despite the heartbreak, this competition always meant something bigger to Cymru. The nation has entered every World Cup since 1950, but has failed to make an impact on the world stage for 64 long years. In 1958 Wales advanced to the knockout stage, before losing to Brazil in the quarter finals. No one anticipated that it would take so long for the country to make its next World Cup appearance.
The Red Wall has been out in force to support Wales in Qatar, with the stands a sea of dragons and bucket hats. The nation of song certainly did itself justice, as renditions of ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ echoed around the stands. This was an opportunity for Wales to take pride in its identity and show the world that it is its own country, separate from England, with its own language and culture.
Perhaps one of the most defining moments of the tournament has been the meteoric rise of Dafydd Iwan’s ‘Yma o Hyd’. The 1983 folk anthem, which literally translates to ‘Still Here’, recounts Wales’ indomitable spirit despite the threats of Thatcherism and historic colonizing forces. A new version of the song was fittingly recorded for the World Cup, including the voices of y Wal Goch. The video shows defining moments such as the miners’ strikes, Iwan’s release from prison following his Welsh language campaign and Michael Sheen’s stirring speech to the Welsh squad.
High Hopes for England
For most Welsh fans, the opportunity to watch their team play at the World Cup was a once in a lifetime opportunity. While few realistically envisioned Gareth Bale carrying the solid gold trophy home, this early exit is not what supporters had hoped for. Nevertheless, the national squad will fly home heroes on Thursday to a warm reception. If, and hopefully when, Wales make their next World Cup appearance, the national team will officially be called Cymru.
Welsh fans who made the trip to Qatar said they were proud to be there, but not particularly proud of how Wales fared in the lead up to what was dubbed a derby against England. Prior to the deciding match, Wales drew 1-1 against the USA and lost 0-2 to Iran. To secure a place in the last sixteen Wales would have had to beat England by four goals, after the USA beat Iran 1-0.
Welsh manager Rob Page stated at the end of the game that during the first half he saw Wales play to the high level that was expected, which was unfortunately not seen at other matches. The first half saw Wales play on the defensive, with England failing to land any of their numerous goal attempts. The second half saw England dial things up a notch, and the lions soon hit their stride.
Wales’ loss is England’s victory, as the three lions progress to the next round at the top of their group. Tuesday’s match saw Marcus Rashford score twice and Phil Foden once, taking England’s Group B tally to 9. Gareth Southgate’s side will now go on to face Senegal on Sunday in Al Khor.
It is the first time since 2006 that England have finished at the top of their World Cup group. Hopes are high that Harry Kane could take his team all the way. England boasts some of the world’s best attacking options. It’s still early days in the tournament, but Rashford currently holds the joint top spot for goals scored at three, alongside Mbappé, Valencia and Gakpo.
Pundits Act as Brand Ambassadors
The World Cup is the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the world. The 2018 World Cup, which was held in Russia, was watched by a record 3.572 billion people. 1.12 billion viewers tuned in to watch the final, when France beat Croatia 4-2 to win the trophy.
With the popularity of the competition in mind, charity Gambling With Lives has raised concerns over the number of celebrities promoting gambling. It was estimated that the last World Cup saw a £120 billion betting turnover. Despite the ban on gambling in host country Qatar, operators are hoping for similar results this year.
On October 1st, the Advertising Standards Authority brought in new rules preventing UK celebrities with a ‘strong appeal’ to young people from promoting gambling. The ban is designed to curb problem gambling and reduce the number of young and underaged people betting.
Amongst those that the charity has cited concerns about are Harry Redknapp, Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch. Former West Ham manager Redknapp has signed a deal with BetVictor to promote its World Cup coverage through advertising and commentary on the brand’s website.
Former Tottenham player Keane is as acting as a brand ambassador for Betway, lending his expertise for the World Cup. Meanwhile, former England striker Crouch has been named Paddy Power’s latest brand ambassador, fronting advertising during the tournament. Crouch is also featured in Paddy Power backed album ‘Crouchy Conducts the Classics’, with proceeds going to the Stonewall charity.
While the ASA’s ban has had an impact on gambling advertisers using celebrities and sportspeople to promote their products, the detail is in its wording. Gambling With Lives spokesperson Tom Fleming says that the use of the named celebrities for gambling promotions during the World Cup goes against the spirit of the new rules. However, the ASA’s guidance says that retired footballers now involved in punditry or commentary may be assessed based on their social and media profiles.
