Ward’s Words

Helen Ward’s column confronts Wales’ narrow failure to reach the World Cup. She recalls a campaign that began with four points from tricky away trips to Kazakhstan and Russia, the draw in St Petersburg making them believe, and seven games without conceding leaving them one match from qualification. After a goalless draw in Southampton it came down to a single night in Newport at the end of August. Ward admits it still honestly hurts to think about, acknowledging an amazing campaign to be proud of and the legacy and interest it generated, but says none of that fills the void left by not qualifying, which was all they really wanted. She describes the squad’s usually busy WhatsApp group falling eerily quiet afterwards, and turns to the season ahead with Watford.