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| | QB Fitzpatrick returns to Bucs on 1-year deal (15th Mar 18 at 6:36am UTC) | | Heartbreak for Wales where did it all go wrong?
Wales' 2018 World Cup hopes are over after James McClean's goal earned the Republic of Ireland a victory that sends them into the qualifying play offs.
At a highly charged Cardiff City Stadium, the hosts controlled much of the first half but were frustrated by the stout defending and rugged physicality of their opponents.
The Republic grew in confidence after the interval and their abrasive approach paid off as Jeff Hendrick dispossessed Wales captain Ashley Williams and set up McClean to score with a thumping low strike.
Wales hurled bodies forward in a desperate late search for the two goals they needed to snatch the play off place back from Martin O'Neill's side, but they found their route to goal blocked by an unflinching Irish defence.
Although the game lacked quality on cheap authentic nfl jerseys occasions, the high Chinese Football Jerseys stakes made for an absorbing encounter.
Only victory would have guaranteed either team a place in the play offs, while a win coupled with a Serbia defeat wholesale jerseys or draw in Wales' case would have seen them qualify automatically.
However, Serbia's home victory over Georgia rendered that scenario academic and secured their passage to next year's tournament in Russia as Group D winners.
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Another near miss for WalesBefore Wales' unprecedented success at Euro 2016 reaching a semi final at a major tournament for the first time the history of Welsh football read like a catalogue of anguish and near misses.
A handball from Scotland's Joe Jordan denied Wales a place at the 1978 World Cup, they were a missed Paul Bodin penalty away from the 1994 tournament and a play off defeat by Russia cost them qualification for Euro 2004.
Last summer's momentous achievement transformed all that, and it was the confidence fostered from their recent experiences which fuelled the belief that this would be their opportunity to qualify for their first World Cup since 1958.
The tone was set with an awe inspiring rendition of the Welsh national anthem, with only the first few bars of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau played before the home fans sang the rest unaccompanied and at a deafening volume.
The change in format came at the request of the Wales players and they appeared to feed off the fervent atmosphere as they seized Wholesale Jerseys control of the game in the early stages, enjoying as much as 80% possession and creating chances for Hal Robson Kanu and Aaron Ramsey.
'Wales were never going to score' Republic defender Duffy
As they had done during March's reverse fixture in Dublin, a goalless draw, the Republic seemed content to defend deep and narrow, aiming to stifle their opponents with a combination of positional discipline and robust challenges.
One such coming together saw Wales suffer a major setback as their influential midfielder Joe Allen was forced off after a tackle by David Meyler, with a helping push from McClean.
That proved a turning point as Wales lost all rhythm and direction after Allen's departure and the Republic of Ireland exploited that weakness ruthlessly.
Although Robson Kanu had a header excellently saved by Darren Randolph shortly before McClean's winner, Wales did not have the creativity or craft to unlock a stubborn visiting defence and Chris Coleman was left to reflect on a heartbreaking end to a campaign he has previously said would be his last as Wales manager. | |
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