The Welsh "Blazers" Have Learned Sense - Might The Hampden Ones Catch-On Some Day?

THERE is a saying in Rugby Union, a truth first mooted by the great Ian Kirkpatrick, the All Blacks' captain of over 40-years ago; this is: “You never beat the Welsh, you only score more points than them”.

Ian Kirkpatrick, left, tackles an old-time Welsh legend

Thankfully, Kirkpatrick's Law does not also refer to Welsh football. The Red Dragons went down to defeat to a Ronaldo-inspired Portugal; the better team on the night won, but, in defeat, there was a lot for the beaten Welsh to cling to.

Having reached the last four of the European Championships, it is to be hoped, the Welsh can kick-on and return to the World Cup finals, for the first time since 1958. That is their challenge – Chris Coleman and his squad have made giant strides for Welsh football, they cannot afford to slip back any time soon.

I always felt the loss of Aaron Ramsey might well be a blow from which Wales could not recover. They didn't half miss him, but, while one man doth not a team make, missing a key player like the Arsenal man was too much for Wales to overcome.

It used to be said that the Football Association of Wales made the SFA look competent. This mainly stems from a famous occasion back in the 1960s, when, once it was discovered the Welsh had booked one seat too few on the aircraft taking their party to an away game in Europe, A PLAYER had to remain behind, as the committee-men grabbed the best seats.

Self-centred, arrogant, stupid they may be, but, the SFA “blazers” were never that stupid. The Welsh FA have learned from such stupidity, and Wales is now a force in Europe – when will the SFA grow-up too?

NOW we turn to Cristiano Ronaldo , old CR7 himself. Of course, he's got an ego the size of Jupiter, but, just like Maradona in 1986, he has, by sheer force of personality, turned an average side into potential Champions.

I still feel, France, having won tonight's second semi-final, and with home advantage, will go on to win the whole shooting match – talent and quality will out. But, if CR7 can reprise that fantastic header with which he broke the deadlock last night – then Portugal are in with a chance. I remember, back 20-years ago, Kilmarnock signed former Manchester United centre-half Neil Whitworth. After his debut, our copy filed, a group of us hacks were enjoying the hospitality of the 40 Club bar inside Rugby Park, when the steward gave his opinion on the new boy: “Ah like him – he disnae jist heid the baw, he pits the heid oan it”, was the opinion.

Kilmarnock's Neil Whitworth - "pit the heid oan the baw", like CR7 v Wales

We nodded sagely, well, when he got on the end of that cross last night, CR7: didnae jist heid the baw, he pit the heid oan it. A headed goal like that is one of football's greatest sights. I can still see Alan Gilzean, above Gordon Banks to head home the winner against England, at Hampden in 1974, or Denis Law, to use Bill McLaren's great phrase: “Rising like a spring salmon” to seemingly hang in the air and head home – CR7's goal last night was right up there.

How the Welsh must have yearned for their old “Welsh Air Force” of Ron Davies, Wyn Davies and John Toshack. They used to attack crosses in a three-pronged manner: near post, centre of the goal and back post. Tottenham used to have another great set piece – a Jimmy Robertson corner played to the near post, where Martin Chivers back-headed the ball across goal, for Gilzean to arrive at the back post and head home.

No team could deal with this, until Tommy Docherty, of all people, countered it. The Doc instructed a young centre-half named Jim Holton to go up with Chivers, and just to hit him – hard. Big Jim simply rose for the ball behind Chivers, then kneed him in both kidneys; sending him flying in among the photographers. Chivers rose, somewhat gingerly, informed Holton: “You're nothing by a big, dirty, Scotch c*nt”.

“Aye, and never you forget that”, was “Six-foot-two, eyes of blue”, as he waved Chivers off to spend the rest of the game on the left wing, as far away from Holton as he could get.

Jim Holton - had a way of dealing with great headers of the ball

And, why do I dredge up that old chestnut? Well, when you review the crude, ham-fisted holding and barging which the Welsh defenders employed to try to hold CR7 – or indeed, which every defence nowadays uses, if, like me' you're an oldie – you long for the good old days, when defenders could really defend with subtlety.

I despair of football's future – when you see former World Cup Final referee Howard Webb insisting one spot of all-in wrestling, with which Wales's James Collins kept CR7 away from a cross: “Wasn't a penalty”. Maybe in Rotherham Howard, but, even at Beechwood Park, in a Talbot v Cumnock game, that was a stone-waller.

The additional comment to this is: can somebody, anybody, please tell me what those two muppets – the additional officials - are doing behind the goal? They don't seem to see very much, for having such a great view.

Mind you, the assistant referee on the far line in tonight's game, made a brilliant decision when he gave the penalty from which France took the lead. The BBC pundits were, of course, too busy telling each other how brilliant they were, and ignoring what they could see with their own eyes, while arguing about whether or not it was a penalty, to notice. But, as soon as he gave the decision, referee Nicola Rizzoli clearly pointed to his assistant, as the man who had given the penalty – a terrific call I thought.

Many long afternoons watching the dross which passed for Scottish fitba taught me, years ago – if you do not put the ball in the net when you are in the driving seat, fitba has a bad habit of coming back and biting your bum – as Germany discovered tonight.

It was a terrific game, however, with some magnificent football on display. Aye, Scotland has a long way to go.