European Championship Qualifying/Wales 0 Czech Republic 0:Diplomacy has rarely been Craig Bellamy's strong suit, but he passed his first test as the Wales captain with flying colours. Ryan Giggs, who left the field to a standing ovation and applause from both teams in his last game for the national team, walked over to Bellamy and ceremoniously placed the captain's armband on his team-mate.
Thirty minutes later, the Liverpool forward was being asked to defend the reputation of Welsh football following a stinging critique from Robbie Savage, who has been quoted as describing the national team as "an utter shambles" and "the laughing stock of Europe".
Bellamy was all discretion. "I haven't seen that and it's nothing to do with me," he said. "We have a lot of young players, so planning for the future will take care of itself. If you look at the bigger picture we've got a lot of young players gaining experience - like myself, Simon Davies and Danny Gabbidon did a few years ago. We should have a good balance of experienced and young players."
Saturday's goalless draw has effectively extinguished Welsh hopes of competing in the Euro 2008 finals but, after a performance which was arguably their best of the qualifying campaign, John Toshack was more eager to respond to Savage's remarks.
Toshack has admitted he is "vulnerable" but it is understood the Football Association of Wales are committed to allowing him to see through his contract, which lasts until 2009.
The basic argument after a disappointing series of results is that Wales are a team in transition and that Toshack, who Savage thinks should resign, is taking the necessary steps now to ensure they have realistic qualification hopes for the next three or four major championships.
The likes of Savage, Gary Speed and Giggs have effectively moved into international retirement under Toshack, who hopes a nucleus of Bellamy, Danny Gabbidon, James Collins, Simon Davies and Jason Koumas can be supported by emerging talents such as Gareth Bale, Lewin Nyatanga, Wayne Hennessey, David Cotterill and Joe Ledley.
He said of Savage's criticism: "I'm not surprised and to be honest I don't want to talk about it, but as long as it continues I will remind you he was part of a team that went 10 games over two years without a win," said Toshack. "People think we've qualified for the last World Cup when I hear them talking. They (Wales) had a golden year when they beat Azerbaijan twice, Finland away and Italy. Before that they won one out of 14 and after that they went two years and 10 competitive games without a win."
Toshack suspects Savage's outburst might be fuelled by other motives. "It's disappointing, but you wonder sometimes if he's doing somebody else's dirty work. I don't know if he's daft enough. Some other people would be happy with that but they wouldn't be brave enough to come out with it themselves."
With James Collins commanding in defence against the daunting 6ft 8in Jan Koller, Wales created the better chances against a team rated some 65 places above them in the Fifa world rankings. Giggs made one glorious run from midfield but was denied by Petr Cech while Koumas rifled a second-half free-kick beyond the Chelsea goalkeeper only to see the ball cannon back off the post.
The Czech Republic's best chance was in the 71st minute when Marek Kulic forced Hennessey, who was making his first start for Wales, into an excellent save low to his left. For all Wales's bright football, however, it was acknowledged by Toshack that the lack of a more imposing striker to play alongside Bellamy is a major deficiency in the team.
Unless a solution can be found to that problem, Wales will continue to struggle to end their 49-year wait to play in a major competition. "I took a lot of heart from the performance because the Czechs are a terrific side with great players," said Bellamy.
Guardian Service
WALES: Hennessey; Nyatanga, Gabbidon, James Collins; Ricketts, Robinson, Koumas, S Davies, Ledley; Giggs (Earnshaw, 89), Bellamy. Subs not used: Coyne, Evans, A Davies, Fletcher, Crofts, Llewellyn.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Cech; Ujfalusi, Kovac, Rozehnal, Jankulovski; Plasil, Sivok (Matejovsky, 84), Rosicky, Polak (Jarolim, 66); Koller, Baros (Kulic, half-time). Subs not used: Blazek, Pecka, Jarolim, Hubschmann, Zapotocny.
Referee: P Allaerts (Belgium).
