WORLD CUP GROUP FOUR: GERMANY 1 (Trockowski 72) WALES 0: IF POINTS were awarded for courage Wales would have something to show for their extraordinary efforts here, but instead John Toshack and his players will return home today bemoaning another hard-luck story.
A combination of brave defending and German profligacy ensured the match remained goalless for 71 minutes before Piotr Trochowski broke Welsh hearts with a goal that was worthy of winning a tournament never mind a qualifier.
Checking back on to his right foot on the corner of the penalty area, the winger delivered a shot of unerring accuracy which arced beyond Wayne Hennessey and into the top right-hand corner of the net. It was a cruel blow to a Wales side who had suffered a similar fate in Moscow last month, when Russia struck the winning goal nine minutes from time. There is comfort to be found in both performances but last night was not the time for consolation prizes.
Surprise was never going to be a feature of Toshack's game plan here. This was always going to be a backs-to-the-wall assignment and, with that in mind, the Wales manager reverted to a five-man defence, including James Collins, who was making his first competitive start since January. The idea was to defend in numbers, soak up the pressure and, when the opportunity arose, exploit Craig Bellamy's pace on the counterattack.
It was hardly rocket science but there was evidence in the opening 45 minutes that the approach was working. Germany, normally so economical in possession, were increasingly frustrated with the sea of red shirts that greeted every foray into the Wales half and, on the few occasions Joachim Löw's side did penetrate, more often than not there was a defender in position to avert the danger.
That was notably the case when Lukas Podolski left Craig Morgan trailing on the German right - a feat which has to be kept in perspective, given that the Wales defender is playing his club football for Peterborough in League One - and swept a low cross towards the six-yard box, only for Collins to hack clear. It was, all the same, a reprieve for Wales and there was another one 60 seconds later when Bastian Schweinsteiger's 25-yard shot fizzed inches over the crossbar.
Michael Ballack, whose inclusion had been in doubt because of a calf injury, had been relatively subdued and it was not until the 43rd minute, when the Chelsea midfielder's raking drive was gathered at the second attempt by Hennessey, that he made his presence felt.
That Wales had barely threatened in the final third - Bellamy's shot on the run which slid beyond the far upright in the 29th minute was their only notable attempt on goal in the first half - will have been of little concern to Toshack.
Back came Germany, three chances in the space of less than two minutes leaving the Welsh defence gasping for breath. The first of them was by far the best, with Trochowski inexplicably miskicking in front of goal after Podolski and Schweinsteiger combined on the left.
Hennessey saved smartly from Schweinsteiger and Heiko Westermann before Trochowski, atoning for his embarrassing miss, thundered an unstoppable shot to break the Welsh resistance.
Guardian Service
GERMANY:Adler, Friedrich (Fritz 64), Westermann, Mertesacker, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Ballack, Hitzlsperger, Trochowski, Podolski (Gomez 82), Klose (Helmes 45). Subs Not Used:Wiese, Tasci, Rolfes, Frings. Goal: Trochowski 72.
WALES:Hennessey, Gunter (Ricketts 86), Bale, Morgan, Collins, Williams, Davies, Koumas, Fletcher (Evans 76), Edwards (Robinson 76), Bellamy. Subs Not Used:Myhill, Cotterill, Nyatanga, Vaughan. Booked: Ricketts.
Referee:L Duhamel (France).
