Exit the dragon
Even the seasoned old pros knew the quiet kid was special. Neville
Southall, twice a League winner with Everton, remembers Ryan Giggs
first training sessions with Wales clearly 16 years
on.
What astonished the goalkeeper, then 33, was not just the
teenagers natural prowess but the fact he was so good, he was a
touch embarrassed about it. You could immediately see he had
ability, but it was also clear he was holding back in training,
Southall says with fondness. I always thought it was because he
felt that, as a kid, he shouldnt really take the Mick out of all
the big-name players in the squad as it might have seemed cocky. He
could have if he wanted to, though.
Cardiff-born Giggs made his international debut in October 1991 as
a late substitute for Eric Young in Germany, the first of a 64-cap
career that ended with last months 0-0 draw with the Czech
Republic. Befitting his prodigious status, he was, at just 17 years
and 321 days, the youngest player to represent his country. Two
years later he scored his first goal for Wales, a memorable
free-kick against Belgium at the old Cardiff Arms Park. A star was
born, and Giggs soon assumed the captains armband from Southall.
The goalkeeper was in little doubt his replacement could lead by
example, if not seniority.
You could fire a cannon ball at him and he would still be able to
trap it and do something special. Simply having his name on the
teamsheet was enough to inspire fear in the opposition, and
millions of people around the world now know of Wales just because
its the team he used to play for.
While Giggs international career sadly didnt take him to the
final stages of a major tournament, he has many moments on which to
reflect with a warm glow of pride. Victory over Italy in 2002 at
the Millennium Stadium, in particular, will never be forgotten by
players and supporters alike, while his performance against Brazil
last year led to manager Dungas suggestion that the Welshman would
look comfortable among his A Seleção.
Yet Giggs admitted the time was right for a curtain call, a move
possibly prompted by the defeat against the Republic of Ireland
that all but ended Wales hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008. I
have loved playing for my country, and I have loved captaining my
country, he said prior to the Czech stalemate. I think its the
right time to do this. It wasnt an easy decision for me.
Bad news for Wales, naturally, but good news for those hoping it
will prolong his Old Trafford career. Many have argued that playing
for United was always more of a priority for Giggs, because he
pulled out of friendlies for Wales through injury. But anyone who
saw his commitment to the cause when he represented the Dragons
would realise just how desperate Giggs was to lead his side on the
biggest stage.
It was fitting that his last game for Wales should be one of his
best. Performing like the Giggs of old, he demanded the ball,
terrorised the Czech defence and, but for a couple of world-class
stops from Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, would have ended his
international career with a goal to add to his tally of 12.
Equally, if perversely fitting, was that nearly feel about the
whole event the game summing up so much of the Welsh footballing
lot, as former skipper Kevin Ratcliffe concurs. He is one of the
greatest players to get global acclaim, but never to have played at
a World Cup finals. Along with fellow United legend George Best
and football luminaries George Weah, Alfredo Di Stefano, Johnny
Giles and Jim Baxter, Giggs finds himself on that elite list of
truly world-class players who never graced a major championships in
national colours.
For all his domestic glory it was always a case of close, but no
cigar. In 1994, only Paul Bodins missed penalty cost Wales a place
in the USA World Cup and, exactly 10 years later a 1-0 defeat to
Russia in a play-off at the Millennium Stadium meant the flag of St
David would be absent at the European Championships in Portugal. In
both cases Wales were just 90 minutes away from appearing in their
first international tournament since 1958, when Pele, scoring his
first World Cup goal for Brazil, ended their hopes in the
quarter-final stages.
But it would be wrong for Giggs to be remembered as a player who
never truly shone on the international stage, he deserves better
than that. He was recently voted as one of the greatest players to
wear a Wales jersey. Ive played with some good players over the
years but I would say that Ryan was probably the best, said Dean
Saunders, Wales fourth-highest goalscorer. You get the full
package with him, enthuses the former Liverpool and Aston Villa
striker. Hes respectful to everyone, you never hear him saying
anything ridiculous in the press or doing anything silly. It was a
pleasure to be in the same national side as Ryan and hes done a
magnificent job playing for Wales.
That fact was acknowledged by just over 30,000 Welshmen at the
Millennium Stadium. The importance of the event was not lost on the
travelling contingent from the Czech Republic, either, who held up
a banner in glorification of Giggs, which simply read: Thank you
Ryan.
Not to be upstaged by their visitors, after 89 minutes the Welsh
public got their chance to say their own thank you: Wales manager
John Toshack replacing Giggs in the last minute so he could receive
a standing ovation. If he didnt know already, he now knows how
highly thought of he is around here, said Toshack. We shall
certainly miss him. We are talking about a very, very special
person. I wish him all the best.
Ratcliffe added: Sometimes it takes a players departure for
people to realise how good they are. Luckily for those who have
followed Ryans career in the red of United, we will get to cherish
his deeds for a while yet. And if the man himself has a quiet
moment to reflect on the might-have-beens, he knows a welcome in
the valleys is his for eternity.
His days in Man Utd are numbered
