Wales see Euro 2024 dream end in heartbreak after penalty shootout defeat to Poland

Wales saw their Euro 2024 dream end in heartbreak after going down to a penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Poland in their play-off final at Cardiff City Stadium.

Neither side could be separated following a nervy 90 minutes of precious little attacking quality, although Ben Davies did have a goal chalked off for offside on the stroke of half-time.

Poland's Jakub Piotrowski came closest to finding the net in extra-time, but his curling effort whistled just wide. Chris Mepham was sent off shortly before the full-time whistle in extra-time, and penalties duly arrived.

And, after nine successful penalties, Daniel James missed his decisive spot-kick, ending Wales' hopes of reaching this summer's final the most in brutal and cruel fashion.

Despite their bravery, defeat not only denies Wales a fourth appearance in five major finals, but will also presumably once again see Rob Page's future pulled into question. This has, after all, been a disappointing qualifying campaign overall, and the wounds of a disastrous international camp last summer might well be opened up again.

That said, there was real hope that Wales could still salvage a spot in Germany heading into this game, although as was the case in the semi-final win over Finland, there was a cacophony of jangling nerves reverberating around the capital throughout the day.

Unlike Thursday night, there was no sign of an early softener. On the contrary, the opening 15 minutes would have been a tough watch for the neutral, never mind for the Red Wall, who once again did their bit with another epic national anthem ahead of kick-off.

Chances were few and far between for either side all night. Piotrowski, on target in the 5-1 win over Estonia, snapped a shot well off target from distance on 15 minutes in an opening gambit that largely summed the course of a first half short on attacking quality.

Davies, taking the captaincy once again, came close to settling the hosts, but couldn't keep his header down four minutes later.

Kieffer Moore, the only change from the win over Finland, poked an ambitious far-post effort over the bar following Joe Rodon's flick-on, while Piotrowski fired another long-range effort into a forest of players at the other end just after half an hour.

Wales showed some promising sparks at times, and indeed offered a better handling of the dark arts than was seen in the 1-0 defeat here in the Nations League two years ago. That result extended Poland's dominance in this fixture, with Wales winning just one of the previous 10 encounters before tonight.

On the stroke of half-time, the 30,000 fans lucky enough to get a ticket for this occasion, must have felt their side had taken the initiative needed to finally dispel their hoodoo around Robert Lewandowski and co.

Moore headed across goal following a Connor Roberts throw, and Davies was there to seemingly nod home, only to be ruled offside. A decision that proved to be the correct one following a VAR check.

After having an effort ruled out against Finland, Davies might well have had grounds to feel a little frustrated, but Wales started brightly after the break.

Indeed, only a world-class stop from Wojciech Szczesny prevented Moore from marking his return to the starting line-up with a goal. The Ipswich Town striker's towering header somehow kept out by the keeper's palm.

Lewandowski then headed over the bar with his first sight of goal, but neither moment manged to really light the touchpaper of this contest.

Indeed, Poland actually began to look the better side as the game ticked nervously past the hour mark, although the likes of Rodon and Davies both produced some quality interventions to keep Poland's star man Lewandowski at bay.

The visitors still had chances, mind. Jakub Kiwior should have done better from a teasing Poland corner, but could only connect with his knee to send the ball over the bar.

Moore was equally wasteful at the other end just a few moments, bouncing a tame header into the ground and into the arms of the keeper.

Things were getting increasingly scrappy, with Page responding by sending on Daniel James 20 minutes from time in a bid to stretch the Polish defence, but he struggled to recapture the effervescence displayed off the bench on Thursday.

Chances remained frustratingly hard to come by. Mepham guided a header straight into the arms of Szczesny, while Nicola Zalewski cut inside to fire another hopeful effort off target for the Poles moments later.

Roberts was then forced off injured to allow the introduction of David Brooks, which did little to ease the building and increasingly unbearable tension gripping the Cardiff City Stadium.

Neither did Lewandowski's low effort from distance, which fizzed narrowly past the post shortly before the end of normal time. Moore might well feel he had a case for a penalty shortly before the final whistle of normal time, after going down from an apparent Kiwior shove. His appeals fell on deaf ears, and extra-time beckoned.

Wilson fired an early free-kick into the wall as Wales looked to ease onto the front foot after the restart, although the best chance of the first period came the way of the visitors, with Piotrowski curling just wide following a sweeping counter.

Damian Salamon sent a bullet header wide early on in the second half of extra-time, but ultimately neither side did enough to win the game in 120 minutes, with the final act being the dismissal of Mepham for a second yellow card.

Penalties arrived, and after nine superb spot kicks, James saw his decisive penalty saved by Szczesny to condemn Wales to a painful, painful defeat.

Wales: Ward; Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Roberts (Brooks 84 (Broadhead 112)), J.James, Ampadu, Williams; Wilson, Moore, Johnson (D.James 70)

Subs: Hennessey, King, Fox, Ramsey, Matondo, Savage, Cullen, Dasilva, Sheehan

Poland: Szczesny; Bednarek (Piatek 80), Dawidowicz, Kiwior; Frankowski, Piotrowski (Romanchuk 115), Slisz, Zielinski (S.Szymanski 101), Zalewski; Swiderski (Salamon 80), Lewandowski

Subs: Skorupski, Bulka, Walukiewicz, Puchacz, Grosicki, Buksa, Szymankski, Bereszynski,

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