Wales qualify for Euro 2016 despite Bosnia & Herzegovina defeat

Wales qualified for a major international tournament for the first time in 57 years, securing their Euro 2016 place despite a 2-0 to defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Cyprus’ 2-1 win over Israel rendered the defeat suffered by Chris Coleman’s side irrelevant, with Bosnia also boosting their chances of qualifying for next summer’s European Championships in France with the victory.

The visitors looked in control of the contest for much of the first half, although Gareth Bale was kept largely quiet. However, Bosnia showed more attacking intent after the break and found two goals - through Milan Djuric and Vedad Ibisevic - to inflict a first defeat of the qualification campaign on Coleman’s men.

Wales last played at an international tournament in the 1958 World Cup, and have never before made it to the European Championships. Now, however, they will prepare to complete against the continent’s best in France next summer.

KEY EVENTS

14’ INCHES WIDE! Wales get away with one! Davies' slip allows the ball to be played through to Pjanic, who on the stretch can only direct his low shot just wide of the far post. Hennessey was beaten.

18’ THAT HAD BEGOVIC WORRYING! Ramsey from the free-kick spots that the Bosnian keeper is off his line and shoots from about 30 yards out, but it flashes just past the post. Begovic had no idea where that was going!

31’ BALE SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER! The Real Madrid winger has the chance to find Robson-Kanu with a cross in from the left, but the weight on it was slightly too heavy. Just ahead of his team-mate.

45’ HOW DID THAT NOT GO IN? Ramsey dribbles his way to the byline and squirms a pass to Robson-Kanu. But the striker can't bundle the ball over the line... what a save from Begovic!

56’ GREAT CHANCE FOR BALE! The Real Madrid winger manages to power his way into the left channel, but he is slightly off balance and slices his shot wide of the near post. Good opportunity.

71’ GOAL! Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 Wales 0: The complexion of this match changes completely! Wales don't deal with a cross into the box and Djuric does brilliantly to direct the finish over Hennessey. Wow.

80’ CLOSE FROM RAMSEY! The ball came to the Arsenal midfielder on the edge of the penalty area, but his volley effort flashes over the bar - although he struck it perfectly. Great shot.

89’ GOAL! Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 Wales 0: Bosnia have now sealed the win! Not that it matters much to Wales, given the result in Israel. Ibisevic gets the tap in from a corner kick played across the box.

FULL MATCHCAST AND STATS

Wales have qualified for a major international tournament for the first time since the 1958 World Cup.

This defeat was the first Wales have suffered in the entirety of their Euro 2016 qualification campaign.

Aaron Ramsey said before the match in Bosnia that the aim of this qualification campaign was simply to make Wales believe that they could make it to a major tournament. Well, they did more than that by securing their first-ever appearance at a European Championships. Gareth Bale will take much of the credit, but this was a team achievement by a unit gelled together by Chris Coleman. This will rank pretty highly in the list of Welsh sporting success stories.

Wales’ clean sheet might have ultimately been dirtied by two goals, but by that point the result in Bosnia was largely irrelevant - at least for the visitors. When it mattered most, Ben Davies was exceptional at the back for Coleman’s side - who showed why they have made it to next summer’s European Championships. They are about so much more than just Bale, they are an excellent defensive unit too - and Davies was their standout on the night they confirmed their qualification.

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Begovic 7, Mujdza 6, Saphic 5, Sunjic 6, Zukanovic 6, Hadzic 5, Pjanic 6, Salihovic 7, Visca 6, Lulic 7, Ibisevic 7. Subs - Bicakcic 5, Cocalic 7, Djuric 7.

Wales - Hennessey 6, Gunter 6, Williams 6, Taylor 7, Davies 8, Richards 6, Ramsey 5, Allen 5, Ledley 6, Bale 6, Robson-Kanu 6. Subs - Edwards 5, Vokes 5, Church 5.