Group D/ Cyprus 3 Wales 1: John Toshack has stepped back from the precipice. The Wales manager yesterday claimed he had no intention of resigning following the chastening defeat in Cyprus that had initially prompted him to reveal he was considering his future.
He is now certain to take charge against San Marino on Wednesday, although visiting a nation that has never picked up a European Championship point promises to bring pressure rather than comfort.
Slovakia put seven past the minnows on Saturday.
Toshack admitted there was "something wrong" in the aftermath of a listless display in Nicosia that has seen Wales fall to next-to-bottom in Group D, one place above San Marino. He described the performance as a "debacle" and said: "I will have to have a long hard look at myself and what I am doing."
That process included talks with his assistant, Roy Evans, and the coach, Dean Saunders, yesterday before holding a meeting with the players. It appears those talks have strengthened Toshack's desire to continue.
Losing in Cyprus, where Germany were held 1-1 and the Republic of Ireland thrashed 5-2 last year, is no disgrace, but it was the manner of this defeat that left Toshack crestfallen. He had believed Wales had turned a corner following the 5-2 victory in Slovakia last month. Toshack made his feelings known in the dressingroom during a 40-minute inquest after.
Wales had been abject and it was extraordinary to think that Craig Bellamy could have secured a 2-0 lead in the 54th minute when he was denied by a superb save. Two goals from Yiannis Okkas after Danny Coyne chose to stay on his line and Sam Ricketts lost concentration allowed Cyprus to move ahead before Konstantinos Charalampidis headed a third.
- Guardian Service
