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| World Cup: Wales fans' despondency fades as kick-off nears | World Cup: Wales fans' despondency fades as kick-off nears |
| (4 months later) | |
| Wales fans are praying England can be toppled in Tuesday’s World Cup game | Wales fans are praying England can be toppled in Tuesday’s World Cup game |
| Wales fans are praying England can be toppled in Tuesday’s World Cup game | Wales fans are praying England can be toppled in Tuesday’s World Cup game |
| Wales fans are starting to feel more upbeat as kick-off approaches for their World Cup game against England. | Wales fans are starting to feel more upbeat as kick-off approaches for their World Cup game against England. |
| Wales must beat England and hope Iran-USA is a draw to go to the next round. If the other game is not a draw, Wales need to beat England by four or more. | Wales must beat England and hope Iran-USA is a draw to go to the next round. If the other game is not a draw, Wales need to beat England by four or more. |
| Earlier they began gathering on the front in Doha and at a fan party at a hotel. | Earlier they began gathering on the front in Doha and at a fan party at a hotel. |
| Rhodri Charles, from Cardiff, thought Wales were down and out after the first two games. | Rhodri Charles, from Cardiff, thought Wales were down and out after the first two games. |
| Ed Buckley, pictured with daughter Charlotte, has waited all his life to see Wales at a World Cup | Ed Buckley, pictured with daughter Charlotte, has waited all his life to see Wales at a World Cup |
| "The closer we get to kick-off, I start wondering if we can actually pull it off," the 47-year-old said. | "The closer we get to kick-off, I start wondering if we can actually pull it off," the 47-year-old said. |
| His wife Anwen, 45, added: "We have to keep believing." | His wife Anwen, 45, added: "We have to keep believing." |
| Julie Morgan, 65, from Abergavenny, was confident the players could put in a performance. | Julie Morgan, 65, from Abergavenny, was confident the players could put in a performance. |
| "It will be a long trip back on a flight full of English people if we lose," her friend Julie Cashell, 46, said. | "It will be a long trip back on a flight full of English people if we lose," her friend Julie Cashell, 46, said. |
| "We have got to do it. It's now or never." | "We have got to do it. It's now or never." |
| Ed Buckley, 56, from Anglesey but living in Glasgow, said: "Hopefully the boys will turn up. Just 1-0 and then hope for a draw in the USA v Iran game. | Ed Buckley, 56, from Anglesey but living in Glasgow, said: "Hopefully the boys will turn up. Just 1-0 and then hope for a draw in the USA v Iran game. |
| "It's just fantastic, I've waited all my life for this." | "It's just fantastic, I've waited all my life for this." |
| Rhodri Charles, pictured with Osian and Anwen, thought Wales were down and out after the first two games | Rhodri Charles, pictured with Osian and Anwen, thought Wales were down and out after the first two games |
| Daughter Charlotte, 22, said being among the Welsh fans was "incredible". | Daughter Charlotte, 22, said being among the Welsh fans was "incredible". |
| Harout Yacoubin, 24, from Lebanon, was carrying Wales and England flags. | Harout Yacoubin, 24, from Lebanon, was carrying Wales and England flags. |
| The Germany supporter said: "I am a neutral but think England will win." | The Germany supporter said: "I am a neutral but think England will win." |
| Wales-Qatar electric car bid falls short | Wales-Qatar electric car bid falls short |
| Tears and emotion as Wales return | Tears and emotion as Wales return |
| "We all know what we want," said Sue Moses, 57, from Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf. | "We all know what we want," said Sue Moses, 57, from Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf. |
| "A win would be nice. It won't be 4-0 but we got here, that's the main thing." | "A win would be nice. It won't be 4-0 but we got here, that's the main thing." |
| Her husband Martyn, 57, added: "Form is not on our side and it would be a big ask to beat England even if they play poorly." | Her husband Martyn, 57, added: "Form is not on our side and it would be a big ask to beat England even if they play poorly." |
| However, Lee Hosking believes this game was always going to be "the main focus" regardless of other results. | However, Lee Hosking believes this game was always going to be "the main focus" regardless of other results. |
| The 55-year-old from Swansea said: "We're not going to win the World Cup. But let's have a good result against England and we can have an open top bus then." | The 55-year-old from Swansea said: "We're not going to win the World Cup. But let's have a good result against England and we can have an open top bus then." |
| Lee Hosking's main focus before the World Cup was on the England game | Lee Hosking's main focus before the World Cup was on the England game |
| Bethan Richards, 50, said after two poor performances, the side will have motivation to do well. | Bethan Richards, 50, said after two poor performances, the side will have motivation to do well. |
| "They didn't play well against the USA and this is our last big chance," she said. | "They didn't play well against the USA and this is our last big chance," she said. |
| "If they don't play well tonight, they don't deserve to be in the team. And I think they will as this is their last big chance." | "If they don't play well tonight, they don't deserve to be in the team. And I think they will as this is their last big chance." |
| Helen Furlong, 38, from Gaerwen, Anglesey, said she "just hopes they turn up tonight". | Helen Furlong, 38, from Gaerwen, Anglesey, said she "just hopes they turn up tonight". |
| Gerwyn Jones, 36, added: "I'm always hopeful. My heart is telling me yes but my head is telling me no. But stranger things have happened." | Gerwyn Jones, 36, added: "I'm always hopeful. My heart is telling me yes but my head is telling me no. But stranger things have happened." |
| "We just have to start believing," said Gerwyn Jones | "We just have to start believing," said Gerwyn Jones |
| Martyn Kay, turns 40 on Sunday and planned to spend his big day watching Wales in the last 16. | Martyn Kay, turns 40 on Sunday and planned to spend his big day watching Wales in the last 16. |
| But his dream, shared by the nation, now hangs by a thread. | But his dream, shared by the nation, now hangs by a thread. |
| He said: "With Wales, I'm just hoping that maybe we can pull off a miracle. Hopefully, we can start turning it on and make the knockout stages. | He said: "With Wales, I'm just hoping that maybe we can pull off a miracle. Hopefully, we can start turning it on and make the knockout stages. |
| "I'm quietly optimistic now. We always do it the hard way, when our backs are against the wall." | "I'm quietly optimistic now. We always do it the hard way, when our backs are against the wall." |
| But whatever the outcome, many have been enjoying Wales' first appearance in a World Cup for 64 years and even if the journey ends, it has been one of the best experiences of many fans' lives. | But whatever the outcome, many have been enjoying Wales' first appearance in a World Cup for 64 years and even if the journey ends, it has been one of the best experiences of many fans' lives. |
| The World Cup has brought Wales fans together with cultures from around the world | The World Cup has brought Wales fans together with cultures from around the world |
| Martyn has flown in from his new home in Hong Kong. | Martyn has flown in from his new home in Hong Kong. |
| Also there is his friend Matt Womersley, 35, originally from Bangor, Gwynedd, who now lives in Taiwan. | Also there is his friend Matt Womersley, 35, originally from Bangor, Gwynedd, who now lives in Taiwan. |
| The pair hadn't seen each other for eight years and haven't given up hope of celebrating Martyn's 40th with Wales in the last 16. | The pair hadn't seen each other for eight years and haven't given up hope of celebrating Martyn's 40th with Wales in the last 16. |
| Martyn Kay (right) is enjoying Qatar with friend Matt Womersley and hopes it continues until his birthday | Martyn Kay (right) is enjoying Qatar with friend Matt Womersley and hopes it continues until his birthday |
| Matt said: "Something has got to happen. We won't go out with the rubbish performances we have seen so far. | Matt said: "Something has got to happen. We won't go out with the rubbish performances we have seen so far. |
| "We've got to go for it. We haven't really given it a go yet." | "We've got to go for it. We haven't really given it a go yet." |
| Their optimism is in contrast to most Wales fans around Doha. | Their optimism is in contrast to most Wales fans around Doha. |
| Becky Green, 48, from Llantwit Fardre, Rhondda Cynon Taf, described herself as "deflated" after the Iran defeat. | Becky Green, 48, from Llantwit Fardre, Rhondda Cynon Taf, described herself as "deflated" after the Iran defeat. |
| But she added: "We'll bounce back, we are at a World Cup." | But she added: "We'll bounce back, we are at a World Cup." |
| Becky, pictured here with her dad Eric, says progress at the tournament is "unlikely" | Becky, pictured here with her dad Eric, says progress at the tournament is "unlikely" |
| However, she said progress in the tournament was "very unlikely". | However, she said progress in the tournament was "very unlikely". |
| Jeff Lee, 64, from Pontypool, Torfaen, said: "We are part of the World Cup experience. We haven't been since 1958, so we have got to be happy. | Jeff Lee, 64, from Pontypool, Torfaen, said: "We are part of the World Cup experience. We haven't been since 1958, so we have got to be happy. |
| "But there is still a combination available to get through - we have just got to hope that it is possible." | "But there is still a combination available to get through - we have just got to hope that it is possible." |
| Murals have been created depicting unity and togetherness in the Welsh, English and Qatari languages | Murals have been created depicting unity and togetherness in the Welsh, English and Qatari languages |
| If the team exit the tournament, the fans and the nation have left their mark on the country. | If the team exit the tournament, the fans and the nation have left their mark on the country. |
| At Katara cultural village, on the outskirts of Doha, the national flowers of Wales and Qatar - the daffodil and qatif - are entwined on a mural. | At Katara cultural village, on the outskirts of Doha, the national flowers of Wales and Qatar - the daffodil and qatif - are entwined on a mural. |
| The words "I am somebody - Rwy'n rhywun" are painted next to it, indicators that Wales is not only "still here", as Dafydd Iwan sang, but is represented and relevant on the global stage. | The words "I am somebody - Rwy'n rhywun" are painted next to it, indicators that Wales is not only "still here", as Dafydd Iwan sang, but is represented and relevant on the global stage. |
| Muna painted this daffodil mural - a lasting reminder of Wales' playing in the World Cup | Muna painted this daffodil mural - a lasting reminder of Wales' playing in the World Cup |
| "Art is a universal, spoken language, connecting cultures together," said Qatari artist Muna Albader. | "Art is a universal, spoken language, connecting cultures together," said Qatari artist Muna Albader. |
| "This (mural) will be a memory left behind from the World Cup. The cultures are speaking to each other through the artwork." | "This (mural) will be a memory left behind from the World Cup. The cultures are speaking to each other through the artwork." |
| Boats with the national flags of competing nations have been sailing around the bay | Boats with the national flags of competing nations have been sailing around the bay |
| She has been working with creative Welsh people on the mural and hopes to visit Cardiff next year. | She has been working with creative Welsh people on the mural and hopes to visit Cardiff next year. |
| Bryce Davies, 39, is a graffiti artist who sprayed the words, "together" and "unity" in Welsh, English and Qatari. | Bryce Davies, 39, is a graffiti artist who sprayed the words, "together" and "unity" in Welsh, English and Qatari. |
| In many ways, he believes the result against England is almost irrelevant in terms of what the World Cup has done for his country. | In many ways, he believes the result against England is almost irrelevant in terms of what the World Cup has done for his country. |
| "For Wales in general, being part of this huge international party celebrating different cultures has been pretty special," he said. | "For Wales in general, being part of this huge international party celebrating different cultures has been pretty special," he said. |
| "It's put Welsh football on the map. But the football is almost secondary to me as we have come out here and been proud to be Welsh." | "It's put Welsh football on the map. But the football is almost secondary to me as we have come out here and been proud to be Welsh." |
| Wales has not only been represented by footballers - rapper Sage Todz has also been performing | Wales has not only been represented by footballers - rapper Sage Todz has also been performing |
| Singer Sage Todz has been performing and says visitors from around the world have been learning from each other, adding: "It's been good to represent who we are, showing our strengths to other countries. | Singer Sage Todz has been performing and says visitors from around the world have been learning from each other, adding: "It's been good to represent who we are, showing our strengths to other countries. |
| "It's just good to have a chance to mix with each other." | "It's just good to have a chance to mix with each other." |
| At the waterside, there are boats displaying the national flags of all of the competing nations. | At the waterside, there are boats displaying the national flags of all of the competing nations. |
| Wales fans will soon find out if their team can deliver a miracle - or if their World Cup dreams sail off into the distance. | Wales fans will soon find out if their team can deliver a miracle - or if their World Cup dreams sail off into the distance. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Wales | |
| Doha | Doha |
| Caerleon | Caerleon |
| Qatar | Qatar |
| Bangor | Bangor |