Wales and Ireland's all-or-nothing World Cup qualifier last night was one of the most emotionally charged international clashes we've seen on British shores for some time. The sheer force behind the acapella version of the Welsh national anthem was telling enough of what was on the line – both sides needing a win to advance to the playoff stages in a straight-up shootout. It had the feeling of a one-off cup final but the Dragons entered the encounter one notable man light, with talismanic forward Gareth Bale, who had already scored four times in qualifying, absent through injury. The Real Madrid star had to settle for watching from the stands. Before kickoff, many looked to Arsenal's...
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