Wales came close to securing a point against The Netherlands on Wednesday night in the Nations League – and Welsh media have heaped huge praise on Tottenham duo Ben Davies and Joe Rodon for their performances.
Following Sunday’s 1-0 win over Ukraine, which booked their place in the World Cup finals for the first time in 64 years, Wales took on The Netherlands in Cardiff. Teun Koopmeiners gave his country the lead on 50 minutes.
It looked as though the Atalanta star’s goal would be enough – only for a flurry of incident in injury time. Rhys Norrington-Davies scored an equalising header on 92 minutes, before Wout Weghorst netted a 94th-minute winner.
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Davies and Rodon continued to combine for Wales in Rob Page’s back three – and they were both excellent despite coming up against 6ft 6in Weghorst. Wales Online handing Davies – captain for the night – a 7, and Rodon an 8.
On Davies: “Captaining his country for the night, the Tottenham man was his usual self on the ball and produced yet another heroic intervention to block Teun Koopmeiners’ shot in the first-half.”
On Rodon: “Got away with a loose pass early on but was a class act after that. Typically composed on the ball, dominant in the air and made heaps of clearances.”
Welsh media praise Tottenham duo Davies and Rodon
It shows how far Tottenham have come that neither Rodon, nor Davies, could be a starting player in Antonio Conte’s side next season. Spurs continue to vie for Alessandro Bastoni, with a potential swap deal on the cards.
Rodon, meanwhile, could be sold – with Nottingham Forest looking to form a reunion with Rodon and their manager Steve Cooper. But if Conte is watching Wales, he would be foolish not to play either for Spurs next term.
Rodon certainly, seems to go up a level in a Wales shirt. Davies has been superb all season, ever since Conte arrived. The duo are likely to start again when Wales play host to Belgium on Saturday.
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