Group D - Czech Republic 2 Wales 1: Gallant failure can take you only so far. There was a time when a performance like this by Wales, against opposition of World Cup status such as the Czech Republic, would have left them lamenting their luck but quietly proud. But that time has gone.

On a night of several pluses, perhaps the most interesting was the collective Welsh disdain on Saturday for a defeat that should have been a draw and could easily have been a victory. As Ryan Giggs said bitterly: "Another hard-luck story."

Resilient at the back, where Lewin Nyatanga, 18 a fortnight ago, was excellent alongside Danny Gabbidon; combative in midfield, where Simon Davies had an impressive first half; and swift in attack, with Craig Bellamy's turn of foot and Giggs's speed of thought, Wales gave fans surges of optimism.

John Toshack's pre-match comment about the absence of genuine goalscorers compared to years gone by proved prescient. Two great chances for Bellamy - on 30 minutes and 75 minutes - came and went without Wales taking the lead. Petr Cech did just enough on the first to put off Bellamy, the post and a heavy Bellamy touch did for the second.

Just 60 seconds after that the Czechs went one up. The visitors had every right to be upset about the development, especially as substitute David Lafata was offside when he put the ball in.

After Lafata's opener Toshack withdrew his full backs and put on Robert Earnshaw and David Cotterill. With five minutes, Cotterill and Earnshaw combined in the box and Martin Jiranek stabbed in an own-goal. It was the least Wales deserved.

The Czechs' belief looked to be vanishing before Lafata's introduction. The equaliser meant five anxious minutes to negotiate and they were about to elapse when the hosts were awarded a free-kick. Toshack was furious the ball was moving when it was taken and then despairing when Lafata scuffed a shot that nevertheless beat Paul Jones.

Guardian Service