Wales beat 'shambolic' Germany

Wales 1 Germany 0

You had to blink to believe it. Wales produced a remarkable, historic victory to send the might of Germany home a shattered, shambolic mess.

The damage was done by 21-year-old debutant Robert Earnshaw, who grabbed a cracking winner 13 seconds into a pulsating secon half.

If Germany thought this was going to be a gentle stroll in their preparation for the World Cup finals they were in for a nasty shock.

Wales, achieving by far their best result under Mark Hughes and arguably for a decade, ran themselves ragged and fully deserved the win.

It is almost 11 years to the day that Germany were last in Cardiff and that time Ian Rush’s goal produced a miracle victory that is still being talked about today.

Now the Welsh will have another historic triumph to add to that and Earnshaw’s wonder goal will go down in folklore.

The stadium announcer got in on the act at the end, giving it the full ‘‘Your boys took a hell of a beating’’ tirade.

But few, apart from some disbelieving Germans, would deny Wales this moment.

Germany were a mess at the back, could not handle the high balls and the passion, and finished in disarray.

They will head off to Japan next week for their group game with the Republic of Ireland with their confidence shattered.

Wales, in their last match before their European qualifiers next season, were magnificent.

There were heroes all over the park, and battling men in red who wanted this one so much.

Wales were without 10 senior men, forcing Hughes to give young Earnshaw known as Ernie to everyone his full debut.

And how the 21-year-old Cardiff City took his chance.

His pace, sheer enthusiasm and effort bothered Germany’s giant defenders, and there was even an exchange of words between the tiny local lad and Bayern Munich’s giant ’keeper Oliver Kahn after Earnshaw had clattered into the German skipper chasing a through ball.

Kahn was not impressed, but he should really pick on someone his own size, not that Earnshaw was bothered!

Earnshaw certainly was not overawed. He got away with a cheeky drag back and high speed burst and then attempted an ambitious overhead kick to the delight of his home crowd.

But the Earnshaw’s cameo apart, Germany produced neat, pacy passing moves which sent the ball gliding across the turf, prompted mostly by Jens Jeremies.

Wales were hounding and scrapping, and Germany were making mistakes.

On eight minutes Earnshaw’s instant flick put Ryan Giggs clear.

He was forced wide but still got in a dive that found Kahn’s giant frame blocking like a rerun of a Bayern Munich-Manchester United clash.

The Germans hit back with more slick movement and a header from Miroslav Klose that flashed over.

Next to try his luck was Spurs star Christian Ziege, had a long-range effort touched over before Torsten Frings sent a header high over the top.

Then Gary Speed’s pass found Earnshaw bursting into space, and although his cross was blocked, Robbie Savage charged in to fire the rebound well wide.

Dietmar Hamann, on 39 minutes, attempted the sort of 40-yard free-kick that he put past England at Wembley in a World Cup qualifier, but this time it skidded wide of a post.

Kahn was forced into a plunging punch to clear one cross, and a wild flay of an arm to paw away another high ball, with Earnshaw waiting.

Wales were amazingly ahead just 13 seconds after the re-start. John Hartson’s header from Mark Delaney’s long ball fell into the box.

Earnshaw ran across Christoph Metzelder and crashed the ball into the top corner before embarking on a manic celebration run before being engulfed by a mass of jubilant team-mates.

Two minutes later Wales should have had another when Giggs’ pass sent Simon Davies racing away, bursting from his own half onto the ball and charging into the box only to see Kahn make a fine plunging save to his right.

On 53 minutes Speed got away on the left, crossed low and Earnshaw was only stopped by Ziege’s out-stretched leg.

Wales’ confidence soared and they were launching attacks from both flanks.

Giggs saw a 20-yarder pulled down by Kahn before Wales thought they had scored again on 58 minutes.

Hartson put Earnshaw in with a pass which saw the young striker behind the defence.

Earnshaw was six yards out and his first shot was saved before he belted home the rebound, only to find a linesman’s flag raised for offside, much to the crowds’ fury.

Germany were not enjoying this and Frings was booked for body-checking Delaney on 60 minutes.

The Germans hurled everything in at the death and twice they hit the woodwork, first with a Marco Bode header and then a Carsten Jancker drive.

It was fierce. Savage was pulled away from two confrontations and Delaney was booked for showing his anger at a blatant dive.

Speed, Gerald Asamoah and Jancker were all cautioned in a pulsating conclusion.

In injury time Chris Coleman made his long-awaited comeback as a substitute for man of the match Earnshaw, who went off to a stunning ovation from all sides.

The celebrations, though, were only just starting.