Cardiff turns into a theatre of pain and leaves Wales facing an empty summer

This was an exercise in slow-burn dread – two and a half hours of relentlessly draining Euro 2024 qualifying playoff football.

SO CLOSE, YET...: Wales' Dan James dejected after missing a penalty in the penalty shoot-out.

Well, that’s something new at least. And don’t worry. It only takes about 30 years, a little bit of scar tissue, and perhaps a mournful novelty song to get over it. Poland had five shots on target all night at the Cardiff City Stadium. 

Unfortunately for Wales all five came in the penalty shoot out at the end of two and a half hours of relentlessly draining Euro 2024 qualifying playoff football.