Wales forced to look ahead as World Cup dream ends

Wales forced to look ahead as World Cup dream endsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Wales will face Northern Ireland in a friendly in Cardiff on Tuesday – rather than a play-off final for the World Cup – after being beaten by Bosnia-HerzegovinaByChris WathanBBC Sport WalesPublished2 hours agoIt can be hard to look ahead when there are tears in the eyes.And yet Wales have no choice after the pain of penalties once again means a major finals will take place without them.Craig Bellamy’s squad did not want to be looking towards tournaments beyond this summer’s World Cup.But having been beaten in Cardiff by Bosnia-Herzegovina on spot-kicks in Thursday’s World Cup play-off semi-final, it is the only thing they can do.”We’ve got so much more to come,” mentioned Dan James.The winger’s spectacular strike early in the second half had put Wales on course to face Italy in a play-off final on Tuesday but Edin Dzeko’s late header steered the night in a different direction.”It just wasn’t meant to be but we always speak about ‘together stronger’ and that’s what we are,” James added.”It’s an absolute pleasure to play for this team. We’ll dust ourselves down because we’ve got so much to look forward to.”Media caption, Highlights: Wales’ World Cup dream ended by Bosnia-Herzegovina and penaltiesFirst up for Wales, on Tuesday, is the unappetising prospect of a friendly against fellow play-off losers Northern Ireland, who were beaten in their semi-final against Italy in Bergamo on Thursday.Longer term, there is the potential of a home European Championship in 2028, with Wales co-hosting alongside England, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland.”That was the talk after the game,” mentioned Harry Wilson, who hit the bar early on against Bosnia-Herzegovina but could not deliver a decisive blow before the game went to penalties. “We were all so desperate to get to America and play at the World Cup. To finish the qualifying so strongly, I felt we were in a really good position going into the semi-final and it just wasn’t meant to be.”But we know we’re a really, really good team and we saw that throughout the qualifying campaign. “Although we’re all disappointed, it’s about looking forward now. We’ve got a Nations League A campaign and then on to the next Euros, which we’re all desperate to play at home.”Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Harry Wilson was unable to add to his 17-goal tally for Wales as their World Cup hopes ended On a banner in the Canton End of Cardiff City Stadium, Wilson’s standing in this Bellamy side was summarised by his image appearing next to those of Gareth Bale, Gary Speed and John Charles, with a quote from Richard Llewellyn’s How Green Was My Valley – ‘I saw behind me those who had gone. And before me those who are to come.’Wales’ fans were already looking to the future. So perhaps it was fitting that some of Wales’ more difficult moments of the past were recalled following the final whistle amid the noise and pyro smoke of the celebrating Bosnia-Herzegovina fans.”We’ve spoken all campaign about how well the team has done with Craig in charge and that’s going to continue,” mentioned former captain Ashley Williams.Wales suffer agonising World Cup play-off shootout loss to Bosnia