UEFA EURO 2016 (Bordeaux)

Saturday 11th June 2016
UEFA Euro 2016 Group B
Stade de Bordeaux
Wales 2-1 Slovakia
Attendance: 37,831

Joe Jordans's handball, 1977. Paul Bodin's penalty miss, 1993. Egor Titov's failed drug test, 2003. The history of Welsh football has been littered with injustices and bad luck. Well, finally, after 58 years of heartbreak these can finally be consigned to the dustbin of history. After 58 years, Wales have once again arrived on the scene of a major international tournament.

The last time Wales took part in a major tournament was the World Cup in 1958 when a 17 year old Pele inspired Brazil to a 1-0 victory. Wales did reach the quarter-finals of the 1976 European Championships, but in those days it was played on an home away basis up until the semi-finals, when the last four teams played the tournament.

Wales' Euro 2016 campaign kicked off at the "New" Stade de Bordeaux in, err, Bordeaux, the home of Girondins de Bordeaux. The ground was opened last year and replaced the Stade Chaban Delmas. The capacity of the stadium is around 42,000 and the roof is supported by over 1000 poles, designed to give the impression that it is floating. It is a sight to behold.

I was undertaking a day trip in order to watch this game today, so my journey began with a couple of beers at Cardiff Airport before a (slightly delayed) direct flight had me in Bordeaux just before midday. Once through passport control, a coach was waiting to ferry me to the ground.

The ground is a good 7km outside of Bordeaux, so I faced with a dilemma. Do I jump on a packed tram for the 45 minute journey into town, with little time to do anything, or stay where I am. In the end the choice was made for me as there was a sudden walk out by tram drivers meaning no trams were running to and from the city centre.  C'est la vie.

I am back in Bordeaux next week, though I will not be watching any football. I have read that the historic part of the city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble" of the 18th century. I will hopefully get a chance to look at this architecture on my return. Or maybe just another alehouse!

Bordeaux is the world's major wine industry capital but there was only the official urine of Euro 2016 available at the ground (and virtually alcohol free at that) so I made do with a soft drink, but at least it was in a commemorative cup for you to take home!

The only evidence of heightened security I saw was armed soldiers at the airport and blockades around the ground checking cars and buses. On entry to the ground there was a pat down and a cursory check of my bag and ticket but nothing too invasive.

Unfortunately being on a day trip I missed the massive Welsh party that took place in the town over the previous 24 hours, but as kick off approached I could feel the atmosphere in the stadium building. I would estimate there was a good 20,000 Wales supporters in the stadium for this game. It looked like a sea of red all around me and the noise was tremendous.

Slovakia were also playing their first European finals tournament as an independent nation and it was they who almost made the early breakthrough when Marek Hamsik burst through and beat Danny Ward in the Welsh goal, but Ben Davies had spotted the danger and covered back in order to clear the ball off the line.

It was Gareth Bale, who else, that opened the scoring when his free kick from 25 yards found the net. Admittedly Slovakia goalkeeper Matus Kozacik did not cover himself in glory and maybe should have saved it. Wales had the better of the first half and deserved to be 1-0 up at the break.

Slovakia came back into the game in the second half and it was no surprise when they equalised, substitute Ondrej Duda applying the finish with his first touch of the game. Wales were on the ropes after this goal but an inspired double substitution by Chris Coleman (and a fantastic rendition of 'Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau' by the Welsh fans which echoed around the ground) helped turn the tide and create the winning goal.

Joe Ledley played a defence splitting ball to Aaron Ramsey, who flicked the ball into the path of Hal Robson-Kanu who scuffed the ball into the back of the net. They all count and it sent the Welsh fans into absolute raptures.

There was still time for Slovakia to hit the post, Adam Nemec's header coming back off the upright, but after all the years of heartache then maybe Wales deserved that little bit of luck. This result meant Wales were the first British side to win their opening game at a European Championship finals. It must have been the day for history!