Baku (AFP)

Despite a completely missed penalty from Gareth Bale, a decisive double passer, Wales took a very good option in the round of 16 of the Euro by winning (2-0) against Turkey on Wednesday in Baku .

Authors of a meritorious draw against the Swiss (1-1) in the first match of Group A, the Welsh temporarily take the lead with 4 points, ahead of Italy, opposed to Switzerland in the evening and which they will challenge in Rome for the last group game.

In a formula that qualifies 16 of the 24 teams competing at the start, the Dragons are sure not to finish last and have a very good chance of being in the top 4 third, at worst.

And even if the Turks, crushed (3-0) by Italy at the opening, were once again rather disappointing, a little air of 2016 blew in Baku, with an overall excellent performance from Bale.

Admittedly, the penalty he sent into the clouds, after having obtained it, on the hour mark, could have been very expensive and his head in the 78th could have been placed elsewhere than in the gloves of Ugurkan Cakir .

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But in the first half, he had been masterful at the baton, delivering three absolutely delicious assists in the back of the defense to Aaron Ramsey.

The Juventus player harvested the first two, but converted the third three minutes from the break (1-0, 42nd) to allow his people to confirm that the semi-finalists of five years ago are not came to do figuration.

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In additional time, on a corner played cleverly, it was again he who served Connor Roberts back for 2-0.

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With 0 points and a goal difference of -5, the future of the Turks in this Euro looks hopeless, even if they could play a sort of "final for 3rd place" against Switzerland, if they do not beat Switzerland. Italy, on the last day, Sunday.

Coach Senol Gunes chose to do without central defender Merih Demiral, who scored against Italy, and Lille striker Yusuf Yazici.

But the lack of offensive edge still displayed - they were practically dangerous only on set pieces, like this corner of the 88th on which Danny Ward made a beautiful parade - and the defensive alignment problems are big mortgages on their future in this tournament.

© 2021 AFP