Last shot at glory proves too much for Giggs

All it needed was a fierce finish, but Petr Cech — the Chelsea keeper who had denied the Manchester United player in the FA Cup final only two weeks before — plucked the Welshman's goalbound strike out of the air with almost disdainful nonchalance.

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There was to be no dream finale and after 88 minutes 56 seconds Giggs walked to the touchline, received a warm embrace from his replacement, Robert Earnshaw, and his international career disappeared into history.

"I should have scored," admitted Giggs. "I did all the hard work but I put too much whip on the ball. It was just disappointing that we couldn't get a win. It was a great performance and we need to keep doing that in the future. That's the benchmark, to be playing well against the best teams.

"It has been a very emotional week saying goodbye to everyone but I have enjoyed it. The fans have been great from day one right to the end. The players are a good age and there are others coming through. The future looks really good."

Though Giggs deserved a more decisive conclusion to his frustrating international career, it was perhaps fitting that it had taken the world's greatest keeper to deny him.

Keeping Welsh qualification hopes alive proved to be the Mission Impossible yesterday, as that moment of vintage Giggsy' showed in the 68th minute.

But then the 33-year-old had been involved in more than a few of those in his 16 years and 64 games in his country's colours.

At the other end, Wolves' rookie keeper Wayne Hennessey showed as much defiance as Cech. A Welsh hero for the future, perhaps.

What a shame, though, that the Millennium Stadium was little more than half full as a true legend said goodbye to the international arena. It may have been a reflection of the way Giggs is perceived to have underachieved during those long years of duty.

More likely it told the story of broken qualification dreams and harsh realism in a group containing Germany and yesterday's opposition.

At any rate, those who attended were full of affection and nostalgia for the most gifted player to wear the Wales shirt in recent times.

"Diolch yn fawr, Ryan," said one banner — "Thanks very much, Ryan."

Others, in English, were more effusive. "We love Ryan," they read and were illustrated with bright red hearts in a bid to catch their hero's eye.

When he stood motionless as the Welsh national anthem washed around him for the last time as captain, he seemed to be fighting to control his emotions.

Were there tears welling up in those dark eyes? Perhaps it was just a natural reaction to the sharp sunlight.

He began as though he had been inspired by the performance of his old team mate David Beckham less than 24 hours earlier, gratefully accepting a pass' from a confused Czech defender in the 11th minute and surging through with such vigour that Craig Bellamy's failure to convert his thoughtful delivery seemed unjust.

It was the same story after half-time, when Giggs immediately reached the dead-ball line and managed to thread his pass back to Bellamy on cue.

But the Liverpool striker wanted too many touches to make his mark and was soon tamely dispossessed.

It was Jason Koumas who came closest to breaking the deadlock, smacking a post with a spiteful free-kick after 51 minutes, while Hennessy kept out Czech substitute Marek Kulic and many other raiders to ensure that the scoreline at least remained respectable, even if it sealed Wales's fate.

Their hopes of reaching Switzerland and Austria were duly extinguished, along with Giggs' international career. It may have been a sad way to go but at least the ageing magician went down fighting.

WALES (5-3-1-1): Hennessey; Ledley, Nyatanga, Gabbidon, Collins, Ricketts; Koumas, Robinson, S Davies; Giggs (Earnshaw 89min); Bellamy. Subs (not used): Evans, A Davies, Fletcher, Crofts, Llewelyn, Coyne

CZECH REPUBLIC (4-4-2): Cech; Jankulovski, Rozehnal, Kovac, Ujfalusi; Polak (Jarolim 65), Sivok (Matejovsky 83), Rosicky, Plasil; Koller, Baros (Kulic 46). Subs (not used): Pecka, Blazek, Hubschman, Zapotocny.

Referee: P Allaerts (Belgium).