PARIS: For the first time in more than a year, Wales coach Ryan Giggs was able to start both Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey for the national team.

The country’s two superstars combined to propel the Welsh into another European Championship.

Ramsey headed home a cross from Bale in the first half and added a second goal soon after halftime to guide Wales to a 2-0 victory over Hungary in a winner-takes-all match in Cardiff on Tuesday.

Wales climbed from fourth to a second-place finish in Group ‘E’ behind Croatia, leaving Hungary to attempt to get to the finals via the playoffs in March. Slovakia, who beat Azerbaijan 2-0 on Tuesday, finished in third place and will also contest the playoffs.

It will be a second straight Euros for the Welsh, after 2016 in France when they reached the semifinals in their first major tournament in 58 years.

That was under Chris Coleman and now they are coached by Giggs, who has delivered in his first qualifying campaign.

Wales could be a threat at the Europe-wide tournament held in June and July next year, with their forward line containing Real Madrid’s Bale and Manchester United’s Daniel James while Ramsey, now at Juventus after leaving Arsenal in the offseason, makes runs from midfield.

Much will hinge on the fitness of Bale and Ramsey, who are both injury prone. This was the first time they started together for Wales since a Nations League qualifier against Denmark last November.

“We had the best time of our lives in France so we wanted to make sure we got there again,” Ramsey said. I missed a lot of this campaign but I’ve chipped in now and it’s worthwhile.”

Bale was given time and space to curl in a left-footed cross from the right wing that Ramsey met at the far post to head high into the net. Ramsey’s second goal, in the 47th, was a cool finish from close range after he latched onto an acrobatic effort by substitute Kieffer Moore.

“It’s about time he contributed! Bale said jokingly about Ramsey. He’s a world class player, it’s great to have him back and his goals helped us through.”

The Slovaks could have qualified in second place if the Wales-Hungary match had finished in a draw. They did all they could, winning in Trnava courtesy of Robert Bozenik’s 19th-minute goal and another from Marek Hamsik in the 86th.

The win gave Wales the final automatic place, with 20 teams ready to contest the finals and another four spots set to be decided via the playoffs in March next year.

One of the favourites for the tournament which kicks off in Rome on June 12, Belgium, made it a perfect 10 wins from 10 with a 6-1 thrashing of Cyprus that saw Christian Benteke score twice.

The Crystal Palace forward is yet to score in the Premier League but opened Belgium’s account in the 16th minute with a tap-in two minutes after Nicholas Ioannou stunned the Group ‘I’ winners with a superb run and shot.

He rounded off the scoring in the 68th minute when he collected a neat through ball from Kevin De Bruyne — who also scored twice — and slotted past Neofytos Michael.

Tuesday’s stroll means Roberto Martinez’s side finish the qualifying phase as top scorers with a whopping 40 goals, with an average of four goals a game.

Russia, who finished two points behind Belgium, thumped San Marino 5-0 in one of a host of dead rubbers.

Germany and the Netherlands thumped Northern Ireland and Belarus to close their campaigns in style.

Serge Gnabry said Germany were heading to the Euros in a positive mood after hitting a hat-trick that sank the Northern Irish 6-1 and gave them top spot in Group ‘C’.

“We are playing some very, very good football,” said Gnabry, who came off to a standing ovation on 80 minutes. “We are going to the finals confident and with a good run behind us. The team is young, but we’re all having a lot of fun.”

Georginio Wijnaldum meanwhile made another stand against racism as he also scored three times in the Netherlands’ 5-0 crushing of Belarus.

Liverpool midfielder Wijnaldum was angered at Excelsior striker Ahmad Mendes Moreira being subjected to racist chanting by FC Den Bosch fans during a Dutch second division match.

And after opening the scoring in the sixth minute he and Frenkie de Jong joined on the sidelines to bring their arms together to draw attention to their different skin colour.

Myron Boadu made it a night to remember by scoring on his international debut to make it five three minutes from the end, collecting Kevin Strootman’s pass before colly slotting home.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2019