Hughes rues Giggs miss

Poland celebrate a deserved win in Cardiff

Wales manager Mark Hughes rued the glaring Ryan Giggs miss which virtually cost his side their World Cup dream after the 2-1 defeat to Poland in Cardiff.

The match was finely poised at 1-1 after Emmanuel Olisadebe had equalised for the visitors following Nathan Blake's opening strike.

Giggs was gifted the chance to put his side back in front moments later but incredibly managed to miss the open net from six yards.

Substitute Pawet Kryszatowicz scored the Poles' winner in the second half to leave the Welsh regretting the mistake from the Manchester United winger.

"Nine times out of 10 Ryan would have scored that one, but these things happen even to the best players," said Hughes.

It looks now as if our chances have gone

  Hughes on Wales' qualifying hopes

"Maybe he was just trying to hard.

"It was a very disappointing result after the first-half performance when we played as well as we have done in years.

"We really had them under pressure at times but when we give away goals like we did, we don't deserve to win."

Hughes admitted that hopes of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup are effectively dead, but he was eager to remain as positive as possible.

"It looks now as if our chances have gone, but we can take great credit from the last five games," he said.

"There are young players coming through and the future looks bright.

"We have another very hard game on Wednesday in Ukraine and we have to re-group and do our best."

Robbie Savage will not be travelling to Kiev because of injury but Wales hope Mark Delaney will have recovered from his hamstring problem to travel.

I don't believe the referee was controlling the game for both sides

  Mark Hughes

Hughes launched a staggering attack on Poland's play-acting stars after the defeat in Cardiff.

The Welsh players were enraged by constant diving, rolling around and attempts to con the referee.

Hughes said: "Poland have some fine players with great ability and technique.

"So why do they have to try to get fellow professionals doing the same job as them, either booked or sent off?

"I don't think that it's the sort of thing that people pay to see. And I don't believe the referee was controlling the game for both sides.

"A lot of things he could have stopped early on, but he didn't and they continued throughout the game.

"If you mention referees these days it's looked upon as an excuse, so I don't really want to say any more about him."

Poland boss Jerzy Engel said: "I don't like to talk about other people's players. We are no angels, but then neither are Wales."