Monday 20 June 2016 – Are you Santa?

Last night we had been in conversation with Bob (from Madrid) arranging to meet him when his flight arrived.  Once that was sorted and after another fine European style breakfast I again left Clive sleeping for Cymru and went for a walk around the area.  When I returned Clive returned the compliment whilst I slept. 

By 5.00pm Bob’s flight had arrived and we could prepare for the journey to the stade.  All ran smoothly and no problems with the Russians at all although security was noticeably more visible and strict than at any of the other games.  Inside the ground Danny and I came across the fan of the game who may well have been Santa with his helper.

Once again there was a sea of red to greet the players and Danny was there wearing his red for Cymru, the 3-0 victory made sure that there was singing to the very end and a happy Neil Taylor whose last goal before tonight's was in front of 285 spectators for Wrexham at Grays Athletic.  The three minutes from the end of the Cymru game until England completed their game were as long as any, but worth the wait which confirmed Cymru as champions of the group.

If everything had been smooth going to the stade it was anything but on the way back. Free shuttle buses took us there but after was a nightmare due to having to leave the ground by a different route.  We ended up walking in the wrong direction and having to get the Metro back into centre ville where all the restaurants and bars had to close at midnight.  Everyone was wanting a taxi and after 1hour and 15minutes in a queue we managed to get a taxi back to the hotel for 2.30am and so to bed at 3.30am.  It had been a long day.