57 YEARS AGO

In 1958, Wales qualified for the World Cup Finals held in Sweden. They got there by default, not in a blaze of glory achieved by this year's Welsh team. Israel was refused entry to the finals when no Asian or African international teams would play them following the Suez crisis in 1956. Wales, having come second in their qualifying group, met Israel in a play off and beat them after a 2-0 victory at Ninian Park on the 5th of February 1958.

The next day was the Munich air disaster which took the lives of many Manchester United players.

In the finals, Wales drew their group games including a 0-0 with the hosts and eventual runners up. They then had another play off against 1954 runners up Hungary, winning 2-1. In the quarter-final, they met Brazil and Pele, who scored his first ever World Cup goal, losing 0-1. Glory in defeat.

It is 57 years since Wales last qualified for a major competition.