"If I was just" - Leeds United winger Dan James personal verdict and intent after Wales impact
Leeds United winger Dan James had a huge impact for Wales in Thursday night’s Nations League win against Norway.
Dan James issued a satisfied personal verdict with a declaration of intent after starring for Wales in Thursday night’s excellent Nations League win against a star-studded Norway team in Cardiff.
James is yet to start a Premier League game so far this season but the Whites winger was handed a second international start in a row for Thursday night’s Nations League clash at home to a Norway side featuring Manchester City star Erling Haaland.
Another Premier League star in Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard set up Fulham’s Oscar Bobb to fire Norway ahead with just 11 minutes on the clock but James drew Wales level seven minutes before the interval as he raced into the box to convert a Sorba Thomas cross.
The two teams entered the half-time break level at one apiece but the pace of James then led to Norway being reduced to ten men just 30 seconds after the break as Torbjorn Heggem was shown a straight red card.
James was played in on goal and got himself in front of Heggem who pulled him back just outside the box and was swiftly giving his marching orders for a professional foul.
Things then got even worse for the visitors as Neco Williams swiftly blasted home the subsequent free kick into the bottom left corner for what proved the game’s winning goal.
James, who had been a handful all evening, was eventually substituted for Brennan Johnson with 14 minutes left but his impact proved key in helping Wales to a big victory in which Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu also produced a strong performance as he played the full 90 minutes in the middle of the park.
Speaking post match to BBC Two, James expressed his delight with his goal as the sort of opportunity that he would have looked back on with regret had he not burst into the box, the move also matching his team’s intent to press high and win the ball back.
The victory followed defeats to Denmark and Portugal in Wales’ first two Nations League games, James saluting proof that his team can compete with sides at the top level.
“You think 'if I was just there to tap it in’”
“I was really pleased,” said the Whites ace about his goal.
"Looking back at it, they are sorts of goals that if you are not in that area....you look back after the game four or five times and think 'if I was just there to tap it in'
"It comes from I think Liam (Cullen) wins it back in midfield, Koumie (Lewis Koumas) plays it out to Sorba and Sorb to me so I think we were all involved which was great.
"We want to high press, we want to win the ball back, and I think in the last couple of games when we have won it back we haven't quite got that last pass but today we did and it got us back in the game and from them on we were brilliant and we started the second half well to get the red card and then to capitalise on that with a goal was great and then it was just about pushing on from there.
"We couldn't quite get that third but they are great players, they are always going to create chances but I thought we defended absolutely brilliantly."
Pressed on whether the win showed that Wales can compete with such sides, James reasoned: "Yeah, they are a really tough team, they are quarter finalists of the World Cup.
"They have amazing players and we have seen that tonight, they are going to control lots of parts of games and you have to suffer but we suffered as a team tonight.
"We spoke before the game about being us and that was us”
"Everyone dug in for 90 plus minutes and we have come out with our rewards and being at home as well is always great.
"We have a great home record, we always back ourselves here but we have got to keep doing that and it's another tough game on Sunday now.
"It's a massive win, it gets us off the mark in this group.
"I think after the first two games obviously we were really disappointed, especially against Denmark, it wasn't quite us.
"We spoke before the game about being us and that was us.
"I thought we defended well from the front, we went a goal behind and I think a lot of people would have written us off from there but it was great for us to get the goal before half time, it gave us that lift, that spirit, I thought we defended absolutely great tonight and were great going forward.
"It's a credit to the staff, the players, dusting ourselves off after a disappointing first two games and the fans were also incredible tonight so they helped.”