WALES banished the disappointment of Saturday's European Championship defeat by the Czech Republic with adetermined and defiant display against Brazil last night. There was never any real prospect of John Toshack's pre-match underdogs upsetting the form book at White Hart Lane, but they held the samba superstars for an hour and in that time created one or two opportunities to embarrass a team still top of the Fifa world rankings despite their disappointing campaign in Germany this summer. Wales' boss Toshack had boasted that his relatively young squad of players would acquit themselves well and was proved right because the last time the two sides met in Cardiff six years ago, the South Americans were comfortable 3-0 winners. Wales made three changes to the line-up that started in Teplice on Saturday, Southampton teenager Gareth Bale, Portsmouth defender Richard Duffy and striker Robert Earnshaw from Norwich City being given an opportunity to show what they could do. But disappointingly for Wrexham fans there was no place in the 18-man squad for Dragons' fullback Ryan Valentine. For their part Brazil had only three of the players who started against Argentina at the weekend in their side, the most notable addition being Barcelona's world player of the year, Ronaldinho. Bale, who became Wales' youngest international when he played against Trinidad and Tobago at the age of 17 in May, made his presence felt almost immediately with a tough challenge on Maicon but the youngster knew little about a pile driver from the Brazilian full back, which nearly took his head off moment later. It was evidence though that Wales were not in awe of their opponents although the South Americans produced the best of the early goalmouth action. | 
HAVE your say on our sport Messageboard - click