I’ve been out in Qatar for just over a week now covering the 2022 World Cup and already we’ve witnessed one of - if not the - biggest upsets in the tournament’s history. 

On Tuesday afternoon in the blistering Doha heat, little old Saudi Arabia - the second lowest-ranked team in the World Cup - beat Fifa’s third-ranked team Argentina and the great Lionel Messi in what was a huge upset.  

In my first week over here I’ve seen more Argentinian supporters than those from most other nations - they’ve only been outnumbered by the Mexican fans, who’ve been a joy to be amongst. 

The Pink Un:

Obviously I’m here to work and my first game was last Monday night when Wales opened their World Cup account against USA.  

I used to love night games under the floodlights but I honestly don’t think I’d have enjoyed kicking off at 10pm; it would be such a long day and there would be a lot of hanging about and you wouldn’t finish much before midnight. 

I have to admit I wasn’t at all surprised when we received the team news and there was Norwich’s and the USA’s number 24 Josh in the starting line-up. I think the centre forward position has been a bit of a dilemma for their head coach Gregg Berhalter. 

From what I’m led to believe it was between Josh and Dallas’s 21-year-old forward Jesus Ferreira, who scored 18 goals in 35 appearances in the MLS this season and who has an impressive seven goals in 15 appearances for his country - but he opted for the man whose form has been very good this season for the Canaries. 

I thought Josh did well in the first half, he linked up well with Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah, son of the great Liberian striker George Weah. There were times when Josh would drop slightly deeper which, had he received the ball, he’d have had time and space to maybe test Wayne Hennessy in the Wales goal. 

He nearly opened the scoring early on in the first half when Pulisic made a strong run down the left-hand side, got to the byline and put a lovely cross in to the near post which was met by the head of Sargent - unfortunately for him, fortunately for Wales, his powerful header found the outside of the side netting. 

His movement to lose his defender to get that half a yard he needed was excellent - very similar to his movement for his goal at Watford last season. 

He had a much quieter second half, in fact, the whole USA team did after dominating the first 45 minutes. His night came to an end when he was replaced on 74 minutes by Haji Wright. 

I think Josh did enough against Wales to ensure a start tonight in a huge game against England.  

It’s going to be a massive test for them as England were outstanding in their 6-2 against Iran. To get the best out of Josh he needs crosses in the box, and plenty of them – it's like any other striker in all honesty. He’s as honest as the day is long, he’ll run all day for you, but you need to get him the ball in good areas. He’s shown this season that if you can do that he will score you goals - mind you, from a purely selfish point of view, if Josh does start tonight I really hope he doesn’t find the back of the net! 

I was filled with so much pride Monday night when Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau was sung at the football World Cup for the first time in 64 years.  

If you don’t know by now - and you should do! - I love my country and its language. We’re a small nation with a small population and have never had the biggest pools of players to choose from.  

I never got close to reaching the World Cup as a player - a few times our qualifying campaign had finished before it had started as we’d lost our first couple of group games. 

I think it had got to the stage where I never thought in my lifetime I’d see us compete on the biggest stage internationally so it fills me and the rest of Wales with so much pride and joy seeing us out here in Qatar. Hopefully it will be for longer than the three group games!