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Sport

21st Jun 2016

Joe Allen appreciation day is in full swing following historic Welsh win

Legendary status

Simon Lloyd

Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

Wales game against Russia on Monday evening was arguably the biggest football match in generations. A win would guarantee them a spot in the knockout stages of Euro 2016 – their first major tournament in over half a century.

With the game just a few minutes old, Aaron Ramsey gave the Welsh an early lead, dinking the ball over an advancing Igor Akinfeev. Although the finish was a tidy one, viewers were quick to point out that the defence-splitting pass from Joe Allen that made it possible deserved just as much credit.

In the end it proved to be an easy night for the Welsh, running out 3-0 winners over the Russia. Not only was it enough to see Wales qualify for the last 16 of the Euros, it also meant that (with England drawing with Slovakia) they were through as group winners.

Allen was undoubtedly one of the heroes of the hour, and the following day Welsh fans paid tribute to the Liverpool man on social media with the creation of #JoeAllenAppreciationDay. Before long, football fans from every corner of the globe were joining in the salute the Welsh Pirlo / Xavi.

As you’d probably expect, there were plenty of references to Pirlo and Xavi…

And chickens…

There was plenty of (made up) quotes from football legends…

Tributes from *actual* Liverpool legends…

This…

…this…

… and this...

And some people just used it as an opportunity to watch Joe Ledley’s victory dance again.