Welsh press reacts to Joe Rodon display as Leeds United loanee plays full part v South Korea
Leeds United loanee Joe Rodon helped Wales to a clean sheet as they drew 0-0 with South Korea in an international friendly on Thursday [7 September].
Rodon, who joined Leeds on a season-long loan from Tottenham last month, played the full 90 minutes of an uneventful match at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The 25-year-old was one of only four outfield players to stay on the pitch as Wales kept just a second clean sheet in 13 outings.
The Welsh press has reacted to Rodon’s display, with Wales Online [7 September] giving him a 7/10 rating due to having “a couple of nervy moments where he needed to be bailed out by his teammates”.
Simon Church, speaking on BBC Radio Wales [7 September], told Rodon to “just get rid” instead of attempting to play out from the back in that instance.
Aside from that shaky moment, Rodon was otherwise solid and almost got himself on the scoresheet in South Wales.
As pointed out by the Daily Post print edition [8 September, page 29], “Rodon rose well… but his hopes of a first Wales goal were ended by a full-length Kim [Seung-gyu] save.”
Reflecting on that rare chance for either side, former player Nathan Blake told BBC Wales‘ live blog [7 September]: “Joe Rodon got up really well just not able to generate enough power. Nice and comfortable for the keeper.”
Job done
Rodon’s most notable impact on the game was his chance early in the second half, resulting in one of only five attempts on target at either end in a disappointing game.
The former Swansea City player is not in the side to score goals, however, but rather to keep out the opposition, and he managed to successfully do that – just!
As admirable as it was to see Rodon try to pass the ball out of trouble in his one nervy moment, Leeds boss Daniel Farke could do without scares such as that when club football resumes.
Being assured on the ball is one of the reasons Farke brought Rodon to Elland Road, but he cannot rely on his teammates to – as Wales Online put it – bail him out.
Rodon will now likely play a full part again on Monday when Wales travel to Latvia in what is effectively a must-win match if they are to qualify for Euro 2024 automatically.
Fingers crossed the centre-back comes through the match unscathed ready for Leeds’ visit to Millwall a week on Sunday [17 September].
In other Leeds United news, another Whites player is making an impression on the international stage.