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.
GOAL! Ramsey collects a cute Allen through ball and chips the opening #WAL goal #WALRUS #EURO2016 https://t.co/qI1va540Vb
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 20, 2016
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…
https://twitter.com/ffsGeorge/status/745241033412329472
And chickens…
https://twitter.com/KellyCates/status/745195584303337472
There was plenty of (made up) quotes from football legends…
True story. #JoeAllenAppreciationDay #WAL #LFC pic.twitter.com/59ADU3w2My
— アシ (@Ashy_Desu) June 21, 2016
Tributes from *actual* Liverpool legends…
https://twitter.com/Robbie9Fowler/status/745245588808077313
This…
https://twitter.com/DomagalaMatt36/status/745181626359898112
…this…
https://twitter.com/JustinMeta1/status/745180050496970753
… and this...
You either love Joe Allen, or you're wrong. #JoeAllenAppreciationDay pic.twitter.com/NbZkyT6j00
— Andrew 🔴 (@AnfieldTruth) June 21, 2016
And some people just used it as an opportunity to watch Joe Ledley’s victory dance again.
When you realise you play in midfield with Joe Allen #JoeAllenAppreciationDay https://t.co/E6vtd3EzX5
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) June 21, 2016
