Giggs' joy at renewal of Welsh prospects

Ryan Giggs returned from Wales' World Cup heroics hoping to put the finishing touches to a new contract with Manchester United. But the Cardiff-born winger was probably more satisfied about his nation's prospects of qualifying for the 2002 finals than with the as-yet unsigned new deal.

Ryan Giggs returned from Wales' World Cup heroics hoping to put the finishing touches to a new contract with Manchester United. But the Cardiff-born winger was probably more satisfied about his nation's prospects of qualifying for the 2002 finals than with the as-yet unsigned new deal.

Giggs, arguably Wales' one player of world-class calibre, showed he was willing to work with the rest of his team-mates to fight the Poles to a standstill in Warsaw on Wednesday.

It might only have been a goalless draw at the passionate Legia stadium, but in terms of what it has achieved for morale and confidence, it is one of the most significant results for Wales in years.

The point lifted Wales off the bottom of Group Five, above Norway, with Ukraine, Poland and Belarus still to visit Cardiff.

Giggs confirmed the mood of new optimism in the Welsh camp, saying: "We now have a five-month lay-off before our next games and when we meet up again there will be no doubt that we will have that team spirit and the belief that we showed against Norway and Poland."