England manager Roy Hodgson is wary of the threat Gareth Bale will pose to his side at Euro 2016. I don’t envisage anything at the moment, anything other than the tournament, but it depends how I feel.
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Germany host England in Berlin, then Italy in Munich, next March in two key games as part of their Euro 2016 preparations.
The Northern Ireland boss said: “They (Germany) were maybe the pot one team that I didn’t want but, having been drawn in it and got my head around it, I think it’s a fantastic game for us”. We’re not scared of anyone and it’s a game you want to play in against England, we always raise our game against them.
“The belief is there with the team and the fans and I’d like to see them do something special to put Wales on the map”.
Dyke said: “England-Wales is a good, exciting game, and my reaction to the draw overall is, “Yeah, that’s fine”. The way the matches have fallen may be to our advantage and if we can get something against Poland that would set us up.
“There’s some good sides but I think we’ve certainly got a good chance to get through to the last four and, if we do that, you can win”.
Dyke was famously pictured making a cut-throat gesture after England were handed a tough draw for the World Cup in Brazil, but is much more optimistic about Euro 2016 and believes the semi-finals is a realistic prospect.
Wales coach Chris Coleman had previously admitted he would prefer not to be placed in the same group as England, citing fears that a “Battle of Britain” could act as a distraction, but remained confident his players would rise to the challenge.
“Everyone involved with the team has done their utmost to get to the tournament so everyone is going to give it their best and the supporters will go there and enjoy it”.
All the focus may be on Wales being drawn in the same group as England, but the opportunity to get one over on Russian Federation will also inspire Coleman after their controversial and agonising Euro 2004 play-off defeat. “I think Wales is the sexiest of the three to us because of two or three really quality players playing for Wales”.
The Three Lions will take on Chris Coleman’s side in their second Group B match in Lens on June 16 and they will fancy their chances of securing all three points in the clash having not lost to the Dragons since 1984.
“Payback – my son texted me that immediately after the draw: payback”. The final is due on July 10 at the Stade de France, a target of last month’s Paris attacks and where France were crowned the 1998 World Cup champions.
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Full draw details: Page 2.
