Bale scored seven of Wales’ 11 goals in the qualifying campaign – Chris Coleman’s side only conceded four in 10 matches.
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“I think Wales is the sexiest of the three to us because of two or three really quality players playing for Wales”.
England and Wales will come up against each other for a “firecracker of a game” in Euro 2016 with the two British teams to meet for the first time in a major tournament. Wales players Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal and Ashley Williams of Swansea City are Premier League regulars, while Gareth Bale of Real Madrid played for Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Spain for a world record transfer fee of 85 million pounds ($129.33 million) in 2013. Chris has moulded the rest of the players around that well. It does not matter who you play.
“I think if we don’t get out of the group stage Hodgson wouldn’t want to continue”.
England manager Roy Hodgson said he was pleased to be seeded: “There were only five places, so it was good to get one of those five”.
“I believe people have experiences and learn from them, I believe Roy has learnt a lot from them and is keen to apply them”, he said. “You can not rely on a fixed team”.
“It’s not just about beating England, but we know they are a great team, I’ve total respect for Roy [Hodgson]”.
But he said: “My criteria, the FA criteria, is we want to see demonstrative progress, both in results and the style of play”.
The Three Lions will face their cores-border rivals, Slovakia and Russian Federation in Group B, with the pools confirmed at the draw in Paris last night. “It will be my 41st year next year which I’m very proud of”. We’re all patriotic, just to be here involved is absolutely fantastic.
The Republic of Ireland were drawn with Belgium, Italy and Sweden, while Northern Ireland will face world champions Germany, Poland and Ukraine.
And defending champions Spain have been drawn in a potentially tricky Group D with Croatia, Turkey and the Czech Republic.
Poland and Germany each won one game during their qualifying campaign battles for the tournament in France next year.
“We’ve got a chance to go and play against some of the best players in the world”.
O’Neill said: ” Italy should have been in Pot 1, they have not dropped down the rankings that much.
“I’m looking forward to having new acquaintances”. I think they have a strong spine.
Hodgson was noticeably taken aback last summer when Glenn insisted his future depended on England doing well in Euro 2016.
“I’m not unhappy with the draw”, he told Sporza.
“I think we’ve got a good chance in this tournament”.
“It’s a hard group, but against Ireland and Sweden normally we can win”.
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He had an ageing team if you like for the last World Cup, he has built something different and has got some different things in his set-up now. “We must start with the same intention”.
