“We’ll use everything we have, all the powers we have, to get the performance right in that first game”.
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“I think it’s very important to have Gareth Bale fit and well”.
England’s final group match is on Monday June 20 in Saint Etienne, when they play Slovakia. We’ll certainly be cheering the boys on to glory.
Dinard is a sleepy coastal resort near the port of St Malo and Coleman has allowed his players to stroll into town after training.
Apart from Bale, 12 of Coleman’s 23-man squad play for Premier League clubs and the current group has been dubbed the “golden generation”.
The squad has captured the imagination of Wales fans by finally qualifying for France, but what made the difference this time around?
“There is no denying we are a much better team when Baley plays, so it means we can go into the tournament full strength and we are raring to go”.
“We all feel like brothers and will literally do anything for each other”, said Bale, who this term won a second Champions League title in three seasons with Spanish giants Real.
Wales are playing just the one friendly ahead of the Euros, whereas England have had games against Turkey, Australia and Portugal in the past two weeks.
Sweden, host nation of the 1958 World Cup, was a fitting location for Wales to finalise preparations for their first major tournament appearance in 58 years, but it was the hosts who posed the early threat, with Martin Olsson firing high and wide from close range after being played in by Ibrahimovic.
Since qualification was achieved Wales have lost to Holland, Ukraine and Sweden. Then the Welsh only missed going to Spain “82 on goal difference”.
Aaron Ramsey is relieved Wales can finally focus exclusively on their Euro 2016 mission in France. At least the football was competitive, despite both sides having Euro 2016 on their minds – but Wales could have done without some late challenges.
“It’s up to me and my staff now to make sure we give them some reminders about what they’ve done and what they’re capable of and make sure they’re in a positive frame of mind this week”. The games are not on for long and in any case how often does Wales qualify for such a prestigious finals?
“He’d have been over the moon”, said the 73-year-old Roger Speed.
“It’s a big week for us and they need to remember the reasons why they’re here”.
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Williams and Ramsey formed part of an unfamiliar midfield and forward line-up for Wales, joining Andy King, David Vaughan and Sam Vokes in front of Chris Coleman’s first-choice back line. “That’s what we need in Wales now”.
