Wales star Gareth Bale has kicked off the war of words with England ahead of their Euro 2016 clash in Lens next week, saying the Three Lions “big themselves up before they’ve done anything”.
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When Wales take on Slovakia, in a fixture between the two teams regarded as the weakest in a group also containing England and Russian Federation, the Slovaks will hope to take advantage of opponents who have won only one of their past seven games. “We’ll definitely show that on the day”, said the Real Madrid forward.
“It’s going to be a tough game against a good team and we have to take care of business in that first encounter”, he said. “The England game will come and it will go, so there’s no point looking just at that game, although some people are”, Coleman said.
“It is like any derby – you never want to lose to the enemy”, said the 26-year-old on Friday.
The eyes of the footballing world will be watching Bale throughout Wales’ stay in France, and Slovakia will no doubt be keeping a keen eye on him in Bordeaux.
But Wales lost that Cardiff game 5-1, and there have been plenty of dark days on the field as the current generation matured into the players they are today.
“We have to get over any feeling of – I call it “the disease of me” – you have a bit of success and it is ‘all about me”.
It will also be the first time Wales have ever appeared at a European Championship finals and while Coleman has urged the 24,000 or so travelling fans to drink in the experience, he wants his players to keep their minds on the job.
“Look at the national anthem, everyone sings, the whole stadium”.
As far as betting is concerned for this game, I think we are getting a good enough price to simply put money on Wales to win.
He says “we’ve got to remember that we’re not just here to have smile and a laugh and a joke”. I don’t think that win meant much simply since Germany were not at full strength and the pitch was a puddle so that neutralized a lot of the skill. Being Welsh just brings it out of you.
“Everyone was together, singing”.
“In this campaign you’ve seen it, after every game we are all in huddles”.
“He is one of the best players in the world, he’s in great form and physically he’s very fit”.
To gain an insight into the mindset of the fans we asked UAE fans to share with us their predictions, likely line-ups and players to watch. There are times when we have to defend for our lives.
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The aim will be to continue to emulate the heroes of 1958 by making it out of the group stage and into the knock-out rounds where anything can be possible.
