Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC 5 live sports extra and BBC Radio Wales.
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Two teams participating in their first UEFA Euro tournament will get an opportunity to advance to the quarterfinals when they square off Saturday in Paris, as Group B victor Wales takes on Group C third-place finisher Northern Ireland. A win over the tournament debutants would feed the Three Lions into a quarter-final tie with either hosts France or the Republic of Ireland.
Bale said that Wales’ remarkable success has been down to the unity in the camp between players who have been representing their country for years at various levels.
Northern Ireland’s played out a 1-1 draw with Wales in March and Lafferty said he felt the fighting spirit in Michael O’Neill’s squad will see them win on Saturday.
A last-gasp Daniel Sturridge goal saw England defeat their rivals 2-1 after Bale had netted the second of his three goals in the group stage, only for Hodgson’s side to then waste the opportunity to progress as pool winners by drawing 0-0 with Slovakia.
“Obviously it’s difficult playing such a relentless Italian side who were going to be hard to break down – we managed to do that”.
As a right-back he came directly up against Bale in training, the world’s most expensive player and now the tournament’s joint leading scorer with three goals, which helped Wales finish ahead of England and top Group B to reach the last 16.
I think Wales will win this game and once a goal is scored, the game will really open up.
“We are “die Mannschaft” and so that comes with big expectations, that is only natural”.
“We’re in such a position here to create history that can last a long time and we don’t want to let go of that”, Evans, the veteran Northern Ireland player, said.
“We’ve got one of the best defenses in the tournament”, Northern Ireland forward Kyle Lafferty said. Gareth Bale’s had a very good tournament.
“It looked as if we should have had a penalty – it was pretty clear-cut – but it doesn’t matter now”.
“It’ll be interesting to see who it wants it most on Saturday”.
Bale said: “It is up to others to decide if we are favourites”.
Wales have already confounded expectations by winning Group B, in their first major worldwide tournament since 1958, with Bale scoring in all three matches.
Wales are revving up for another “Battle of Britain” clash after they were handed Northern Ireland in Paris for their last 16 assignment. I didn’t get a chance but that had a lot to do with the team we were up against.
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“I don’t think they’ve been given enough praise for what they’ve done”. He has inspired the team and along with players such as Joe Ledley and Aaron Ramsey, this side is make an impact in this competition.
