Will be incredible bring it on!!’ said Wales defender Ben Davies on Twitter as he launched the countdown to the crunch Group B match between the British nations at Lens on June 16.
Advertisement
Hosts France, who won the eight-team Euros on home soil in 1984, will launch the championship against Group A rivals Romania in Paris on June 10.
“We understand the hype but we’re just as excited about playing Russian Federation and Slovakia”, said Hodgson.
Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland were all among the fourth-seeded teams, nearly guaranteeing a tough draw, and Martin O’Neill’s side in particular were left with an imposing-looking task.
“I’m pleased it is Wales from a personal point of view as I’ve had 100 games now between Switzerland, England and Finland and never played against Wales and it will be a new acquaintance for me”. We haven’t played them for some while.
“No matter who you have to play in the group stage, you have to beat them in order to win the tournament”, said Loew. “It’ll be nice to get a bit of time on the pitch before the England game”, said Coleman.
“I’m sure that it’s full of English and Welsh fans and I’m sure that we’ll take the game as they should, they’ll behave well, they’ll support their teams, and hopefully we’ll leave everyone in Lens with a good memory of both teams”.
“The past is the past and if the players continue to perform like they have over the past 18 months… our form is quite good and there are good players coming through”.
Glenn insisted Hodgson, 68, was a better manager for those experiences and there had to be a different feel for next summer’s tournament.
What makes it tougher is that the winners of Group E will face the runners-up from Group D, which features defending champions Spain, the Czech Republic, Turkey and Croatia, and the runners-up of Group E will take on the winners from Group F, which includes Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, Iceland, Austria and Hungary.
He added: “I think we have to show real signs of progress, an England team performing better than in the past two tournaments and playing better”. England are the favourites, but any of the teams have a chance of going through.
Advertisement
“As for the group, it is a good draw and we are able to get through it. It is an even and competitive group”.
