Roy Hodgson’s men arrive in France as the only team boasting an 100 per cent record in qualification, and understandably are 5/6 (1.83) favourites with bet365 to top the group ahead of Russian Federation 10/3 (4.33) , Wales 7/2 (4.50) and Slovakia 9/1 (10.00) .
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However, Guidetti, who spent season 2014-15 on loan at Celtic from Manchester City, is optimistic his late strike in Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Wales will help press his case for a start at the tournament in France.
Chris Coleman’s side face a potentially gruelling schedule of three group games in 10 days, with England and Russian Federation their other opponents. It stokes up the rivalry ahead of the clash between England and Wales in Lens on 16 June but was friendly in nature.
“That game doesn’t exist, the England game”. “The only thing that means anything is the Slovakia game”.
“When we needed results in big games, we got them and were able to go that one step further than some of the best teams who have gone before us”.
They drew 1-1 with Northern Ireland in Cardiff when Simon Church’s last-minute penalty prevented another defeat.
“It’s all about that first game”.
“We have some exciting talents in our team and it’s important that the rest of Europe and the rest of the world gets to see that”.
The 26-year-old missed the warm-up defeat to Sweden but is the most likely of the Chris Coleman’s injured players to make a full recovery in time for the start of the country’s first major tournament campaign in 58 years. They have form when it comes to claiming major scalps.
Both sides took one win in these matches; Russian Federation won their home match 2-1, while England won the home fixture 3-0. Is he referring to Wales’ star man Gareth Bale as Pele, given his outstanding goal record in qualifying?
Will Gareth Bale spoil England’s party?
“But I won’t be asking for his autograph”.
Russian Federation have been hurt by injuries to several key players including Yuri Zhirkov, Denis Cheryshev, Oleg Kuzmin and, most damagingly of all, playmaker Alan Dzagoev.
The Zenit midfielder joined the squad after staying in the same Monaco hotel while on holiday, although he will have plenty of catching up to do, not having trained since the end of the domestic season.
“I was planning to fly back to Moscow today”, Yusupov told a press conference in Paris.
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“I didn’t even have my football boots with me and none of my kit”.
