Group B of next summer's European Championship in France will be one of the most interesting ones to watch. Two sides from Great Britain will clash and revive old rivalries that transcend the sport itself. For the Welsh the match against England is much more than that and they have secured to send a message for the English, the Russians and the Slovakians what they are made of. For 26 year old midfielder Joe Allen it's very important to win the upcoming friendly matches in order to get ready enough for the tournament.
"We can't wait to get to France and show the world what we can do. Friendlies are a chance for players to step in, show what they can do and stake a claim for a place in Euros. We face two strong teams. Two very different games but variety is key to our preparation.”
But perhaps the most important news for Wales is the absence of Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey and Real Madrid star Gareth Bale for this weekend. Both players are the backbone of the Welsh team and this can be a chance for them to prove they can play a match and not lose without them. Although Bale is without a doubt their best player and key element, skipper Ashley Williams made a battlecry to his team in order to withstand anything that comes to them without Bale by their side.
"Momentum's a big thing and we want to keep it going. We lost to Holland in our last game but we played very well. There were a lot of good performances from guys who came in and don't play very much. Both guys are important to what we're trying to do. Everyone knows what good players they are, but we need to perform well as a team no matter who plays. It's a shame Gaz and Aaron are missing the games, but on the other side some people are going to play who wouldn't have played. The boys coming in have got something to prove because they're trying to secure themselves a spot in the squad for the Euros."
Photo credit: Wales FA
FAWTV: Sam Vokes, @dan_ward52, @joe16led and Joe Allen talk about #WALNIR. #TogetherStrongerhttps://t.co/yGcFAVUZYI
— FAWales (@FAWales) 22 de marzo de 2016