Coleman plays down historic Wales-England clash at Euros
Wales' coach Chris Coleman (right) gestures next to Wales' defender and captain Ashley Williams during a training session in Dinard, western France, on June 9, 2016, one the eve of the start of the Euro 2016 European Championship. PHOTO | DAMIEN MEYER |
What you need to know:
- Wales make their European Championship debut in Bordeaux on Sunday against Slovakia
- While Welsh fans dream of a first win over neighbours England since 1984, Coleman refuses to get carried away in the hype around facing The Three Lions.
CARDIFF
Wales will face old rivals England for the first time at a major tournament at Euro 2016, but Welsh manager Chris Coleman insists the priority is getting a good start against Slovakia.
Wales make their European Championship debut in Bordeaux on Sunday against Slovakia, who humbled world champions Germany 3-1 in a friendly last month, then play England five days later in Group B before meeting Russia in Toulouse on June 20.
"Everyone will get excited about the England game. That's fine, but I'm more excited about Slovakia," Coleman told AFP in an interview ahead of the finals.
The England-Wales clash at Lens' Stade Bollaert-Delells ground next week will come 137 years after first playing each other.
Hosts England secured a 2-1 win over the Welsh at London's Kennington Oval on January 18, 1879 in a game played on the famous cricket pitch in snow.
Since then, England has beaten Wales 64 times, drawn 21 and lost only 14 times.
Roy Hodgson's England had a perfect record of 10 wins from 10 qualifying matches, while Wales finished second in their group behind Belgium to book their France berth.
While Welsh fans dream of a first win over neighbours England since 1984, Coleman refuses to get carried away in the hype around facing The Three Lions.
"The England game will come and it will go, so there's no point looking just at that game, although some people are," Coleman told AFP.
"It's our second game, so we are only concentrating on Slovakia at the moment, that's the big one to try and get us off to a good start.
The 45-year-old says he will be using the history of Wales' first appearance at a European Championship finals to motivate his side against Slovakia, who are also making their debut at a Euro.
"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.
"I think it will come down to which teams settle into their game the quickest and don't get stage fright or nervous.
"It's very difficult to come away from the event itself, which is huge.
"This is new territory for us and that's not something I am going to play down — I'm actually going to big that up.
"We have worked really hard to get this far, we've proved we are one of the better teams by reaching the finals. Now I want us to perform like a good team."
