Sunday 3 July 2016 16:30, UK
Wales manager Chris Coleman is confident they can cope without key players Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies against Portugal in their Euro 2016 semi-final.
Arsenal midfielder Ramsey and Tottenham defender Davies picked up their second yellow cards of the tournament in the 3-1 quarter-final win over Belgium and will miss the last-four clash in Lyon on Wednesday.
Coleman admitted the duo have been in fantastic form for their country during the tournament but insisted he has capable replacements in a unified squad.
"Some of Aaron Ramsey's performances have been off the chart and we've noticed the difference in Ben [Davies] in this last season since he has been at Tottenham and fighting for that left-back spot with Danny Rose," said Coleman.
"He [Davies] plays a slightly different role for us but his performances have been outstanding. Both players would be a loss to any team.
"But the attitude of the players who haven't played has been fantastic and that has kept the dressing room really strong and kept the vibe really positive.
"One or two of them are going to get a chance in this next game and that's how it works. You never know what's going to happen, especially in a tournament where two yellow cards in a short space of time can change a lot in terms of who plays and who doesn't.
"The other guys who have worked hard will now get a look in for this next game and it's not a bad one to get a start in the semi-final of a major tournament."
The game with Portugal will also see Real Madrid team-mates Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo go head-to-head for a place in the final but Coleman is sure the two players will show each other no mercy on the pitch.
"They are two of best players on planet, they know each other well but I don't suppose there will be any love lost," added Coleman.
"Both teams know what's at stake, any friendship waits until after the game and our approach will be the same. We can't afford to stop and think."
Coleman also refused to pause and take stock of what Wales have achieved at the finals, insisting he will not do so until their run is over.
"The time for us to start reflecting on this tournament will be whenever it is time for us to go home and that time is not now," said Coleman.
"We are looking at the next game in front of us and making sure we are focused on that and not what has already happened.
"Whenever out tournament is finished we can stop, look back, and start to give ourselves a pat on the back. They have earned it but they are still earning it."
Wales' success is a far cry from their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Sweden on June 5 in their only pre-tournament friendly.
Coleman described that loss as a "nice friendly electric shock" and defended the decision to focus on tournament preparation rather than play a number of friendly matches.
"We wanted that tough game as a bridge from the end of our season coming into the tournament," said Coleman.
"We wanted more time to prepare the team tactically rather than having another couple of friendly games. That would have cut the time down we could have worked with the players and our own game plan.
"That's why we chose one friendly game and hence why we lost 3-0. We weren't quite at it physically but we needed that, a nice friendly electric shock for us."
