Wales relishing pressure of knockout football, says Chris Coleman
Saturday 25 June 2016 17:13, UK
Wales manager Chris Coleman says his squad is relishing the pressure of knockout tournament football as they prepare for their Euro 2016 last-16 clash with Northern Ireland.
Wales' reward for topping Group B ahead of England was a spot in what is regarded as the easier half of the knockout draw and an encounter with Michael O'Neill's side at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Saturday.
But Coleman insists Wales' focus is solely on the challenge of Northern Ireland and that their impressive 3-0 win over Russia on Monday counts for nothing now.
"We can't afford to look past the next game and nor can Northern Ireland," he said. "It's all or nothing on this game. We can take a lot of confidence from the last performance which was outstanding, but that was yesterday, so to speak. It's all about tomorrow.
"So we can't be thinking or talking about anything but this next challenge. That's all we've talked about. We've treated it like we have every other game - total focus on the opposition and who they are, but also on ourselves and what we're capable of.
"It will be about who handles the spotlight the best, who is capable of performing under that tension and pressure.
"We've been screaming for years we want that tension and pressure, so there are no complaints from us now that we're here."
Wales, without Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, drew 1-1 with Northern Ireland in a friendly in March, but Coleman says it will have no bearing on Saturday's match.
"It was a good game in Cardiff," he added. "They are very strong, physical, well organised, dangerous from set pieces. They've got a great spirit so it will be a tough game.
"With Gareth he's going to make a difference to any team of course, and so is Aaron. We played well and drew 1-1, but that counts for nothing. The next one is always the biggest one. Whatever results we've had in the past will count for nothing."
