Ashley Williams says Wales are focused on Cyprus game
Thursday 3 September 2015 08:29, UK
Captain Ashley Williams insists Wales are focused solely on their European Qualifier with Cyprus rather than the possibility of qualifying for a major tournament for the first time since 1958.
Back-to-back wins over Cyprus on Thursday and Israel on Sunday would see Chris Coleman's side safely through to next year's European Championships in France.
But Williams says the team are only looking as far as the first of those two fixtures as they prepare for the match in Nicosia.
"As players and as people involved in the camp we understand the expectation and the way the nation is feeling because we feel the same," he said.
"But it is our job to go out and perform and protect what we've done in this campaign.
"We understand there's two games but the fact is we don't look past the Cyprus game.
"I refuse to look at Israel or the other two games and I won't let the boys do that either. We're just so focused on Cyprus because we understand how big it is.
"It's three important points and we don't want to give that up, and it would be silly now to be thinking of Israel, Bosnia or anyone.
"The game's too big and Cyprus are a good team, and if we start thinking about something else we'll get hurt."
Wales are unbeaten at the top of Group B with 14 points from six games, with confidence high in the camp following the victory over Belgium, the world's second-ranked team, in their previous qualifier in June.
Despite their good form though, Williams is not convinced they should be seen as favourites going into their match against No 82-ranked Cyprus.
"The key to what we always try and do, whether people make us favourites or not, is that when it comes down to it the squad focuses on that 90 minutes and what's required to get the job done," added Williams.
"Doing that makes the task a lot easier really. There is expectation now but we just focus on our jobs.
"We used the underdogs thing a little bit to help us but that has changed now and we keep trying to do what we've done for the last few years."
Watch Cyprus v Wales on Thursday night. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 at 7pm.
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