Speed: We do not fear England

Gary Speed
12 April 2012

Wales manager Gary Speed insists his side will run out against England at Wembley with "no fear" on Tuesday night.

Speed's side lifted the gloom of a dismal qualification campaign with an excellent win at home to second-placed Montenegro on Friday. And, while that result was music to table-topping England's ears, Speed hopes his charges can disrupt Fabio Capello's bid for Euro 2012 qualification.

"It's going to be difficult," he said. "But if we can perform as we did the other night and keep our shape defensively, we can give the Welsh fans something to sing about. There's no fear, we're looking forward to it. England have got fantastic players, we know it's going to be tough but what a great opportunity."

He added: "We're just concerned about ourselves. England are by far the best team in the group and will qualify comfortably, but hopefully for our sake it won't be tomorrow night."

England cruised to a 2-0 win at the Millennium Stadium in March after early goals from Darren Bent and Frank Lampard, but Speed saw positive signs in the second half - and also made light of a 34-year gap since Wales' last win in England.

"I don't think we've played there that often," he said of a mere three-game sequence, before adding: "I don't think we'd ever beaten a team from the former Yugoslavia until Friday night."

On the Cardiff clash, he added: "Last time around it was my first game and we were still putting things in place, trying to get the ball down and pass it.

"We maybe played too deep, and that played into England's hands, but I was looking long-term. The players have to know what you want, your ideas, but I was delighted with the way the players kept to the gameplan in the second half and we had a bit of success."

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