Not that it needed emphasising but the fact that Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley is expecting Joe Morrell to report for League One duty this weekend, tells you a lot about perceptions of the size of Wales’ challenge against England at the World Cup.
Rob Page’s side need at least a win to progress from Group B, and even in that scenario they require Iran and the United States to draw in the other game taking place. The only result that does guarantee them passage into the last 16 is a win by four or more goals - something they’ve not achieved against England since 1960.
If anything, it was always going to come down to this. A tight group was forecast, and with just three points separating the four teams that has come to pass but Wales’ issues lie with their performances.
The Dragons were poor in the first half of their 1-1 draw with the United States and then crumbled under the pressure of trying to achieve three points against Iran.
The England game has always been on the horizon as the likely decider; a “Battle of Britain” against their neighbours with considerably more history in this competition, greater resources and a significantly bigger reputation.
Speaking before the tournament, midfielder Morrell had identified it as a key clash but used an adjective that has become increasingly pertinent as the match at Al Rayyan Stadium approaches - “beatable”.
Spoken in September, it was said in the wake of England’s run of six games without a victory - so it was wholly understandable - and that inconsistent form has continued into Qatar with an excellent performance against Iran followed by the flat display against USA.
Formerly of City’s academy, from 2012 until 2020, the Bradley Stoke and Thornbury-raised Morrell should get some pitchtime against the Three Lions, whether as a starter or off the bench.
“We are going to need to get at least four points to go through,” Morrell told BBC Sport. “[Playing England last] could work quite well but we’ve got three games and we might have to do well in all of them.
“It probably worked quite well in the [2020] Euros to have Italy last [in Wales’ group]. But if it comes down to needing something against England, we’d be happy with that because, you know, they’re beatable.”
With teammates across both teams, familiarity in playing style and also a bit of needle in terms of recent history with a narrow 2-1 defeat at Euro 2016 and then Wales players subsequently filmed celebrating at the sight of England’s embarrassing exit to Iceland.
While the onus is on Wales to take the game to England, Southgate’s side also need to put in a performance to confirm qualification for the next phase; the bare minimum in terms of pre-tournament expectations.
“I think the England game is seen as the big one, the one everyone will talk about and which will take all the headlines because England always do,” added Morell. “But we’re more than happy for that, for them to get the headlines. I’m sure it was the same in 2016. All the papers will talk about them and that suits us.”
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
READ NEXT
