Joe Allen has urged his Welsh team-mates to "prepare for the performance of our lives” against England on Tuesday.
Wales’ World Cup dream is hanging by a thread after a dire 2-0 loss to Iran following an opening draw with United States in Group B. Rob Page’s men now need to win and hope Iran and USA draw, otherwise they will need to beat England by at least four goals to qualify.
Allen, who has 73 caps, assessed: “We have had the time needed to digest our disappointment. Our focus now moves into getting on the training pitch and putting in the work and preparing for the performance of our lives against England.
“I don’t think we can be more motivated. We are in the World Cup and we have to win regardless of who we are playing. It is pretty simple from that point of view. Everyone knows what is at stake and what a huge moment it is for our nation.
“It is about putting absolutely everything into it. Ideally you want it to be in your hands but this is the situation we find ourselves in. While there is still a glimmer and a chance we can get ourselves through, we absolutely have to throw all we can at doing that.”
Wales lost to Iran after conceding two injury-time goals after Wayne Hennessey was sent off in the 86th minute. The deserved defeat could have been even worse as Iran also hit both posts in the second half.
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Star duo Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey toiled badly and were very ineffective in the heat at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Wales' first World Cup since 1958. Some pundits have even questioned whether captain Bale, 33, and Ramsey, 31, should be dropped, but Allen rejected that.
Discussing the pair, he added: “They’re two incredible players - they are and they have been for our country. I don’t think there’s anyone else in the squad who’s reached the heights they’re capable of.
“It’s a huge game coming up, they’re big game players and always have been and hopefully, if any criticism has come their way then they’ll be able to answer a few of those critics with a top performance.”
