Your latest World Cup headlines on Monday, November 28.
Bale and Ramsey criticism 'unjust'
Ben Davies believes the criticism aimed at Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey is undeserved given their services to Wales over the years.
The pair came under fire following their respective performances in the 2-0 defeat to Iran last time out - with that result at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium leaving Wales' hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup in tatters.
Indeed, Wales must beat England on Tuesday night to stand any chance of progressing into the last-16, with many fans and pundits stating that star duo Bale and Ramsey - who have 187 caps and 61 international goals between them - are no longer able to carry the hopes of the nation on their shoulders like in years gone by.
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But Davies was quick to leap to the defence of the pair and stated that Wales wouldn't even be at what is their first World Cup since 1958 without Bale and Ramsey.
"Gareth and Aaron have turned up for Wales over and over again," said the defender. "They have shown the quality they have and, to be honest, I don't think we'd be here without them.
"To criticise them in any way is probably very unjust. I think we have to put our faith in them and that they can do it for us one more time."
Fresh from his return to action following more than two months on the sidelines owing to a hamstring injury, Joe Allen admitted that Bale and Ramsey will be eager to silence any critics when Wales sign off the group stage of the tournament against England.
"They’re two incredible players - they are and they have been for our country," he said. "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."
Bale the 'icon'
Louis Saha hailed Gareth Bale as one of British football’s “greatest icons”.
The 33-year-old became the most-capped men’s Welsh international of all-time during his side’s World Cup clash with Iran - although he came under fire from many supporters and pundits due to his lack of impact on the game.
Nevertheless, former Manchester United star Saha hailed the Wales captain’s resilience and lauded his ability to guide his country to three major tournaments in six years when legendary players such as Ryan Giggs were unable to do so.
“Bale is definitely one of the greatest icons in British football with what he's won with Real Madrid and what he's done with Wales,” the Frenchman told Lord Ping. “A player like Ryan Giggs had the chance to do what Bale has done with Wales but he could not. I respect Bale and the resilience he's had over the years, it's been amazing.
“Bale is in the top five British players in history, you have [Wayne] Rooney in there too, they're both icons.”
Cole calls for four England changes
Joe Cole has urged Gareth Southgate to make four changes to England’s starting 11 for the clash with Wales on Tuesday night.
The head coach named the same side to play from the outset in the Three Lions’ group stage fixtures with Iran and the USA.
However, following a blunt showing against Gregg Berhalter’s troops in their most recent match, former England international Cole wants Southgate to give the more creative players in his squad the chance to impress against the Red Dragons.
The former attacker called for Jack Grealish and Phil Foden to come in while he also said Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham should be rested - with Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford being the men to replace them.
"I think he [Southgate] has to get the right blend between resting players and also going and getting a result to take into the last 16. I know we can still go out if Wales beat us 4-0 and you have to respect that football can throw up strange results," Cole said on ITV Sport.
"But England I feel will go through and it's how they want to go through. I think Gareth needs to bring players in, get them involved in the tournament."
Wales' post-Iran torment revealed
Ben Davies admits the emotion after Wales’ loss to Iran proves tough to deal with.
The Red Dragons produced a blunt display and fully paid the price as they conceded twice in injury-time after goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was sent off for a reckless challenge on Mehdi Taremi.
Defeat leaves Wales’ hopes of reaching the last-16 hanging by a thread, with victory over England on Tuesday now being a must if Rob Page’s outfit are to stand any chance of extending their stay in Qatar.
And defender Davies says the healing process of the 2-0 defeat has taken time, although the England contest provides Wales with the chance to show their “best side”.
"It's never easy after a loss,” said Davies. “It's tough to take at any level, especially at the pinnacle where we've worked so hard to get to. But that's football. You have to take the highs with the lows.
“We've gone back and talked amongst ourselves, we've had meeting with the team on what didn't go well and it's really been a case of focussing again and making sure we go into the England game giving everything we've got and trying to show the best side of ourselves.
"It was a very emotional time, not just for us, but for everyone involved in Welsh football. After the game, it's not easy to get that emotion and the words out straight away. It's more of a case of, even the day after, it's about realising what's happened has happened. We can't affect that.
“Dwelling on a tough game is not really the way forward for us. It's been head down, knuckling down and looking at what we need to do to get a result.”
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