GO AND ENJOY IT

Coleman’s key tactic

WALES have been told to avoid the mistakes they made in their defeat to England at Euro 2016.

Chris Coleman’s side meet Republic of Ireland in a vital World Cup qualifier in Dublin tonight.

And the Wales boss knows they can’t afford to freeze like they did when they lost 2-1 to Roy Hodgson’s side last summer.

A Gareth Bale-inspired Wales went on to reach the semi-finals in that tournament but Coleman still feels they gave the game away against their closest rivals.

Forget

“We went 1-0 up and then we wished our life away, rather than just enjoying the moment,” said Coleman of Wales’ reversal against England.

“The atmosphere there was incredible and I thought the England fans were unbelievable. But I think once we went 1-0 up in the first half, we thought, ‘We’ve got to win this game by hook or by crook’.

“We haven’t performed in the second half. The ® game with the Republic will come and go.

“They’ll be 50,000 people in the Aviva Stadium, they’re top and everyone is billing it as a must-win game for us. But the match only lasts 90 minutes.

“You forget sometimes when you’re in it that you’ve got to enjoy it. The players have got to enjoy it on the pitch.

“We’ve got to do what we’re good at and have confidence in ourselves.

“We can’t miss the game like we did against England. We were disappointed after that because it was a British derby and we got sucked into that.”

A white-hot atmosphere is expected in Dublin, with Group D leaders Ireland on an impressive run of form.

Boss Martin O’Neill is without a host of key men due to injuries, while Wales have a fully-fit squad but Coleman will be worried that five of his most important players – including Gareth Bale and captain Ashley Williams – are one booking away from a ban. Williams will lead Wales and his Everton team-mate and good pal Seamus Coleman will skipper the

Republic.