Big-game players Bale, Ramsey can answer critics: Allen

GARETH Bale and Aaron Ramsey are big-game players who could step up in Wales’s final group clash against England after failing to make an impact in their loss to Iran, said midfielder Joe Allen.

Bale, Wales’s most capped player, had only one shot on goal against Iran while both he and Ramsey were dispossessed several times as the Asian team ran out 2-0 winners to consign Rob Page’s side to the bottom of Group B.

Bale is the only player to score against England in six meetings between the two sides in the 21st century. Allen said he and Ramsey, who both bore the brunt of the criticism after the loss to Iran, would bounce back.

“They’re two incredible, incredible players and have been for our country. I don’t think there’s anyone in the squad who has reached the heights that they’re capable of,” Allen told reporters.

“It’s a huge game coming up. They’re big-game players, always have been. Hopefully if any criticism has gone their way, then they’ll be able to answer a few of those critics with a top performance.”

Allen said he was ready to start after coming on as a late substitute against Iran but Wales’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages for the first time in 64 years hang by a thread.

Even if Wales do beat England for the first time since 1984, they will have to rely on the result between the United States and Iran in the other fixture, but Allen said qualification was not impossible.

“Whilst there’s still a chance, it’s really simple for us. We’re fully motivated, we’ll sacrifice absolutely everything into getting a win.”