We want to prove point to England
AARON RAMSEY wants to take on Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain and Theo Walcott in a Wales shirt – and prove his country deserve to be above England in the world rankings.
But fi rst, Ramsey has promised a nation of frustrated Wales fans that his team can get the point they need to make history next month.
A win would have sent Wales to their fi rst tournament fi nals in 57 painful years but Israel turned up and spoiled the party on Sunday in Cardiff by holding Chris Coleman’s team to a goalless draw.
Now they need a point from their last two games, in Bosnia on October 10 and at home to Andorra three days later. Ramsey is confi dent they will achieve their objective in the fi rst match to book their place at Euro 2016 in France.
After that, Wales want to play a tournament warm- up game against old foes England, probably in the new year – and Ramsey cannot wait.
Wales are ninth in FIFA’s rankings and England 10th – and Ramsey wants to rub his Arsenal team- mates’ noses in that particular stat.
The Wales midfi elder said: “We really want to play England. There will be a bit of banter between me and some of my team- mates at Arsenal, that’s only natural.
“But a game between any of the home nations is always a great, committed game.”
Midfi elder Ramsey believes that such is the character and determination of this group of Wales players, that a tough away game might just suit them now as they prepare to meet Bosnia in Zenica. Ramsey said: “We feel we can do it. We feel we can go there and grab all three points.
“That’s the confi dence in this team at the moment. Hopefully we will be able to do that and have a successful end to what has been a great campaign.”
Coleman’s team have put in some superb away performances during this campaign, with wins in Andorra, Israel and Cyprus and a draw in Belgium, so it would almost be fi tting if the crucial point was gained on their travels.
Ramsey said: “The fans have been unbelievable home and away. They travel in their numbers.
“Sometimes it is a bit easier playing away from home, because teams are trying to attack and score, so it is a bit more of an open game.
“We saw against Israel it can be quite diffi cult when a team has 10 or 11 players behind the ball. But we will be full of confi dence going there.
“We are disappointed not to have qualifi ed yet. But we can take positives from the game. We dominated possession, created opportunities but just couldn’t quite fi nish one off.
“Our defenders have had a great campaign. It makes it a lot easier for us. Even the midfi elders and strikers are all putting in a shift defensively. But credit to the defenders, they have thrown their bodies on the line.”