Germany v Wales. Match preview

Last updated : 21 November 2007 By Wales Reporter
Several senior squad members have been ruled out leaving John Toshack with no choice other than to play some of his younger players.

Bellamy, Koumas, Robinson, Eastwood and Bale are all out either injured or in Koumas' case suspended.

There will be late decisions made on Carl Fletcher and Rob Earnshaw.

"We'll have a look at Carl Fletcher on Wednesday morning," said Wales manager John Toshack.

"That's an area of the field where we are a little bit short, even more so with Robinson's injuries. Freddy Eastwood was unable to train on Monday with a bit of tendonitis.

"Rob Earnshaw has missed five of the last nine days training for one reason or another, and he's not playing regularly at club level.

"So we're going to have to wait until the day of the game to and see what we've got. On the other hand Lewin Nyatanga and Sam Ricketts have trained OK, so they are available."

Asked whether he felt a bad defeat would affect his players Toshack said

"Not at all. I've had a few bad defeats myself over the years, particularly as a youngster and I'm not worried for them.

"They need to realise these are the best days of their lives; going out to play for your country, on a stage like this, against the world's best players and being able to test themselves.

"Of course they will suffer and it will be hard work. There are going to be times tonight, and I have no doubts about this, that it will be really tough for them.

"But they will certainly be better for it and they have to enjoy it. They will make mistakes, there's never been a player that didn't, but they just have to make sure the opposition don't have it all their own way either."

He continued, "It's not a daunting task. We are in a game where we know we are up against the very, very best. But it's a great opportunity for our lads to go out and enjoy themselves.

"Irrespective of any result, we have to get positive things out of this game. The lads need to benefit and learn from what happens out there tonight."

Wales squad: Wayne Hennessey (Wolves), Lewis Price (Derby), James Collins (West Ham), Neal Eardley (Oldham), Steve Evans (Wrexham), Danny Gabbidon (West Ham), Chris Gunter (Cardiff), Craig Morgan (Peterborough), Lewin Nyatanga (Barnsley), Sam Ricketts (Hull), Andrew Crofts (Gillingham), Arron Davies (Nottm For), Simon Davies (Fulham), David Edwards (Luton), Carl Fletcher (Crystal Palace), Joe Ledley (Cardiff), David Cotterill (Wigan), Rob Earnshaw (Derby), Jermaine Easter (Plymouth), Freddy Eastwood (Wolves).

Germany squad: Robert Enke (Hannover 96), Timo Hildebrand (Valencia), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal), Gonzalo Castro (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Manuel Friedrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Philipp Lahm (Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen), Roberto Hilbert (VfB Stuttgart), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger), Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Mike Hanke (Hannover 96), Miroslav Klose (Bayern München), Oliver Neuville (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Lukas Podolski (Bayern München).