WALES take on the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Ireland, Cyprus and San Marino, an apparently formidable prospect, but John Toshack, their manager, maintained a bullish outlook. “If you don’t go into a competition with the belief that you can be successful, then what is the point?” Toshack said. “I am excited at the prospect of taking Wales into the finals.”
Steve Staunton, the new Ireland manager, reacted with more caution. It was against Germany, in the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea, that he won his 100th Ireland cap. “The games against Germany will bring back memories but the only thing that matters is how we deal with the teams we’ve been drawn against,” he said. “Some will not enjoy taking us on as fourth seeds.”