By Matthew Jones
October 13 2003

Newcastle United and Wales' striker Craig Bellamy insists Wales will go into next month's Euro 2004 playoffs in good shape and will be a tough team to beat. Ryan Giggs also has his say. Bellamy said: "The confidence is good, we've come a long way, we're a good side and - when everyone's fit - we've got a good, strong squad to pick from.

"Of course we fancy ourselves with our first-choice 11.

"You have to be realistic because you don't want to go to Holland or Spain, do you? But we showed against Italy, Germany and Argentina that when there are no suspensions or injuries we can give anyone a game.

"The reason we were doing well at the start of the campaign was that we had a whole team to pick from. Hopefully, that's something we've got coming up in these next two games.

"I don't think you should read anything into the fact we haven't won for five matches.

"With resources like ours that is going to happen. It's hard for a player from a lower league to step up for one match and then step down again."

Giggs also had something to say: "Scotland would be nice. They are not a Holland or Spain and an all-British affair would be a lot easier for them and for us. But with the first-choice team, we're capable of beating anyone."

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WALES' ALL THE WAY?
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