Chris Coleman says Wales are still hurting from Ireland defeat

Chris Coleman says Wales are still hurting from the 1-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland that saw them dumped out of World Cup qualifying.

James McClean scored the only goal in the winner-takes-all clash, meaning Ireland progressed to the play-offs where they face Denmark on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Football.

Wales are in Paris to play France on Friday in an international friendly, before returning to the Cardiff City Stadium to host Panama.

Coleman admits that the memories of the Ireland loss are still hanging over the Welsh squad.

"If there was any type of a hangover, this is the perfect remedy for it," said Coleman. "It was absolute devastation losing that last game and the problem we had with it was that we couldn't make up for it, it was done. It was harsh for us.

"We're looking at other international teams playing in the play-offs where we wanted to be so, of course, we're jealous of that. There's no talk among us about didn't we do well to only lose one game in 10. All we think about is disappointment, not reaching our goal.

"We're still hurting. That hurt will last a long time I would imagine."

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Speculation surrounding the future of the Welsh boss has been rife since that crucial game in Cardiff, but Coleman insists his mind is solely focused on the forthcoming friendlies.

"I wouldn't dare take my foot off the gas because they deserve everything that I've got. It's business as usual for me.

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"With me or without me the boys are going to go on and achieve. I don't look at these two games as the end of anything.

"I said last week, at the end of this camp we'll start the talk again about the future."