Chris Coleman confident of Wales success as he backs Gareth Bale
Friday 27 March 2015 19:13, UK
Wales manager Chris Coleman is confident his players will cope with a hostile atmosphere in Haifa, where they face Israel on Saturday.
A 30,000-plus capacity crowd is expected at the Sammy Ofer Stadium when the top two sides in European qualifying Group B clash, but Coleman insists his players will be unfazed.
He said: "The difference in international football is putting up with a little bit of play-acting and simulation.
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"But a lot of our guys play in the Premier League in front of crowds of 50,000 and 60,000 and it does not get bigger than that.
"We are a long away from home, but so what? We are looking forward to the atmosphere and our guys are used to playing top international players week-in and week-out.
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"We cannot come back without anything. That is not the stage we are at. We know what we are up against and they will know that about us.
"Their game against Belgium on Tuesday will not exist for them, they are only thinking about us and that is not our business. This game is about us and I say that not in an arrogant way.
"We are getting it right and we have to continue to do that, and once we do that I will be happy. If we get the performance right then hopefully the result will follow."
Coleman says he has noticed no difference in Gareth Bale's mood ahead of the clash with Israel.
The world's most expensive player has been booed by Real Madrid supporters and had his car attacked outside the club's training ground following last weekend's Clasico defeat to bitter rivals Barcelona.
But Coleman said: "I cannot see any difference in Baley at all.
"If I thought it was bothering him, and we're all human beings so I know it can bother you from time to time and you can get a bit down, and it was a problem then I would have sat down with him and had that conversation.
"But we have not mentioned Real Madrid, we have only talked about Wales, Israel and the job in hand.
"He is happy, relaxed and more importantly he is fit and ready to play."
A lot of our guys play In the Premier League in front of crowds of 50,000 and 60,000 and it does not get bigger than that.
Israel coach Eli Guttman insists his side do not have players "strong enough to kick Bale out of the game" but Coleman remains philosophical about the treatment his star man could receive.
"It is up to Israel to do what they want to do," Coleman said. "Israel have to do what they have to do to get a result, as do we. But the attention is nothing new for Gareth.
"He has played most of his football in the Premier League and that is the most physically demanding league in the world.
"I've also watched him out in Spain come through the Madrid derbies and the Clasico and we know all the focus will be on him.
"But we have a good squad and our strength is our togetherness. We are not here because of one player. Gareth is a huge help, but he is part of something that has been growing."
Watch Israel v Wales, Saturday 4.30pm, Sky Sports 5
