" WALES OR ENGLAND? "

" WALES OR ENGLAND? "

Monday 30th March 2015

There has been a strong reaction after ex-Wales international Savage said he thought Chris Coleman's current crop could topple England

Is Robbie Savage right?

How Wales’ triumphant football team compares with Wayne Rooney’s England

Former Wales captain Robbie Savage has provoked an intense debate after claiming Chris Coleman’s side would beat England following their 3-0 win over Israel last weekend.

Outspoken Savage said he was of the opinion that it would be the Dragons who would come out on top against the Three Lions if a match was played in front of a sold-out crowd at the Millennium Stadium.

Pundit Savage, who won 39 caps for his country in a nine-year international career, said: “I honestly reckon Wales at home would beat England, what do you think?”

His bold prediction got the desired reaction with some ex-players wading into the debate.

Former England international Phil Neville dismissed his claim in a one word reply, saying: “Rubbish”.

Meanwhile ex-Crystal Palace and Birmingham striker Clinton Morrison urged caution, saying: “Sav Wales are playing well at the minute but don’t get to excited yet mate long way to go but you have improved a lot and look a good team.”

Rather mischievously, ex-Norwich and Aston Villa frontman Grant Holt added: “Anything can happen in football. Little teams can beat big ones.”

Both teams sit atop their respective qualifying groups with Wales on 11 points in Group B and England having a 100 per cent record and 15 points in Group E, though Wales’ have a far tougher group.

Savage later qualified his argument, saying he thought Wales would win because of Gareth Bale, their midfield trio of Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and Joe Ledley, solid centre-backs, team spirit and the passion stirred by a sold-out crowd of 75,000.

But just what is the merit of what he is saying? We have decided to take a look at the starting XIs from the weekend and compare the players - both sets of which could be starring in France next summer...

Who makes the Wales/England composite team?

GOALKEEPER
Wayne Hennessey 7
With limited game time for Crystal Palace, Hennessey’s main chance to shine this season has come for Wales and he hasn’t disappointed. He has made solid decision-making throughout the campaign so far and made a series of stops to keep Bosnia at bay in October.

Joe Hart 8
Like all keepers Hart has a mistake in him but he has arguably performed at the very top level more than ever before this campaign. In particular, one-man virtuoso performances against Bayern Munich and Barcelona in the Champions League this season have seen the 27-year-old’s reputation enhanced.

DEFENCE
Chris Gunter 6
Gunter has got forward well for Wales in this campaign, creating many dangerous situations, though his quality from those positions hasn’t always matched his run. The Reading man can be susceptible defensively as well.

Nathaniel Clyne 8
Has burst onto the England scene following fine club form for Southampton and really nailed down his place with an impressive friendly performance against Scotland. Has searing pace and good delivery from wide areas, making him a huge attacking asset and is rarely outdone going the other way.

James Collins 7
Back with Wales against Israel, Collins missed an absolute sitter but, as regards the job he was in the team to do, did well. Cleared a dangerous Ben Haim cross early on and has done a solid job in 23 appearances for West Ham United this season.

Gary Cahill 7
Cahill has done a steady job for club and country but does benefit from having John Terry - a superior defender - alongside him at Stamford Bridge and has had some moments in an England shirt he would like to forget like Kenny Miller’s goal for Scotland in 2013 and the straight ball that Luis Suarez scored from in the World Cup.

Ashley Williams 8
A rock and inspirational leader for club and country. Brilliant at anticipating danger, a prolific clearance-maker and can also switch the play well with the long diagonal he is fond of.

Phil Jones 7
It is fair to say Jones has failed to live up to the early promise which saw Manchester United pay Blackburn £17m for him though he has been a victim of being shifted around the side. Can also get nervy on the ball and play his way into trouble.

Neil Taylor 7
Taylor has been bombing forward for Swansea and Wales of late with his energy on the wing giving both good potential to exploit the overlap. His diligence to his defensive duties has also been excellent though he can be targeted from set-pieces because of his height.

Leighton Baines 7
Has had a quiet season by his standards with his fabled threat from free-kicks not yielding any goals, though he has scored twice from the penalty spot. Quick across the ground and a decent distributor.

MIDFIELD
Jordan Henderson 8
One of the form midfielders in the Premier League, Henderson has taken on Steven Gerrard’s mantle for Liverpool and England. He is a tough tackler, a real threat shooting from outside the box and has developed good delivery from out wide.

Joe Ledley 7
The Crystal Palace man is an important member of Wales’ midfield triumvirate whose ability to get a foot in and protect the ball has been vital though he is probably not as attack-minded as he was earlier in his career.

Michael Carrick 8
Carrick has returned to the England fold with his appearance against Lithuania his first since October 2013. His passing ability is the best of any England player in the set-up and he is a crucial cog in keeping things ticking over in the middle of the field.

Joe Allen 8
Similarly to Carrick, Allen is an apostle of possession football who gets Wales going in midfield. He put in an extremely strong performance against Israel and linked up beautifully with Aaron Ramsey going forward to regularly position Wales on the edge of the hosts’ box.

Fabian Delph 7
The Villa man is an energetic presence in the midfield with an eye for a through ball while he has a powerful left foot in front of goal. Has established himself with England after exerting a growing influence.

Ben Davies 7
Because Wales played five defenders and England four, this is the one positional mis-match. Naturally a left-back, Davies slotted in as a third centre-half with ease. He carries the ball forward with confidence and is a strong defender.

Raheem Sterling 8
When he is at his best, livewire Sterling is difficult to live with but he can also be inconsistent and make the wrong decisions in the final third. He shone against Lithuania after grabbing a goal and teeing up Harry Kane but bigger tests will come.

Aaron Ramsey 9
He may not be explosively quick but Ramsey’s movement between the lines, deft first touch and eye for goal make him a nightmare to keep tabs on. When he is taking control and linking up with others for Arsenal and Wales, both teams generally play well with everything flowing through him. One of Europe’s elite midfielders.

FORWARDS
Wayne Rooney 9
He has certainly lost at least half a yard of speed down the years and may have not had the same impact since Euro 2004, but Rooney is still a clever player and prolific goalscorer at international level. His goal against Lithuania took him to 47 goals for England - one behind Gary Lineker and two back from Bobby Charlton.

Hal Robson-Kanu 6
Has battled admirably up front as a lone outlet in this campaign, holding the ball up well and using his pace to run beyond defenders. Also finished coolly under pressure when required against Cyprus.

Danny Welbeck 7
Welbeck hasn’t always possessed the clinical finish in front of goal but, to be fair, has six goals to his name in Euro 2016 qualifying including an impressive brace against Switzerland in September. Lightning quick and with a strong build, though his composure can still let him down.

Gareth Bale 10
The standout player in either team, Bale has pace, power and strength in abundance and the capacity to take a team on by himself when he is in full flight. He saved Wales in Andorra, nearly won it for them with an audacious late effort against Bosnia-Herzegovina and scored the double that saw them home in Haifa. When fit and in the team, Wales have a fighting chance against most teams in the world.

Would definatly be a good game

On our day we would give anyone a game with the current squad fully fit

Still got Sam vokes to come back fully fit and James Chester back in the team

I wouldn't be scared of England at this rate, I think we would definitely beat them home or away!

I wouldn't be scared of England at this rate, I think we would definitely beat them home or away!

LOL.....You beat the Mighty Israel who were down to 10 men and you think you can beat England ?
You will bottle it as per usual.
Put BT sports on now and watch England under 21's giving Germany the run around and that will give you a vision of how good England will be in future

LOL.....You beat the Mighty Israel who were down to 10 men and you think you can beat England ?
You will bottle it as per usual.
Put BT sports on now and watch England under 21's giving Germany the run around and that will give you a vision of how good England will be in future

You drew with Honduras last year
Hardly invincible so yes we would have a great chance

England would beat Wales home and away in qualification, a better first 11 and much more depth. However if it came to a match in a tournament, should Wales ever make it, then I reckon England will bottle it as always and Wales would turn them over.

Wales should have beaten England in the qualifier at Wembley a couple of years ago. We're much better than that now so a game in Cardiff would be very interesting with our full team.

Up until Saturday our goals and chances had been limited. And belgium could easily of put 5 on us
We need to do it again to show it aint a one off

Put it this way we would have a better chance of beating them than we would of beating any other of the pot 1 euro teams other than Greece the others are way better than England.

LOL.....You beat the Mighty Israel who were down to 10 men and you think you can beat England ?
You will bottle it as per usual.
Put BT sports on now and watch England under 21's giving Germany the run around and that will give you a vision of how good England will be in future

Giving them the run around. Oh yeah, of course they were

Up until Saturday our goals and chances had been limited. And belgium could easily of put 5 on us
We need to do it again to show it aint a one off

Here you go again. Belgium could have put 5 past us, could they? Don't think so.

I remmber savage said this before and we lost .our problem is when we lose say five good players to injurys we don't have the same quality of players to come in for them .england always have that strength in depth and know they have added Harry Kane .i think Robbie savage should say nothing

LOL.....You beat the Mighty Israel who were down to 10 men and you think you can beat England ?
You will bottle it as per usual.
Put BT sports on now and watch England under 21's giving Germany the run around and that will give you a vision of how good England will be in future

Since when has ANYONE listened to Savage!!!!!!!!!!

WE at least know our place given the limited pool of players we draw from, and yes we sometimes over achieve a bit unlike your overpaid arrogant egotistical lot (who did indeed win the World Cup and don't we all know about that YAAWWWNNNN) who play like a team of individuals!!!
You lot think you have the god given right to win every time you take to the field or any competition you enter, whilst we just enjoy the ride

Question for you english..... WHO SCORED THE FASTEST GOAL IN WORLD CUP QUALIFYING HISTORY?????
Was it Greaves? Fowler? Lineker? Charlton? Rooney? Keegan? or Hurst??















Answer.... Davide Gualtieri —after 8.3 seconds at Wembley for the WORLD'S GREATEST minnows SAN MARINO!!!!!!!



mana mana
do do do do doh

England are getting to their usual pre-tournament arrogance. They haven't beaten anyone of any real quality. Even beating Switzerland away wasn't a huge achievement given the Swiss manager has been heavily criticised for his awful management. They could well reach the quarters at Euro 2016 but they won't get further, as usual.

LOL.....You beat the Mighty Israel who were down to 10 men and you think you can beat England ?
You will bottle it as per usual.
Put BT sports on now and watch England under 21's giving Germany the run around and that will give you a vision of how good England will be in future

put the TV on, watching an average Italian team tear apart over-achievers England who somehow manage to get to Quarter Finals at European level