Chris Coleman has admitted that the pain of losing 6-1 against Serbia five years ago will never leave him. The Wales manager was speaking as he returns to the country for a crucial World Cup qualifier in Belgrade with a warning for his players that they need to deal with a hostile atmosphere and those periods when their opponents are enjoying a “power play”.
Sitting third in Group D and trailing Serbia and the Republic of Ireland by four points with five matches remaining, Wales have little margin for error tomorrow night in Belgrade, where a defeat would leave their hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup finals in Russia looking increasingly slim.
The task is made considerably harder because Coleman will be without Gareth Bale, his most influential player, through suspension as well as Neil Taylor, who is serving a two-match ban. To compound matters, Hal Robson-Kanu has added his name to an injury list that includes James Collins, Andy King and Ben Woodburn, leaving Wales looking rather depleted, especially in attack.
Although Coleman refuses to be downbeat and remains sanguine about the team’s prospects in Belgrade and beyond, he is prepared for the fact that Serbia will evoke some painful memories. The Wales manager admitted that everything came flooding back when he paid a visit to the country in March.
“It was only a recce but I had butterflies in my stomach: ‘Here we go, I remember this place,’” Coleman said, recalling the chastening defeat in Novi Sad that led to many Wales supporters calling for his resignation. “I can’t say this is another game in the group because it’s not for more than one reason. And one of the reasons is that [game in 2012]. I suffered there, we suffered there – and it was my fault. That will never leave me. Nor should it. It will be like that if I went back to Belgrade with my wife for the weekend.
Tough
“But I can’t wait for this game. I know it’s going to be tough but I like meeting those challenges. With Balo in the team or not, I can’t guarantee a win. And we’re desperate for a win. But what we must do is perform. We have to stand up to them and not go away with our tails between our legs having missed the game, because that’s unacceptable. I won’t accept that, but I don’t expect it from these players.”
Although Coleman admitted Wales would miss the experience and know-how the absent senior players could have provided, he pointed to the presence of Ashley Williams, the captain he described as a “natural-born leader”, to set an example to others that they must “do anything but turn away from the challenge”.
Coleman added: “You go to these places and it’s almost like there’s a stage in the game where there’s a power play. All of a sudden, from wherever it comes, the crowd start getting really rowdy, the opposition up the tempo for five or 10 minutes and they bombard you. You stand up to it or you duck it. There’s no third option.
“This will come in Belgrade, I know it will before we kick a ball, and that’s what we’ll talk about with our players. You need to answer all the questions physically, mentally and tactically. It’s international football, your country against their country. It’s not war but it’s what you stand up for and what they stand up for and bang, it comes together. Something’s got to give.”
