Dejected Robbie launches Savage attack on Toshack

ROBBIE SAVAGE insists Wales “have gone a long way backwards” under John Toshack and stand no chance of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

Just 25,000 turned out at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday to witness Wales’ Euro 2008 qualification hopes all but ended by their 2-0 defeat to Germany, leaving them stranded on seven points, 15 behind the group leaders.

Wales last qualified for the finals of a major competition in 1958 – the World Cup in Sweden – but Savage, who last played for his country in 2005, sees no hope of them repeating that feat under Toshack.

Savage said: “John Toshack told us to judge him after the European qualifying games. The truth is we have gone a long way backwards. I do hope he doesn’t start the ‘we’ll make it to South Africa’ stuff because that would be utterly ridiculous and we all know it.”

He added: “There’s more chance of me flying Concorde to the moon blindfolded than there is of you taking Wales to the South African World Cup. I do hope we aren’t going to get a load of stuff about how Wales will qualify for South Africa.

“It’s not going to happen and as a Wales fan I’m as dejected as the rest of the nation. Only 25,000 turned up for a qualifier against one of the world’s best teams – that tells you everything.

“Just a few years ago under Mark Hughes we beat Germany in a friendly at the Millennium Stadium in front of 75,000 – that tells you how far we’ve sunk.” Savage openly criticised the appointment of Toshack in November 2004 following criticism from the ex-Real Madrid coach of his predecessor, Mark Hughes, Savage’s current manager at Blackburn.

The former Leicester and Birmingham midfielder was omitted from Toshack’s squad in November 2004 and subsequently announced his international retirement aged just 30.

And Savage admits he sees no way back into the international fold.

The 32-year-old believes the time has come for Toshack’s reign to come to an end and believes Wales have a ready-made replacement waiting in the wings should he depart.

“I think the time has come to make a change at the top and Chris Coleman has to be a candidate.”

Meanwhile, Craig Bellamy cannot wait to face former Blackburn team-mate Vratislav Gresko today when Wales face Slovakia in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Trnava.

Gresko’s time at Ewood Park was badly disrupted by a knee injury which sidelined him for 18 months, and after being released by Rovers he moved to German club Bayer Leverkusen and is now back in his national squad.

Wales skipper Bellamy, now at West Ham after a spell at Liverpool since his time at Blackburn, said: “It will be good to see him again, and I am glad he is back playing, he deserves that. He always had the right attitude while he was out injured, but it took a long time for him and I am just glad he is able to play again.”