Wales players determined to respond to Toshack tirade

WALES stars admit they have “taken on board” the harsh criticism from boss John Toshack during the last acrimonious international double-header.

Toshack slammed their lack of commitment and “pampered” lifestyles after last month’s shattering defeat in Cyprus. Now the squad are back together for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against the Republic of Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday and the trip next week to face Germany in Frankfurt.

Young goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, who missed those last two games in Cyprus and San Marino due to injury, insists his colleagues have accepted the tongue-lashing and aim to put things right against the Irish at the Millennium Stadium.

Hennessey said: “I was devastated to be ruled out injured from the last two Wales games, and after watching the matches against Cyprus and San Marino on TV I was even more disappointed for the lads, the way the performances went.

“Everyone accepts that the performances were not that good, and some of what the boss said was understandable. But the lads have taken that on board and we are all determined to put things right in the next couple of games.”

Wales fans subjected their team to considerable abuse during the San Marino game, which they won 2-1, and Hennessey added: “We will all want to impress now.

“And we want to get the fans back on our side, some of the lads said there was a bit of stick flying around in San Marino, so we all owe them a performance now.

“If you are not playing well the fans will turn on you, so on Saturday we have the chance to put things right.

“It will be a tough game but hopefully we can get something out of the match.”

Hennessey’s Wolves club-mate, Freddy Eastwood, played against Cyprus and was on the bench in San Marino, and he also concedes that it is up to the players to put things right.

He said: “We have to go out and be a better side than we were in those last two games, there is no question about that.

“Previously we had done well, then the Cyprus game came along and we were poor. Now we aim to bounce back and show what we are made of.

“The Irish will be good, and they also have a point to prove because they haven’t qualified either. They have a caretaker manager at the moment (Don Givens) and they will have a new manager soon, so everyone in their side will want to show they should be in the team.

“The same applies to us. We all want to show we are better than those last two games.

“If we beat the Irish, we could well finish third and that is vital for our future. If we win, we will be back on track.”