Defiant Toshack vows to stick to guns with Wales

JOHN TOSHACK insists he still believes in his vision of Wales’ footballing future as he prepares to lead his country into their final two Euro 2008 qualifiers.

The Wales manager knows it has been a roller-coaster ride through Group D, with the Welsh failing yet again to reach a major finals, with plenty of acrimony and controversy along the way.

They can still claim third spot if the beat the Republic of Ireland in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium today by a significant score, before they face group leaders Germany in Frankfurt on Wednesday in their final qualifier.

But despite Toshack’s outburst last month over his players’ commitment and pampered lifestyles, all talk of him walking away from the job has ended.

Toshack has stated his clear intention to lead Wales into the World Cup qualifiers for South Africa 2010, starting next September, with the draw in Durban on November 25.

There are many who felt Toshack, with more than two years of his contract to go, would not last that long and give up on his ‘impossible dream’.

But the defiant 58-year-old said: “I am sure that the way we are going is the right one. Of course you get frustrated, but I have not thought of turning away from this.

“I hope and believe that we can do it. I wouldn’t waste my time otherwise. I wouldn’t go through the motions, we have to find a way to qualify, we have to get there.”

Toshack has determinedly continued to blood a host of teenagers during this campaign, believing that if he stuck to his guns Wales would have a bright, experienced and young side capable of reaching the South Africa finals.

It is a policy that has drawn constant criticism but Toshack believes he is right.

He said: “In 50 years we have never qualified for anything. Even in 1958 we only got to the World Cup finals in Sweden because of the Suez crisis and then being given a play-off tie with Israel having finished only second in our group.

“That’s the reality, and it does no harm to remind people of that. So we are trying to do something that hasn’t been done before. I like the idea of being the man who does achieve that, qualifying for a major tournament.”

Despite pressure the manager is comfortable with his position. “I’m happy in this job, it is as difficult as I felt it would be and there have been a few more rocks on the road than I expected,” he said.