Wales

Chris Coleman reveals disappointment at missing out on 'big-name friendly'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 05 October 2015

Chris Coleman claims that Italy declined the chance to face Wales in a friendly next month, which he puts down to teams being scared of facing his resurgent side.

Wales manager Chris Coleman has suggested that his side's upturn in fortunes has left certain big-name nations scared of accepting friendly invitations.

The Red Dragons have climbed to their highest-ever ranking of eighth in the world following a so-far unbeaten Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

With only one point needed from games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Andorra to guarantee a place at next year's finals, attention has now turned to potential friendly fixtures in November.

A meeting with Argentina had initially been sounded out, but Coleman has revealed that Italy - among others - have declined the chance to meet.

"We were turned down by one or two, which is disappointing. Italy didn't want to play us," he is quoted as saying by The Guardian.

When asked whether it was because opposition teams were now running scared, the former Fulham boss added: "I don't know, maybe. Look at the friendly games and the big boys keep it among themselves, and that's disappointing.

"We kind of thought that we might be able to tempt a Spain or a Germany and find out how good we are but there's been no interest. We had Holland last summer and you want to play against those sides, those juggernauts.

"There's talk of Argentina after Christmas. Should we get to France then we need a couple of really good juicy ones before we get out there. But for next month there's nothing. Ideally we want two."

Wales remain unbeaten in Group B heading into their final round of fixtures over the next eight days.