Euro 2016 qualifiers: Wales welcome Israel in crucial clash

Wales can extend their lead further at the top of Group B in Euro 2016 qualifying, as they take on Israel at home, following a crucial 1-0 win in Cyprus last time out thanks to a goal from Gareth Bale.

Chris Coleman’s side are odds-on at 10/11 to follow up with another win, which would seal qualification to Euro 2016 next summer.

Gareth Bale scored the only goal as Wales beat Cyprus away from home and their talisman is 7/2 to open the scoring, in what is expected to be a raucous home crowd.

Indeed, it was Bale’s brace that helped them to a 3-0 win in the reverse as Coleman’s side ran out 3-0 winners in Haifa, with Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey getting the other. The midfielder is 6/4 to net anytime.

The manager has said fans can get “carried away”, though he and his players will remain calm until after the match against Israel: “For the Welsh supporters waiting for us to get back home, get excited,” Coleman said.

“My message to them is to get carried away. Enjoy this – they’ve waited a long time. But we can’t get carried away. I can’t, the players can’t, my staff can’t and we won’t. We’ve got to live up to the expectation. We’ve done that so far and let’s hope we do it again.

“We can’t hide from the facts. Looking at the way the group is we’re one win away from a guaranteed place in France 2016, we know that,” Coleman continued.

“But the players, I promise you, never ever mention it. They know it’s there, they know what everyone will be talking about back home. They saw the incredible 4,000 following we had tonight [Thursday against Cyprus], but we must never ever take our eye off the goal.”

“It’s about results and I think we find ourselves in a position now where we need to deal with the expectation,” he added.