Wales winger Daniel James is relishing the prospect of competing in his nation’s first World Cup in 64 years – however is beneath no illusions concerning the problem of his aspect’s opening take a look at in opposition to the USA.
The 2 groups face off in World Cup Group B on the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Monday, with each groups hopeful and assured they may get their respective campaigns off to a flying begin with three factors in a bunch which additionally comprises Iran and England.
Talking as Wales put together for his or her marketing campaign in Qatar, James admitted he is aware of that USMNT specifically have quite a lot of high quality gamers, given he has performed with quite a lot of them over the course of this yr. Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson are present teammates at Fulham, whereas Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson play for guardian membership Leeds.
“They’ve mentioned about giving me a couple of kicks in coaching,” he joked of Ream and Robinson.
When requested how he might fare in a direct face-off in opposition to Robinson, given each might occupy the identical a part of the pitch on opposing groups, he mentioned: “We’re each fast gamers. He is an awesome participant and has been completely unbelievable this season.
“Going ahead he is been nice. He is at all times an issue for wingers as a result of he’ll at all times run you that approach, however he is been unimaginable defensively as nicely. He is proven that. Possibly individuals doubted him going to the Premier League. Is he going to have the ability to do the defensive aspect that a lot as a result of he is classed as an attacking full-back? He is positively proven that [he can] and if we do play in opposition to one another it could be an excellent match-up.”
James was adamant he’d win a foot-race between the pair, although, answering with out hesitation.
“They [USMNT] have gotten an unimaginable squad. We performed in opposition to them at Swansea they usually performed all their European gamers due to COVID. They are a very athletic group, and I’ve clearly performed with two gamers at Leeds they usually’ve bought nice attitudes. I feel it will be an awesome match up.
“Going to the World Cup they have expectations of going by means of. With us it is nearly how we will go into each recreation believing we will win and with full confidence.”
Welsh captain Gareth Bale has claimed he is totally match regardless of that includes sparingly since his transfer to LAFC in MLS, although he did rating a dramatic additional time equaliser earlier than his aspect received the MLS Cup on penalties in his final aggressive outing – and vital objectives is one thing Bale has a confirmed knack for at each membership and worldwide degree.
James opened up on how Bale leads his Wales group: “Gaz may be very chilled, he is an awesome man. You’ve got seen what he is executed over time and final week as nicely – he comes on for 20 minutes and takes them into penalties they usually find yourself successful it. He is solely simply gone there and he is executed what he is at all times executed. Each time he is on the pitch we all know that he provide you with something at any time.
“Off the pitch he is sensible with all of us. Nobody is scared to speak to him. When you’ve gotten a personality that has executed a lot, particularly with boys coming by means of that perhaps are too scared to speak to him, he is nice with them. He is our captain. Earlier than the video games the group talks are at all times nice. He loves taking part in for Wales simply as a lot as all of us do.
“He is a large purpose why Wales is on that world stage – doing what he did on the Euros and we’re simply glad to be in a World Cup with him.”
