Wales defender Chris Mepham says they must take the “handbrake off” against England after Rob Page’s side’s lame efforts in Qatar.
Wales are facing elimination from Group B with just one point from their first two games to prop up the table. A dire 2-0 defeat to Iran means Wales return to the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium on Tuesday night against England with only faint prospects of making the last 16.
Wales, who drew their opener 1-1 against USA after a lacklustre first half, need to beat England and hope Iran and USA draw, otherwise they will need to win by at least four goals to qualify. But Premier League centre-back Mepham has promised not to give up hope ahead of Wales’ final group game.
Bournemouth stopper Mepham, 25, who has 35 caps, said: “We need to go for it. We've nothing to lose and sometimes that's quite dangerous for other teams when you're a wounded animal. We have to take the hand-break off and go for it against England.
“If there's ever a game the group will be motivated for, it'd be that one. We've shown in the past against quality teams, we can match them. We need to dig deep against England, they're a top side.
"You plan to try and win against Iran and get a good mood in camp to give you momentum going into the last game but it is a different task now to try and pick the team up and go again. But 100% when the game comes around we will be in a good place and ready to give it our all and fight for everything.
"Until it is over we will be fighting for everything. I certainly will be. I will be playing that game like it is my last game , I can promise that and I am sure everyone else in the team can promise the same.”
Wales have lost their last six meetings to England and Gareth Southgate’s side are firm favourites despite their own underwhelming draw against USA. But Mepham insisted: “Of course we can win. We have shown time and time again when you write us off we will prove people wrong.
"The picture is clear now , we have to beat England and be preparing for that. Hopefully we can be in a position where we give a good account of ourselves and see where it takes us.”
Wales’ fate in Group B is out of their hands after their disastrous display against Iran on Friday. ran deserved to win after having an effort narrowly ruled out by VAR for offside before hitting the woodwork twice until they finally scored twice in stoppage time after Wayne Hennessey was sent off for taking out Medhi Taremi.
Mepham reflected: “The responsibility is shared between all of us. I have been in games before where I have been sent off and you blame yourself.
"But in that moment if he didn't bring down the player, he could have gone around and scored. There is no blame attached to him. We win as a team and lose as a team and as a team we fell short.”
