Gareth Southgate has warned his England players they will have to be ready for another Battle of Britain in Doha.
Southgate admits they always believed either Wales or Scotland would make the World Cup and now says they must prepare for Gareth Bale and Co. to raise their game against England.
Wales clinched their place with a play-off win over Ukraine and it means a rematch after they met England at Euro 2016. Southgate warned Scotland gave them a major scare in last year’s Euros and derby matches always produce surprises.
The Three Lions boss said: "We expected one of the British teams to get through. We thought it would be incredibly hard for Ukraine emotionally with everything they had been through to win.
"I think firstly they have some top quality players and some really good young players coming through. We know there are plenty of teams we could have played in that play-off draw that don’t like us particularly so that certainly adds to the way the opposition approach the game.
"There is history there, isn't there, so we would be stupid not to be aware of that and not informed of that. You play a team that are inspired to another level.
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"That's what we had against Scotland in the Euros and I don't see that being any different with Wales, who also have some very good players. They are where they are, they've had big results over a long period of time, not least a good run in the Euros as well, so that's going to be extremely tough for us when it comes around.
"I think every game is different. We played Scotland at Wembley previously when they weren’t in a confident moment and we won quite comfortably.
"We then went to Hampden and had a real humdinger that ended 2-2 where we were at the end of the season and we didn’t play particularly well. We learned a hell of a lot that day, that’s for sure. That’s the great thing about these experiences - they add to the knowledge of the team."
Meanwhile, Southgate admitted his defensive issues are causing him his biggest selection headache.
Southgate has struggled to pick his first-choice defence and is still unsure whether he should use a back three at the World Cup in six months' time. England have been beset by injuries but the back line will have a more familiar look about it as both John Stones and Harry Maguire will start against Germany.
Southgate said: "That’s always been a bit of a worry. Going into the Euros we had Maguire out, Stones had missed a lot of the season with Manchester City.
"So we were still not certain whether we would be able to play with a back four because they were our first two centre-backs. Do we need the options? Because Kyle Walker can become a third centre-back, or somebody else of that type of profile.
"France left Ibrahima Konate out the squad and they’ve got Wesley Fofana in the Under-21s.The depth is phenomenal now. Fikayo Tomori, Marc Guehi and Ben White, that’s why we’ve brought them into the squad, we believe they can start to push.
"But we’ve lost them for these first two games, so that’s a bit frustrating, but there’s still time for them and also beyond this World Cup for all of those guys as well."
