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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Robbie Savage

Wales beating England at World Cup bigger shock than Leicester winning Premier League

For shock value, if Wales beat England it will be a bigger upset than Leicester winning the Premier League.

On paper, there should be no chance. But at this World Cup, we've already seen Saudi Arabia stun Argentina, Japan beat Germany and Morocco turn over Belgium, so we can't take anything for granted.

Let's get real: Wales need a miracle to go through. But although it's a long shot, it's not totally out of the question that they could could beat England narrowly with Iran and the USA drawing to leave the door slightly ajar.

Any sort of win, or at least a much-improved performance, would be a major confidence boost for Rob Page and his players after the crushing disappointment of ghat defeat by Iran.

To live with England, Page may have to decide whether to go with youthful energy or experience. Can you play Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen in the same starting XI? Five or six years ago, absolutely – but this is 2022, not 2016.

My preference would be to start with Dan James and Brennan Johnson's mobility to get Wales up the pitch and stretch England's back line if possible.

And although Bale was far from his best against Iran, he has to start. If you need a set piece, a penalty or a piece of magic to tip the game your way, Bale is still likeliest to deliver when it matters or pull a rabbit from the hat.

For a generation, this may be the end of an era for Wales. They have been on a magic carpet ride to the Euro 2016 semi-finals and their first World Cup for 64 years – is there one last hurrah left in the tank?

Rob Page is trying to beat the odds and stun England (Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

From back to front, they will have to be absolutely spot-on in every respect to stand a chance. England were poor against the United States, but Gareth Southgate has an embarrassment of riches in selection.

Foden and Grealish? Saka and Sterling? Does he pick the captain of Liverpool, who's won the title and the Champions League, or one of Europe's brightest talents in midfield?

Or does he rest Harry Kane and start up front with Marcus Rashford or Callum Wilson? Most managers would give their right arms to wrestle with such dilemmas.

I'm not holding my breath for a miracle – but there have been so many shocks at this World Cup, neither England nor Wales dare take anything for granted.

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