Wales winger Daniel James is relishing the prospect of competing in his nation’s first World Cup in 64 years – however is underneath no illusions concerning the issue of his facet’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 accommodates 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 a lot of high quality gamers, given he has performed with a lot of them over the course of this 12 months. Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson are present teammates at Fulham, whereas Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson play for dad or mum membership Leeds.
“They’ve mentioned about giving me a number of kicks in coaching,” he joked of Ream and Robinson.
When requested how he could fare in a direct face-off in opposition to Robinson, given each may occupy the identical a part of the pitch on opposing groups, he mentioned: “We’re each fast gamers. He is a fantastic 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 means, however he is been unbelievable defensively as nicely. He is proven that. Perhaps individuals doubted him going to the Premier League. Is he going to have the ability to do the defensive facet that a lot as a result of he is classed as an attacking full-back? He is undoubtedly proven that [he can] and if we do play in opposition to one another it will 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 unbelievable squad. We performed in opposition to them at Swansea and so they performed all their European gamers due to COVID. They seem to be a very athletic crew, and I’ve clearly performed with two gamers at Leeds and so they’ve bought nice attitudes. I believe it’s going to be a fantastic match up.
“Going to the World Cup they have expectations of going by. With us it is nearly how we are able to go into each sport believing we are able to 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 further time equaliser earlier than his facet gained the MLS Cup on penalties in his final aggressive outing – and necessary targets is one thing Bale has a confirmed knack for at each membership and worldwide stage.
James opened up on how Bale leads his Wales crew: “Gaz may be very chilled, he is a fantastic man. You have seen what he is accomplished through the years and final week as nicely – he comes on for 20 minutes and takes them into penalties and so they find yourself successful it. He is solely simply gone there and he is accomplished what he is at all times accomplished. Each time he is on the pitch we all know that he give you something at any time.
“Off the pitch he is good with all of us. Nobody is scared to speak to him. When you’ve got a personality that has accomplished a lot, particularly with boys coming by that perhaps are too scared to speak to him, he is nice with them. He is our captain. Earlier than the video games the crew talks are at all times nice. He loves enjoying for Wales simply as a lot as all of us do.
“He is a large cause 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.”
