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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
John Cross

England vs Wales: Truth behind rivalry as leaked video puts revenge firmly on the table

Luke Shaw summed it up perfectly: It is the celebration which now defines England’s rivalry with Wales.

If I’m brutally honest, I feel exactly the same. I’ve always wanted Wales to do well, the fans are fantastic and a tournament is better for them being here. But when they actually come to play England… well, now it’s different. And personal. And I guess, rather petty. But that’s a rivalry for you.

It is all about a leaked video clip from Euro 2016 when the Wales players - including Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey - celebrated England’s defeat to Iceland and their humiliating demise. The whole squad was celebrating wildly and it really upset the England players at the time. Would they have done the same if Wales had lost? I doubt it.

And when my Sunday newspaper colleagues asked Shaw about that video ahead of the Wales game on Tuesday, he replied: “Does it give us any more motivation? I think you could say that.

“I think we are a respectful group. We do things in the right way. That’s the example Gareth (Southgate) wants to set and we are all fully behind that.

“But our motivation in itself has to be at its highest level. We are at the World Cup. We have great aims for what we want to achieve.

"We have to have the maximum motivation at every game. I don’t think there’s any more motivation than what we have already.”

Luke Shaw was very clear with his feelings on the situation (AFP via Getty Images)

I was at the United States game on Friday night and a Belgian journalist asked me about the England-Wales rivalry. I said I think Wales always enjoy putting one over England but England have always wanted Wales to do well… until 2016.

And he said that is exactly what the other journos he’d spoken to had said.

England of course beat Wales in 2016 in the Group stage, then had a nightmare tournament as they crashed out and Roy Hodgson lost his job. Wales had the tournament and trip of their lives.

And to be honest, it only really comes into play when England-Wales go head-to-head but those little things in football linger in the memory for far longer than they should.

Celebrations among the Wales squad after England's Euro 2016 KO (Sanjiv K /Youtube)

Today, we begin building up to Tuesday and Wales need to win with a four goal margin and hope the result goes their way in the USA-Iran game. England need to win to win the Group, a draw gets them through and even a defeat could do it.

England and Wales are both hosting press conferences and it’s building up to a Battle of Britain.

England want to get back some momentum, although this tournament mirrors what happened in last year’s Euros when they beat Croatia in the opener, drew with Scotland and took stick - then beat the Czech Republic to qualify as Group winners.

The mood was high after the opener, flat after Scotland and then took off after the Czechs. It’s got a striking similarity and England can build some momentum.

Things didn't go to plan for England vs USA (Getty Images)

If England win the Group they are back at the Al Bayt Stadium and get an extra day’s rest. But if they finish second, it wouldn’t necessarily be so bad because any two from Holland, Ecuador or Senegal can qualify and the Group is still open. You don’t know who you’ll get.

For Wales, it feels this generation - Bale and Ramsey - is coming to an end. But this is their final chance.

For me, I was at Stadium 974 to see France beat Denmark. I’ve tipped France to win it and I just love Kylian Mbappe. In my mind, he’s the best in the world.

Then tonight I’ve got Spain v Germany when, defeat for the Germans, could see them go home. What a story.

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