Wales manager Chris Coleman has admitted that "the pressure is on" his side as they edge ever closer to achieving "something special".

The Dragons could end the week having qualified for their first major tournament since 1958, with victories against Cyprus on Thursday and Israel on Sunday enough to book their place at Euro 2016.

However, Coleman has urged his players not to get ahead of themselves, despite being on course to move above England in the world rankings before tomorrow's match in Nicosia.

"As of yet we've not proved that we are different to the other teams in the past. We're on the road to doing it, we're in a great position to do something special. The heat is on, the pressure is on, and this is where you find things out about yourself," he told reporters.

"We're good enough and strong enough to handle it and we've got to do that. The rankings won't get us to France. I wish it would but they won't. I can understand the excitement building among our fans, 100%, because they haven't had a lot to shout about for a long time. So why shouldn't they do it now?

"I said at the start of the campaign we're good enough to do something special and I haven't changed my mind. We never discuss the second game and what's at stake, we've only discussed and concentrated on our performance against Cyprus."

Coleman will be without centre-back James Chester for tomorrow's match due to a hamstring injury.

Written by
Barney Corkhill