After failing to make a significant mark on this World Cup to date, Wales face off against fierce rivals England at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Group B on Tuesday night knowing they need a win to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages.
A respectable point against an energetic USA side was followed up on Friday afternoon by a timid performance against Iran, with Team Melli eventually punishing the Dragons with two injury-time goals from Roozbeh Cheshmi and Ramin Rezaeian that leave Rob Page's men in a difficult position in the group.
With a single point from their opening two matches, Wales need to beat Gareth Southgate's Euro 2020 finalists and hope the fixture between USA and Iran finishes as a draw; if the latter does not happen then Page's side would have to beat the Three Lions by a four-goal margin to advance to the last 16.
Here, Sports Mole look at some reasons for Wales to be confident of picking up a vital win against England to give themselves a chance of staying in the World Cup.
Star names
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Plenty of criticism has been directed towards some of Wales' high-profile players after their showing against Iran on Friday, with legends of Welsh football Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey taking the majority of the blame for the team's lack of inventiveness in attacking areas.
After years of carrying their nation with sensational individual performances, time seems to be catching up to the pair in terms of being able to contribute defensively, but both still have the ability to produce a moment of magic that could make the difference against England.
Ex-Real Madrid man Bale has history of coming up with a goal against England after scoring a swerving free-kick in the group stage of Euro 2016, and considering this could be the 33-year-old's last major tournament with the Dragons, the motivation to be centre stage again on Tuesday night could not be higher.
Page will also be able to call on the services of Joe Allen from the start against the Three Lions, which could provide young Ethan Ampadu more support in the midfield and allow Ramsey to contribute to proceedings further up the pitch than in the matches against USA and Iran.
England rotation
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With England's top-two position in Group B secured barring an unimaginable collapse on Tuesday night, Southgate is set to rotate his XI to give attacking talent such as Jack Grealish and potentially Phil Foden a chance to impress, but more encouragingly for Wales, the Three Lions boss may also use the game to build up the fitness of players returning from injury.
Kyle Walker could replace Newcastle's Kieran Trippier at right-back as the Manchester City defender looks to play some minutes for the first time since a groin injury and subsequent surgery in early October, whereas fellow Citizen Kalvin Phillips could partner Declan Rice or Jordan Henderson in a defensive-midfield duo after time out following a shoulder injury.
Although the names mentioned above are established Premier League players plying their trade with arguably the best club side in world football, the likes of Walker and Phillips may be off the pace if thrown into an intense battle with the Dragons.
A fired-up Welsh side could overrun a leggy England midfield, which in turn would allow key attackers such as Bale to work their magic and guide Page's men to a much-needed victory at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium - although that sounds awfully optimistic.
Major tournament wins
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The current precadiment of Wales in this World Cup may be bleak, but supporters will be comforted heading into this must-win clash with England by the fact that their nation have won at least once at every major tournament they have featured in.
During their only previous World Cup appearance in 1958, Wales beat Hungary 2-1 in a playoff to secure a quarter-final match with the legendary Pele and his Brazil team, although the Dragons did not record a victory in the group stage of that tournament, drawing all three games.
Chris Coleman's Wales team won four games in their remarkable run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016, including a memorable 3-1 success over Belgium thanks in part to an iconic goal from forward Hal-Robson Kanu.
Last summer Wales managed to defeat a poor Turkey side at the Olympic Stadium in Baku during Euro 2020 courtesy of goals from Ramsey and Connor Roberts, meaning the Welsh have always earned at least one win in all of the three major tournaments they have participated in.
Read more on Wales vs England
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- How Wales could line up against England
- How England could line up against Wales
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