Laid-back Toshack Draws on the Recent Past to Stir Wales

Oliver Bierhoff's declaration on the eve of a qualifying match that he will be leading a German delegation to South Africa at the end of this month to assess potential hotels and training campus for the 2010 World Cup might have prompted a terse response from some managers but John Toshack is not so easily upset. "We have been over there as well," insisted the Wales manager, straight-faced. "We went there for the draw."

It was a witty reply in keeping with a light-hearted press conference that suggested the Wales manager could not be in more relaxed mood ahead of tonight's fixture in Möenchengladbach. Even the subject of penalties, which is a contentious one given that Wales have missed a spot-kick in all three qualifying matches, was a source of amusement. "I hope we don't get one [tonight]," replied Toshack after he was asked who was the next in line.

With a Germany victory expected it would be easy to interpret the manager's laid-back demeanor as a sign he is not feeling under any pressure to deliver a result, yet nothing could be further from the truth. Toshack masterminded a goalless draw in Frankfurt 11 months ago and he has hopes of reprising that feat in Borussia-Park, where the red shirts will again defend in numbers and look to hit Joachim Low's side on the break.

"We know this is a big, important game for us," added Toshack, who is expected to pick Carl Robinson ahead of Carl Fletcher in midfield and include James Collins and Lewin Nyatanga in central defence alongside Craig Morgan. "The players are not going into the unknown. They have done it once so, from our point of view, [the 0-0 draw] is a result we can use to our favor. A positive result could really set the cat amongst the pigeons in this group."

The Wales manager is fully aware of the size of the task. "We have played Germany recently and we have watched them in the European Championships. We know what a difficult task it will be," he said. "But I think we have got to come away from home and get a positive result against teams who are seeded above us, otherwise we are not going to make it."

Wales' chances of producing a shock here will be helped if Michael Ballack fails to recover from a calf injury, with the Chelsea midfielder being given as long as possible to prove his fitness, a measure of the respect Germany have for Toshack's side, according to Bierhoff. "Anybody who underestimates the Welsh makes a mistake," said Germany's general manager. "It's not a match you can say, 'We don't need Ballack for that one'."

Although Danny Gabbidon, Joe Ledley and Robert Earnshaw are missing from the side that held Germany at the end of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, Jason Koumas, Gareth Bale and Craig Bellamy ought to be more than adequate replacements. The latter is relishing the chance to start his second Wales match in five days, with the affection he feels for his country in evidence again yesterday when he revealed a tattoo of Owain Glyndwr on his arm. "He's the biggest Welsh hero we have had and I'm massive on him," said Bellamy of the man who led the last armed protest against England. "I've done all my Welsh history through the years. The battle of Pilleth is going down my arm. I'm Welsh so I want to know where I'm from." Victory tonight and there will be another tale to celebrate.