WELSH football faces a defining few days beginning with tonight’s World Cup clash against Celtic rivals Scotland.

After defeats in their opening two qualifying games, Wales have to beat the Scots tonight and Croatia on Tuesday if they are to stand any chance of making the 2014 finals in Brazil.

The Welsh team has been on a downward spiral since Gary Speed’s tragic death last year.

Manager Chris Coleman has presided over a string of defeats, culminating in last month’s humiliating 6-1 thrashing in Serbia.

Many Welsh fans feel that all the progress made under Speed has been wasted.

IfWales are still without a win when the final whistle is blown on Tuesday night their hopes of qualifying for a major tournament for the first time since 1958 will be over.

Coleman’s future as manager will also be under severe scrutiny asWales would then be in a position of attempting to build for the 2016 European championships.

Let’s hope that Coleman has it within him to galvanise his troops, starting tonight.

Wales fans really believed change was in the air towards the end of Speed’s reign as a series of victories propelled them up the world rankings.

Victory over Scotland in Cardiff tonight should be achievable.

If it is not then the game in Wales will be plunged into another period of soul-searching.