Venue's a big issue – Tosh (From South Wales Argus)

Venue's a big issue – Tosh

11:10am Tuesday 9th February 2010

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WALES boss John Toshack admits that the FAW will be torn between the prospects of a big pay day and a big upset when deciding the venue for the Euro 2012 clash with England.

Toshack will consult his players before a verdict is reached on whether to play their home qualifier with the old enemy at the Millennium Stadium or a smaller and potentially more intimidating ground.

Wales are in the same group as Fabio Capello’s side in addition to Switzerland, Montenegro and Bulgaria.

Holding the match at the 76,000-seat Millennium Stadium would mean more revenue and fewer headaches in terms of security but many players have voiced their displeasure about playing there in the past.

Other options to consider are the new Cardiff City Stadium, which has a capacity of 27,000, and Swansea’s Liberty Stadium (22,000) where they host Sweden in a friendly on March 3.

Toshack said: “We were well pleased with the treatment we got from the Cardiff people when we played Scotland there recently.

“Swansea have a new stadium as well and we have been treated well there and play Sweden there shortly.

“A lot of people will want to see the match but you have to consider the atmosphere factor as well.

“It is early days yet. We have a fixture meeting on March 15 when it will be decided what dates we play but you don’t have to announce the venue until 90 days before a fixture.

“I will be interested to get the players’ views on that subject as well so we have got a little bit of time to decide.”

Toshack concedes England will be favourites to qualify but believes the battle for second spot is wide open.

“Looking at our group, I think it is the most wide open of all of them,” he said. “England will be clear favourites but I think the other four nations are all in contention.

“Between the four of us there is not a great deal to choose at all. It is difficult for anyone to predict the positions the teams will finish in”

Toshack, who locked horns with Capello just once when the pair were rival managers in Spain during the 1990s, believes the Italian can lead England to a successful World Cup in the summer.

“I sat next to Capello on the plane on the way over for the draw and we had a good two-and-a-half-hour conversation,” said Toshack.

“On the way back he sat at the back, I sat at the front and we never said a word!

“I am sure there will be an awful lot of interest in the game and I can see them having a good World Cup as well,” added the former Real Madrid boss.

“Hopefully they will come back with ten injuries and we can pick them off in September!”

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