ENGLAND legend Terry Butcher has joined Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson in hitting back at Wales talisman Gareth Bale ahead of Thursday’s Battle of Britain at Euro 2016.

Bale claimed last week that England players don’t have the same ‘pride and passion’ as their Welsh counterparts before Wales beat Slovakia and Hodgson’s men were held by Russia.

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Hodgson called the comments ‘disrespectful’ and said: “I don't have any doubts personally about our patriotism or desire and that's the important thing.

"If he believes that that's the case he's welcome to that opinion.

"But we know who we are, we know what we are. We don't have any doubts about ourselves in that respect."

And former Newport County AFC manager Butcher, who won 77 caps for England, also blasted Bale.

The man who famously played on with blood having turned his white England shirt almost completely red said: “I must take issue with Gareth Bale when he said that Wales players show more passion when they play for their country.

“I don’t agree with that one bit. I played against Wales, I scored my first international goal against Wales and I’ve beaten Wales so don’t talk to me about passion.

“I think England have a good spirit in their camp – the best I’ve seen in a long time.”

But Butcher believes it will be cool heads that win the game for England in Lens rather than passion.

“The game won’t be about passion on Thursday,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“It will be about discipline, spirit and lots of other things but not passion.

“I saw England beat Scotland a few years ago. Scotland were talking beforehand about what they were going to do to England.

“And England went there and were very professional – they have that in their mind-set and they will have to be very professional on Thursday.

“I think it’s a great game for both countries,” he added. “England are going into it disappointed and Wales will be on a high but that will count for nothing when it comes to the actual game.

“It’s going be about Wales trying to stop England. That’s not an arrogant thing. It’s just the way that England play.

“It’s going to be a cracker but I think Wales are through anyway, whatever happens.”

He may not have been impressed by Bale’s comments but the former central defender is a big fan of Wales skipper Ashley Williams.

“He is a great player,” said Butcher. “I’ve seen him play quite a lot this year and he’s very strong – commanding and dominant.

“He’s just what you want as a captain of a club side and a national team.

“When you’ve got somebody like that shouting at you and demanding 100 per cent in everything you do you’re going to respond.

“Wales have that in abundance all throughout the team.”

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