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NORTHERN IRELAND v WALES - SANCHEZ FULL OF RESPECT FOR WALES
Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez believes Wales deserve great respect even though his side are now above them in the FIFA world rankings.
The two home nations face each other in a friendly tomorrow at Windsor Park with bragging rights and pointers towards forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers at stake.
Northern Ireland are up to 47th in the world after defeating Latvia last time out in October.
However they are still smarting from Wales taking four points off them in the recent World Cup qualifiers.
Northern Ireland had to settle for a draw in Cardiff and were then beaten in Belfast thanks to an inspirational display by Ryan Giggs.
Sanchez said: "When I took over three years ago now, Wales and the Republic of Ireland were in ascendancy.
"Scotland and ourselves were having a bit of a rough time.
"That has switched round a little bit - ourselves and Scotland are obviously doing quite well.
"Wales and the Republic on the other hand haven't quite recovered to where they were.
"But Wales have got good players, just look at the quality of someone like Ryan Giggs.
"He was the difference in Belfast between the two sides. His wing play and his free-kick ultimately undid us.
"This is a good match for Wales because they play the Republic in the next qualifier, so they get a British-style game."
The friendly has been given the go-ahead even though an independent report said Windsor Park was a fire risk.
A new stadium is being discussed but there is an ongoing row about where it should be built.
Sanchez would like the matter solved sooner rather than later.
He said: "An old ground generates an old atmosphere and the world moves on.
"We sell out on a 15,000 capacity, so if we moved to a 30,000-seater stadium, the extra finances would be quite important.
"But if we do move we will also lose the intimacy that Windsor Park brings."
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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