Christope Berra is braced for backlash in Cardiff

By ALASDAIR LAWRIE
Published on 11/10/2012 03:28

SCOTLAND international central defender Christophe Berra is bracing himself for a Wales backlash in Cardiff tomorrow night.

Wales will be coming into a game that neither side can afford to lose on the back of a 6-1 hammering in Serbia.

Berra isn’t reading anything into that result, and the Wolves centre-half said: “Wales had an off day. They have got top, top players in their team, Gareth Bale, especially, and Aaron Ramsey, who play for two of the best teams in the UK. So we know what to expect.

“This is a game that neither side can afford to lose. We need to win it and Wales need to win it. There will be a lot at stake.

“It will be a nervy game, but there will be more ­pressure on them with them being at home and having no points, so we need to go there and try and get a win.

“In the past we have always proved our doubters wrong and I am sure that we can do that again.

“Maybe playing away from home might suit us a bit more. We can sit back soak things up and then counter attack.

“There is no question that Wales and then Belgium are going to be two tough games.

“They are two teams who have a lot of individually good players, especially Belgium who have world-class players throughout the squad.

“We will be going into both games to try and make it difficult for Wales and Belgium and to try and get as many points as possible. We need to try and get a win out of one of the games, but we know that it will be difficult.”

“Belgium have got world-class players throughout their team, players who play in the top leagues and players who have been bought for millions and millions or pounds.

“So we know that we will be going there as underdogs, but we have done that in the past and come out with our pride intact and good victories and picked up points so I don’t see why we can’t do that again.”

Berra’s build up to this match should at least be less tumultuous than that leading up to his participation in the 0-0 draw against Serbia at Hampden, which was in doubt until his partner Amy gave birth to the couple’s first child just four days earlier.