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Wales manager Chris Coleman is fed up with 'small talk'

CHRIS COLEMAN admits he is fed up of the "small talk" surrounding the England-Wales game and says it is time to get down to business.

There has been plenty of pre-match hype to Thursday's all-British Euro 2016 affair in Lens, with both camps looking to score points off the field before kick-off. Gareth Bale has been a central figure in the plot, saying Wales have more pride and passion than England, a remark which Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson branded as "disrespectful".

But Wales manager Coleman called it a "circus" when England are involved, and said his priority was keeping his players focused for the game and disciplined during it: "We can't worry about upsetting the opposition, whoever they are," said Coleman.

"And we can't be afraid to give our opinions. Whatever the lads think, that's up to them. It was always going to turn into this: he said this, he said that. It's about what happens on the pitch. All that other stuff is irrelevant. We don't go into mind games. Let's just get down to business tomorrow. This is small talk. It means nothing to me."

Coleman said before December's draw that he did not want to be paired with England, because of everything that surrounds the two neighbours playing each other. And he has not changed his opinion after Wales opened their Euro 2016 campaign with a 2-1 victory over Slovakia, while England were held 1-1 by Russia.

"We didn't want England because of the circus that comes with England - that's not their fault," said Coleman.

"But we knew what was coming with this game, what would be on the menu. Some of our players who represent Wales were born in England. All that nonsense was inevitable. But this is a big game for us, there's quality in both teams, and let's get at it."

Slovakia's 2-1 victory over Russia on Wednesday means that Wales will qualify as group winners should they beat England for the first time in 32 years. But Coleman says Wales are in the enjoyable position of being under less pressure than England.

"There's a lot expected of England because they've had a lot of great players down the years," said Coleman.

"Every time they go into a tournament there's expectation. There's a lot more pressure on England, our expectation comes from within our group. I said before we kicked a ball that everyone was looking at this game as a Battle of Britain. But it's only another game for us.

"The big thing for us is getting through. It wasn't about beating England and not getting through - not for me, not for the players. We have to take care of business and it's not the time for us to think we're something we're not.

"We know what we're about, how we need to perform if we're going to be successful. That's what we've done, refocusing on the next challenge, making sure the players understand what they're good at, and taking that into the game."