Giggs banks on Welsh heart

By Iain Spragg

Manchester United FC's Ryan Giggs has pleaded for patience from Wales's success-starved fans ahead of the second leg of their UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifier against Russia at the Millennium Stadium on Wednesday night.

So close
Mark Hughes's team are tantalisingly close to reaching next summer's finals in Portugal - which would be Wales's first appearance at a major tournament since the 1958 FIFA World Cup - after holding Russia to a goalless draw in Moscow on Saturday.

Waiting game
But Giggs, who will win his 41st cap in Cardiff - 12 years after his debut as substitute against Germany, has warned supporters they must be prepared to wait for the breakthrough against the Russians which could book their place at EURO 2004™.

Supporting role
"It goes without saying how important the Wales fans will be to us on Wednesday," Giggs told uefa.com. "All the players are expecting an electric atmosphere in the Millennium Stadium and the supporters can play a huge part in the result.

Patient approach
"But just as the players have to be patient, so do the fans. Everyone who loves Welsh football is tense and excited right now but it's important the people who go to the game understand it may take time to break the Russians down. The one thing we don't want is the crowd getting on our backs if things don't click immediately."

Moscow welcome
Ideally, Giggs would like to see the visitors afforded the same kind of reception that Wales got in Moscow. "I've played in so many different countries over my career for United and Wales, and Moscow has to rate right up there among the places you really don't want to go and play," he said. "The noise in the stadium was phenomenal."

Success overdue
Giggs understood supporters fears, saying: "I've waited ten years to come this close to reaching a major finals, but I know a lot of Welsh fans, the ones older than me, have waited even longer. All the players understand what is at stake and we're all desperate to give the fans what they deserve, but it may take time."

First out of the blocks
In terms of tactics, Giggs was clear on what Wales needed. "We need to go out and put the Russians on the back foot from the start," he said. "If we give them time to settle in the first 15 minutes, they'll only grow in confidence as the match goes on. Nobody is taking anything for granted but from what we saw in the first leg, we all know we are capable of beating Russia."

Discipline counts
However, while he was keen for his side to take an aggressive approach to their task, Giggs insisted that discipline was just as vital. "I am sure it will be a fierce contest on Wednesday but I do think it's important we keep our cool," he said. "We know we've got to play with aggression but we've got to make sure it's controlled aggression.

Attacking football
"It would be very easy to get sucked into a physical battle but we're a better side than that and now we've got home advantage. We want to go out and play the kind of attacking football that will get the goals that will send us through to the finals."

Ryan Giggs' website at www.icons.com