Toshack targets Slovakia revenge and third place

John Toshack still believes Wales can finish a creditable third in their Euro 2008 qualifying group.

The Wales manager knows that defeat to Slovakia today, and a Czech Republic win over the Republic of Ireland in Prague, will mathematically end the Welsh hopes of qualifying for next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland.

But Toshack brushed aside the criticism which has followed an insipid home defeat by Germany on Saturday in Cardiff with an insistence that his policies and methods will bear fruit in the long run.

Toshack will have his captain Craig Bellamy back in the side, now he is clear of his family problems of last week, and could bring in the Real Sociedad midfielder David Vaughan.

"Anything other than the Germans and the Czechs qualifying now would be a surprise. When the draw was made they were the teams expected to go through.

"We still think we can finish third. We now have three away games, here, Cyprus and San Marino, and we have to look for nine points."

Toshack believes his young brigade can gain revenge for the 5-1 defeat they suffered at Slovakia's hands last season.

He said: "I was told when we got here by the Slovakians that there is no motivation for us now. That was a silly thing to say to us. We aim to win this one."

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