Football
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Chris Coleman backing Wales to make history and qualify for Euro 2016

Chris Coleman believes Wales can finally deliver a major tournament appearance for the country at last.

Coleman's side can take a huge stride to the Euro 2016 finals in France over the next few days with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus set to visit the Cardiff City Stadium after Wales kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 victory in Andorra last month.

Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen are absent through injury but Gareth Bale is present, and Coleman believes the Real Madrid player can surpass Ian Rush's Welsh record of 28 goals and inspire the nation to their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Bale took his tally to 10 in his last 11 internationals with his double in Andorra and now has exactly half of Rush's total from 45 appearances.

"Yes, he can definitely do that [beat Rush's record],'' Coleman said at his news conference ahead of the Bosnia-Herzegovina game on Friday. "He plays enough games for us, he's young enough and going on what he's already done, he's going to play enough games to surpass that.

"He's one of the best players in the world and he can create a goal or score a goal out of nothing. But it's not only what he gives to your own unit, it's what he does to the opposition. Psychologically, it's a big boost for us when he's walking out on that pitch.''

Coleman's resources have been stretched to the limit this week with Emyr Huws becoming his 10th casualty after turning an ankle during a training session on Wednesday.

Midfield has been a particularly problematic area for Coleman with Huws joining Ramsey, Allen, David Vaughan, Andrew Crofts and Lee Evans out of contention.

The Wales manager, however, remains upbeat over what his current group of players can achieve.

"They have a great chance to live up to the tag they have been given as the golden generation,'' Coleman said. "I thought the first Welsh team I played in was the golden generation, with Neville Southall, Mark Hughes, Ian Rush, Dean Saunders, Gary Speed and Ryan Giggs. What a team that was, but we did not do it.

"These boys have also been handed that label and they will live up to it if they do the business. Are they good enough? Yes, I think they are. We are good enough to do something we have never done. But time will tell and the proof will be in the pudding.''

Coleman says telling his players that they can surpass the great Welsh players of the past will be his parting words before they face a Bosnia-Herzegovina side featuring the likes of Edin Dzeko, Miralem Pjanic and Asmir Begovic.

"We can create history,'' Coleman said. "I know what it feels like not to do that. I have been relegated as a player and I have suffered the feeling of failure. It is awful and when you are part of an international outfit that gets so close and you don't do it, it is not a good feeling.

"I don't want that again, I want to be part of a team that does something no-one else has done. We have done nothing since 1958. It is a huge task but it is possible and we have a good enough group. I believe in them. If a bit of luck comes our way and we perform and handle the pressure then this can be the golden generation.''

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