Euro 2016: Russia vs Wales - 5 players to watch out for

#3 Joe Allen

Joe Allen will again have an important role to play at the heart of the Welsh midfield

A familiar face for Liverpool fans, Joe Allen’s eye for a pass in the middle of the field led him to be christened ‘the Welsh Xavi’. Although he has not touched the heights of the Spanish maestro yet, Allen has received praise for his showing in the first two matches of Euro 2016 for Wales.

The midfielder, in a recent press interview, said the determination to succeed at Euro 2016 stems from ‘13 years of hurt’. Allen was in the stands when Wales lost 1-0 in a Euro 2004 qualifying playoff to Russia. The 26-year-old who has 27 caps to his name and is yet to score a senior international goal.

With Bale and Ramsey bringing the flamboyance, Allen often flies under the radar but his contribution in the middle of the park is equally essential. He keeps the Wales team ticking with short nifty passes around the midfield, with the occasional long-ball to Bale or Ramsey to incite a counter-attack. Come tonight, Allen will be in the quest for his first senior international goal, and it will be all sweeter if it comes with the Wales’ ticket to the last 16.