Euro 2016: Wales are more than just Gareth Bale

England's opponents have impressive starting XI - although strength in depth could be an issue

Gareth Bale scored nine of Wales' 11 goals in qualfying (Getty)

Roy Hodgson selected Portugal as one of England’s pre-Euro 2016 opponents because he believed that playing a team so reliant on a single player would be the ideal preparation for their group match against Wales. For Cristiano Ronaldo read Gareth Bale.

Of course, Hodgson’s choice was deemed irrelevant when the bronzed one decided to take to the sun-lounger and rest his weary post-Champions League winning limbs rather than strut his stuff down Wembley way. But is the comparison with his Real Madrid team-mate fair? Well, yes and no.

Bale did score nine of Wales’ 11 goals in their qualifying group so it is fair to say they are reliant on him. Wayne Rooney scored seven out of 31 for England by comparison. But Wales are not a one-man band. There is not huge strength in depth which explains why the manager Chris Coleman was willing to gamble and included Joe Ledley in his squad last week despite the fact that the Crystal Palace midfielder is recovering from a broken leg. But the starting XI is far from weak.

A core of the players have benefitted from being thrown in the Welsh pool deep end when they were probably not ready for international football. Following the retirements of the likes of John Hartson, the late Gary Speed and Mark Pembridge around 2005, Bryan Flynn’s Under-21s were fast tracked over the following seasons by the then Wales manager John Toshack who decided to trust the youngsters. It was a steep learning curve and there were ugly setbacks along the way but the rewards are now clear to see. Aaron Ramsey, for example, has nearly 40 caps at 25.

Aaron Ramsey, sporting a new blonde hair style, has 40-odd caps at 25 (Getty)

Wales usually play with a back three after Coleman decided he preferred the formation, with the defence built around the rock that is Ashley Williams of Swansea. James Collins, who has had a fine season for West Ham, and James Chester of West Brom will be alongside him with Ben Davies of Spurs down the left and Reading’s Chris Gunther or Neil Taylor, also of Swansea, down the right.

That leaves a midfield three of Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey, Liverpool’s Joe Allen and Ledley if fit with Bale roaming free and Sam Vokes, bouncing after winning promotion to the Premier League with Burnley, to lead the line. Wayne Hennessey, who played every league game of Crystal Palace’s season, is the No 1 No 1.

Wales, in their first tournament for 58 years, will certainly be confident of progressing beyond the group stage. Up first is Slovakia (Martin Skertl who couldn't get a kick for Liverpool this season is their best player). Win their opener and then it’s the crunch one against England but win, lose or draw that they will have Russia last. The Russians are more lively since Fabio Capello was dismissed but enter the tournament without particularly high expectations. And they could be down and out by the time Wales rock up anyway.

That will help, as will keeping Bale fit.