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Coleman not getting ahead of himself just yet

Belgium, Croatia and Poland provide the biggest obstacles on Wales' side of the draw
Belgium, Croatia and Poland provide the biggest obstacles on Wales' side of the draw

Chris Coleman has warned about the dangers of looking too far ahead after Wales found themselves in what is considered the weakest half of the Euro 2016 draw.

Wales will discover which best third-placed team they will play in the last 16 on Wednesday evening, with Turkey their most likely opponents in Paris on Saturday.

There is also a chance that Wales could play Northern Ireland at the Parc des Princes, with their reward for winning Group B avoiding the half of the draw which now includes England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

But, with Belgium, Croatia and Poland providing the biggest obstacles on Wales' side of the draw, manager Coleman refused to look beyond the last 16 stage.

"We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground here," said Coleman. "Everyone's talking about this possibility or that possibility.

"But in football one minute you're right there and everything's great, the next you take your eye off the ball and everything's fallen down.

"Whoever it is down the line that's when you get on with it and take care of the business in front of you.

"There's no talk in my camp about who could be next after the last 16. No way, I wouldn't allow that.

"There's not a team in this tournament who can think like that, not even Germany or Spain, because we've seen the games are so tight.

"There's no talk in my camp about who could be next after the last 16. No way, I wouldn't allow that."

"Once we find out who's next we'll focus on it and put everything into that challenge."

Coleman says he has no preference who he would want to play in the second round.

Turkey have been rare opponents, with the last meeting between the two nations an extraordinary 6-4 win for the hosts in Istanbul in August 1997.

Neighbours Northern Ireland are far more familiar foes, with the two sides having drawn 1-1 in a Cardiff friendly as recently as March.

"There's dangers and challenges in any fixture we get, just as in the first three games," said Coleman.

"People look at this team or that team, and whether they are ranked here or there. But it won't matter because it will be on the day.

"Who we get we get, and that's not being disrespectful or arrogant.

"What we have to do is concentrate on ourselves and continue to enjoy it. Why wouldn't we?

"We've worked hard to be here, so things are positive. We have a huge challenge whoever it is."

Wales won their group after bouncing back from a last-minute 2-1 defeat to England to thrash Russia 3-0 in Toulouse on Monday night.

"It was great to top the group, but it wasn't about being above England, it was getting through to the last 16."

"The biggest challenge for us wasn't the second game, it was the aftermath of that game, getting re-focused and remembering why we were here," said Coleman.

"They put it out of their minds straight after, went back to work and got ready for Russia.

"It was great to top the group, but it wasn't about being above England, it was getting through to the last 16.

"And as important as that was, the performance of the team against Russia is how we believe we can and should play."

Coleman has reported a clean bill of health ahead of the weekend with Joe Ledley fit after a tight calf forced him off against Russia.

But Coleman has not ruled out making changes when the identity of their last 16 opponents is finally known.

"If I look at the opposition and think we can create different problems with a different player, it's horses for courses," he said.

"We haven't changed formation yet, but we can perhaps cause problems if we change one or two faces.

"But there's no fear. The only one we have is that we don't fulfil our potential and stick to our game plan. That's the only fear we have - and that's healthy."