Bobby Gould calls England versus Wales

The Three Lions take on their Welsh counterparts at a major tournament finals for the first time as Euro 2016 continues in France,

Group B is finely poised after Russia lost 2-1 to Slovakia yesterday, leaving the victors and Wales both on a win going into tomorrow afternoon's clash.

Wales start ahead of England after a 2-1 win over Slovakia, while Roy Hodgson's side need to go one better after they were held 1-1 by Russia by a stoppage time equaliser.

Back in the West Midlands, Gould will be the special guest in the Premier Suite of Cannock's Bar Sport. He will address the crowd at Scott Murray's place before and after the 2pm kick off.

The last Englishman to manage Wales warns his countrymen they must keep Real Madrid star Bale - still the world's most expensive player at £80m - quiet.

England came forward at will against the Russians before being hit by a sucker punch, but Gould thinks they may have to sacrifice a player and keep a close eye on Bale.

Holding midfielder Eric Dier may be assigned to Bale, who Gould feels is getting even better playing with the likes of Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu.

Coventry-born former striker Gould, now 70, talks from over 50 years experience in the game and played for Wolves and West Brom, going on to become manager of the latter.

He told the Express & Star: "Bale is a game changer and he's been educated by a special player in Madrid. He plays for one of the best teams in the world and he's grown, mentally and physically.

"Ashley Williams may be the Wales captain but, in my eyes, they share the role. They've got some good players, but this one leads from the front.

"You give Bale the ball and he frightens you, so how do you keep him quiet? Do you put someone on him, man-to-man, who follows him all over the place?

"Even to do that, the man tracking him has got to have a bit of pace, otherwise he'll just run past you. He goes all over the positions, too.

"The pressure is all on England, if Wales win they will be left really chasing. That Russia goal has left them with it all to do."

Wales are featuring at a European Championship finals for the first time in their history, with the 1958 World Cup their only parallel.

Gould was at the helm from 1995 to 1999 and feels he played his part in where they find themselves today, despite his reign being criticised.

Current Wales boss Chris Coleman and his direct predecessor, the late Gary Speed, both played under him as did legendary attackers Mark Hughes and Ryan Giggs.

Gould said: "Everyone has contributed, even when I was there we were looking to get as many kids fixed up with Premier League clubs as we could.

"For that to happen, people had to come and notice the players. I think Bale would have been eight or nine years old, at the time!

"It's great for Wales, Chris is now leading what's been done and full marks to him. I had him in the team and I made Gary my skipper. These lads understood international football was all about.

"We'd got the lot, in terms of players, but it was about blending them together. I thought we were just that little bit short across the back and in midfield, at times.

"Neville Southall was a brilliant goalkeeper, but he couldn't keep everything out."

Gould took charge in the midst of a 20-year gap between an England and Wales meeting of any kind, after the British Home Championship was abolished in 1984.

He tried to arrange a friendly with Terry Venables' England during his time in the role, which he light-heartedly dubbed the 'Rumble in the Valleys.'

He added: "I knew Terry well, I approached him about it but he wouldn't reciprocate. I suppose if you get a bloody nose, you have a problem."

Gould wasn't a name in the running for Wales when Mike Smith left the hot-seat in September 1995 with Ron Atkinson, Howard Kendall and Mike Walker those strongly linked.

Of the trio, only Walker had played international football and only to Under-23 level, with Gould feeling that lack of know-how can hamper a national boss.

He said: "I think Ron was the one in for the job, but then he dropped out. I was abroad in Grenada and my best mate, Bill Smith, phoned me.

"I wrote an application, posted it and was interviewed before I got the job, which was a wonderful experience for me.

"The biggest criteria that I didn't have was that to be an international manager, really you need to have played international football to understand it.

"That's the one thing that let me down. The biggest void, to me, was that I couldn't bridge that gap because I hadn't had that experience of being an international player.

"I found it hard to stimulate the lads, once they turned up at the hotel they were physically and mentally shattered after their club games.

"They needed to rest but I just wanted to get my enthusiasm over to them and that, perhaps, wasn't the right thing to do.

"It was a difficult period. I had my own passion in wanting to be a success and wanting to give Wales what they've got now, really."

Gould left Wales after failing to make both Euro 1996 and the 1998 World Cup, finishing bottom and second bottom respectively in the qualifying groups.

He said: "I'd been there four years and I just thought it was in the best interests of everyone that we parted ways. I walked, they didn't sack me."

Tickets are still available to see and meet Gould at Bar Sport, in a show that will be hosted by former Wolves favourite and respected after-dinner speaker Steve Kindon.

Packages range from 'Bronze,' 'Silver' and 'Gold' with all inclusive of a drinks reception, four-course meal and waitress service. Bookings have to be made in advance.

'Bronze' is £29.50 and 'silver' is £45, including free wine and middle row seating. Gold, at £75, includes the above, a front row position, plus a signed professional photograph and football.

The downstairs area of Bar Sport is also open for the game, free of charge. In total, there are 70 screens at the venue. For more information and to arrange a place, call 01543 572 092.