With matches now starting to run out, Derby County’s Tom Lawrence admits that Wales have to win both of their games over the next five days to give themselves the best chance of qualifying for the FIFA 2018 World Cup Finals.
With four games remaining, Chris Coleman’s side are third in Group D – four points behind group leaders Serbia and Republic of Ireland.
The Red Dragons face Austria at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday evening (kick-off: 7:45pm), before they travel to Eastern Europe to take on Moldova on Tuesday 5th September.
Although Wales are yet to lose in their group, five draws from their six games so far means they are playing catch up as qualification now hits the home stretch.
Lawrence, the 23-year-old, has featured in two of those World Cup qualifiers to date says this international break is an opportunity that he and the squad just have to make the most of.
He told dcfc.co.uk before linking up with the Welsh squad: “I think we have got to win both games to give ourselves a chance of qualifying for the World Cup.
“Hopefully we can do that. The Euros was such a high for everyone in Wales and trying to replicate that is such a hard thing to do, but I do hope we can get ourselves over the line.
“The team hasn’t changed much and with the games running out now this really is an opportunity we have to be making the most of.”
Lawrence has also spoken of the competition that he faces on a regular basis to try and force himself into the starting line-up.
The Rams’ wideman has earned six caps for his country since making his debut in October 2015.
He might be up against the likes of Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale and Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey for a starting spot, but that is a challenge that he relishes.
“The more I play here, hopefully I will play a lot more for Wales,” Lawrence added.
“The move to Ipswich helped that last year. I played a few games, but the competition is so high for places.
“There’s the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Hal Robson-Kanu, but I will play anywhere for Wales.
“It’s a nice challenge, but that’s the sort of challenge you have to be in the game for.”
