Wales v Austria: Realistically Wales have no chance of being in Germany next summer - they are seven points behind second-placed Poland in the group and were beaten 3-2 at home by the Poles last October - but two victories over Austria in the next five days would reinvigorate the campaign, kick-start the John Toshack era and justify Ryan Giggs's decision to stay on. Giggs thinks he has two, maybe three, more qualification campaigns within him.

When Giggs discusses Wales the underlying theme is always personal underachievement. Most Saturdays Giggs has been in a winning team with Manchester United; the opposite has mainly applied when he has joined up with the national team.

"With Man United you get a lot of possession, with Wales you are chasing the game," he said, and he added that the stop-start nature of international football has not lent itself to his style. "I don't think I've produced because I can't get a run of games."

Toshack also mentioned Giggs's lack of fulfilment at international level this week but did so in an understanding manner.

"We have seen what Ryan has done with Manchester United for many years but sometimes at international level you don't always take that club form with you," he said. "I know that was sometimes the case with myself when I played for Wales. At Liverpool I had a couple of pacy players who made things a lot easier for me. With Wales I found it more difficult."

Giggs is the oldest outfield player in the Wales squad and bears a leadership responsibility as well as the constant pressure demanded from his talent.

"I see it as an honour," he said of the captaincy. "A lot of the lads coming through will be looking to the likes of me to inspire them."

Wales require inspiration because for all Toshack's talk that Giggs, Craig Bellamy, John Hartson and Simon Davies represent as exciting a forward four as he has ever coached, Wales may have to draw the rest of their side from the Football League.

As the Austrian midfielder Martin Stranzl said, "Yes, Wales have class players . . . but the ball has to get to them first."

Given the occasion, Toshack's competitive debut, they may still have enough impetus to beat an Austrian team that drew at home to England last September but was fortunate to leave Belfast with a point the following month.

Austria's coach Hans Krankl, who lost the experienced Martin Hiden through injury on Thursday night, is facing increasing criticism, some of it coming from his superiors.

"Only a win counts in Cardiff," said the president of the Austrian FA, Friedrich Stickler. "Anything else would be a major disappointment."