Giggs sure Wales will thrive now he's gone

Manchester United's veteran retired from the international scene this summer and tomorrow's Euro 2008 qualifying clash against Germany will be Wales's first competitive game since he quit.

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Big-game player: but Earnshaw may not start against Germany

Giggs, now 33, says that while reaching next year's finals in Austria and Switzerland may be beyond the current crop, he has faith in Wales qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

And those thoughts have been echoed by manager Toshack as he plots a surprise against Germany, who were beaten by a Robert Earnshaw goal five years ago.

Giggs said: "I have always said that Wales can be better off without me and I hope that proves to be the case . . . and that the nation finally qualifies for one of these major tournaments.

"Their hopes of getting to Euro 2008 are probably gone, but the World Cup in 2010 can be a real aim for this Welsh team.

"A lot of the players, like Craig Bellamy, Jason Koumas, Danny Gabbidon and Simon Davies, will be in their international prime by then.

"And younger ones, like Gareth Bale, Wayne Hennessey, and Lewin Nyatanga will have the advantage of lots of international football behind them.

"Wales will continue to move onwards and upwards. I just thought my decision to retire was something that suited me at my stage of my career, and suited Wales, too."

Unlike England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce, who has lamented the fact that top clubs no longer boast players who are qualified to play for their country, Toshack is encouraged by Wales's future.

He said: "Our experienced players are still a couple of years away from full maturity at international level. I'm talking about the ones that are 27, 28; like Gabbidon, Bellamy, Davies and Koumas.

"If we fielded our strongest Under 21 side now, and we're talking Hennessey, Joe Ledley, Bale, Nyatanga, Craig Davies and David Edwards, we would probably have the strongest Under 21 side we've ever had."

One player who will be hoping past performances do count for something is Earnshaw.

The Derby County striker has been a substitute in his club's previous two Premier League outings, and he is in danger of losing his Wales place to Wolves forward Freddy Eastwood.

But Earnshaw, whose winner against Germany five years ago came on his international debut, said: "I feel I have done myself justice. The last couple of years playing with Bellers, I feel that we have connected well together. "I enjoyed playing with him, he is a good player. He helps me, and I help him. I love scoring goals and playing well and all the rest of it.

"It is up to the manager, he picks the team. For me the big games have always been good."