Toshack: Win or bust

The Wales boss watched his battling side lose just 1-0 to a German side who now top qualifying Group Four, with Russia in second place. Wales must now wait until next March for a five-day period when they play Finland and Germany at home.

And Toshack said: "If we cannot win those two games then we can forget about qualifying."

Toshack was full of praise for his side, but Wales have now failed narrowly in two away group four qualifiers against top opposition.

Last month they lost 2-1 in Moscow to the Russians, and were equally close here before being beaten by a second-half strike from Piotr Trochowski.

"Of course we are very disappointed, to have come so close against two of the top four countries in Europe," said Toshack. "But I could not have asked for any more from the lads. They gave everything, but just came up short again.

"I had players out there like James Collins and Craig Bellamy who neither had played for a year. I worried about even putting Collins into the match under such circumstances but they were magnificent.

"Germany had a lot of the ball and some good chances, but we made two or three good openings too and could easily have got something."

He added: "But it means in terms of qualification, we now know we must win our next two home games or we are wasting our time.

"We play Finland and Germany in Cardiff in a five-day period at the end of next March. Those two games must be won. In fact, we really cannot afford to lose any more of our qualifiers now. We have played our hardest two matches, both away, so we must look to get something from every other game we play."