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Pele, Maradona and Best - Wales boss Coleman has friendly dig at England

Wales national team boss Chris Coleman was in a playful mood on Wednesday as he continues preparing his side for their Euro2016 opener this weekend.

The Dragons head coach had a joke at England's expense when he produced a team sheet at training which included the names of 10 legendary players.

Coleman was of course taking the mickey out of England assistant Ray Lewington who was photographed with what appeared to be the starting Three Lions line-up for their meeting with Russia on Saturday.

Lewington's note pad showed a 4-3-2-1 formation and had Dele Alli and Wayne Rooney named in positions just behind the striker.

In a very joking manner, Coleman also scrawled some names on his team sheet, including the great Pele, Maradona and George Best, in a bid to poke some fun at Roy Hodgson's man while breaking the monotony at Wales training.

Coleman's assistant Osian Roberts insisted that it was not a dig at the English, merely a tension breaker for he and his squad as Saturday's clash with Slovakia looms near.

"It was just a little bit of joke between the staff and fun - nothing untoward towards England because we know their staff and management well," he said.

"We want to keep our team as tight as we can for as long as we can, although that is difficult."

Coleman's full team featured Gordon Banks in goal; a back four of Roberto Carlos, Moore, Franz Beckenbauer and Cafu; a midfield featuring Best, Socrates, Bobby Charlton and Zico; along with strikers Pele and Maradona.

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Andrew Slevison
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