CAPTAIN courageous Gary Speed last night told his Welsh colleagues that team-work will help them realise their Euro 2004 dream.

The Newcastle United midfielder brushed off Georgi Yartsev's suggestions that Wales are a one-man force after the Russian coach pinpointed Manchester United icon Ryan Giggs as Mark Hughes' side's only threat.

"As we're such a small nation, we have not got so-called individual players," insisted Speed before Wales' Euro 2004 play-off first-leg here in Moscow.

"If we are going to achieve anything we must play as a team and stick to that rule.

"We have struggled of late and did not win the last four qualifying games because we got away from what made us a success - and that is our hard-working team ethic.

"We have now recognised the problem and the players realise what needs to be done and are more than prepared to do it.

"So if Russia think we're a one-man band, then that suits us and is in our favour.

"We're strong and capable enough to come through and this could be the moment when all the heartbreak ends and we reach a major championship - that is all that is in our minds. We can't think of anything else.

"And half of the job has got to be done today."

Speed wins his 78th cap in the chill of Moscow in today's European Championship play-off first-leg, desperate to repay Wales' loyal fans for their awesome support.

The Welsh top Europe's list with an average Millennium Stadium crowd of 72,000 - and Speed smiled: "We want to repay the fans by giving them something to shout about.

"The interest in the Welsh team has been fantastic and qualification will be great, not only for them but everyone in Wales as a whole."

Wales are preparing their defences for a Russian attacking onslaught at the Lokomotiv Stadium this afternoon (kick-off 4pm) but Speed did admit: "We're not just going to defend, we want to get at them. Of course we will come under pressure and we've worked and prepared for that.

"But we must think about ourselves because, with the players we've got in our team, attacking is one of our big strengths so we must try and capitalise on that."