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Jack Wilshere last night stoked up the Battle of Britain and admitted: ‘They don’t like us - and we don’t like them.’

And the midfielder also insisted that England are fired up to prove they are just as passionate about playing for their country as Wales’ players are for theirs.

It comes after Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale was damning about England last week when he said they lacked “passion and pride” as well as being over confident.

But Wilshere hit back: “We know that Wales don’t like us. Do we like them? Not really! We know it is going to be a tough game and there are going to be tackles. It is going to be like a Premier League game.

“It gives us a chance to show the nation we have got a lot of passion. We are here to win and we are here for business. If we go out there and put in a good performance and win the game we are in a great position.

In pictures - England 1-1 Russia:

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“If you put both teams down on paper, we would win the game but it doesn’t work like that in football. Everyone knows that. The Premier League is the perfect example of teams beating better teams at the end of the day.

“We have got to prepare right and put the work in, get the recovery from Marseille right and get everyone back training, fit and ready to go on Thursday. Then we have to work hard on that.”

(Image: Michael Regan - The FA)

Wilshere also hailed Bale as “world class” and the biggest threat to England but insisted that Wayne Rooney is still “up there” in the bracket of the best players on the planet.

Wilshere added: “Messi is on a different planet to anyone but I think Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are up there with the best in the world. He has developed but even at Tottenham he was world class.

“He has gone on from there and become a fantastic player and there is no denying that. He’s going to be their biggest threat and we have got to stop him getting the ball.

(Image: AFP/Getty) (Image: REUTERS)

READ MORE: Sturridge considered for shock England start vs Wales

“But I have played with Wayne for years and for me he has this understanding of the game. I remember when I first came into the side I was playing in qualifying and the runs he used to make and his timing were perfect.

“People say he is not as quick as he used to be, but his understanding of the game…”

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