Chris Coleman content despite Holland defeat in Cardiff

Chris Coleman expressed his delight at fringe players pushing their case for Euro 2016 inclusion after Wales' defeat to Holland in Cardiff.

Holland captain Arjen Robben condemned Wales to only their second loss in 11 games with a second-half brace, but Coleman was satisfied with the attacking aspects of his side’s performance in the 3-2 defeat.

Wales were without influential pair Gareth Bale — who was watching on from the stand at the Cardiff City Stadium — and Aaron Ramsey as well as strikers Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Vokes.

But they still troubled a Dutch defence and Joe Ledley and substitute Emyr Huws produced equalisers before Robben settled the game in Holland’s favour during the final 10 minutes.

“We are building towards something, what we have done is great but it has gone,” Coleman said after Wales’ Euro 2016 build-up had started in earnest.

“It is behind us it is now and it is about what is coming next.

“We will be judged on what is coming, not what has been.

“We are proud of what we have done but we are building and working on strength and depth, we’ve got a lot of young players who will be there in summer.”

Tom Lawrence, in particular, caught the eye after he was asked to lead the line on his first start for Wales.

Lawrence, the 21-year-old Leicester striker currently on loan at Blackburn, failed to take two first-half opportunities that came his way, but he was lively throughout.

Fulham winger George Williams also made an encouraging return after eight months out with a cruciate knee injury, while scorer Huws, Paul Dummett and Adam Henley also came off the bench to provide more options.

“We used our full number of six subs and were still competitive,” Coleman said.

“We scored two goals without Bale and Ramsey, which is a big thing when you look at who was getting the goals for us in the qualification campaign.

“We also did not have Hal so we were without our front three from the campaign, but I was delighted for Tom Lawrence.

“He is a very good player, he has improved and has done very well for us and George Williams is also back after nearly a year out.

“Ben Davies has not been in the first team at Tottenham, James Chester has not been playing at West Brom but Paul Dummett and Adam Henley have got caps.

“We are building and these lads need minutes if they are to come with us to France.”

Holland, unlike Wales, will not be in France next summer after failing to qualify for the European Championships for the first time since 1984.

But coach Danny Blind believes glamour friendlies against the big European nations will provide the necessary motivation to prepare them ahead of September's opening World Cup qualifiers.

“It was a hard job to motivate them after we missed out on the Euros, but the team were focused and put a lot of energy in the game,” Blind said.

“In the second half we should have scored four or five goals.

“We play Germany on Tuesday and France and England in March, the big countries.

“So I hope the motivation is there. We need those games for (World Cup qualification) preparation.”