Euro 2016: John Hartson would welcome Wales point in Israel

Former striker John Hartson says Wales' focus should be on avoiding defeat in Israel and not to lose ground on the current Group B leaders.

Wales have two wins and two draws from their four games as they bid to reach next year's Euro 2016 finals in France.

Chris Coleman's side are a point behind Saturday's opponents Israel, who have won all three of their qualifiers to date.

"I would take a point," ex-Arsenal striker Hartson told BBC Wales Sport.

"I don't think it's a bad result coming to Israel and they are in a fantastic moment of their own, top of the group.

"That's not me being negative that's me showing Israel a lot of respect.

"They are a good side but we've got good players, we've got one of the best players on the planet in Gareth Bale, when you've got him on board he is capable of winning the game on his own. "

Hartson was a member of the Wales side which lost to Russia in a Euro 2004 play-off

Hartson, who won 51 international caps, was a member of the Wales team which came close to qualifying for the 2004 European Championships.

Wales lost 1-0 in a play-off to Russia and have not come close to reaching the finals of a major tournament since then.

Current manager Coleman says Saturday's qualifier against Israel in Haifa is Wales' biggest game since defeat to Russia in 2013, but Hartson disagrees.

"It's a big game, I know what Chris is saying," Hartson said.

"It's only as big as the next one. Andorra was a big game when we went there and Gareth [Bale] got the late header, three points.

"They [Israel] are top of the group. They have a game in hand if we lose and then they win their game in hand, all of a sudden they are away - that's seven points ahead of us.

"If we are going to be positive we can say if we beat them and they lose again in midweek against Belgium, we could be above them."

Wales' next game after facing Israel will be against Belgium on Friday, 12 June in Cardiff before travelling to Cyprus in September.

Their campaign concludes with home games against Israel and Andorra, either side of a trip to Bosnia-Hercegovina.