Wales manager Chris Coleman believes major European nations might be scared to play his side ahead of the European Championship.
Coleman wants two November friendlies in what should be the start of Wales' build-up to their first major tournament in 58 years next summer.
Wales need only one point from their final two Euro 2016 qualifiers, away to Bosnia-Herzegovina and at home to Andorra, to make it to France.
They go into those two games having reached an all-time high position of eighth in the FIFA world rankings, but Coleman's plans for high-quality friendly opposition next month have produced only frustration with Italy among the countries to reject the offer of a Wales friendly.
"We thought that we might be able to tempt a Spain or a Germany and find out how good we are, but there's been no interest," Coleman said.
"We were turned down by one or two and Italy didn't want to play us.
"Look at the friendly games and the big boys keep it among themselves. That's disappointing.
"We had Holland last summer and you want to play against those sides, those juggernauts.
"But we're not seen as an England, Italy or Spain and we're in that spot where we are a danger to some of the big boys in that we could win. Maybe they are scared of us."
Wales now seem likely to lower their sights for November opposition and will wait on the outcome of the Euro qualifiers to determine which nations will not be involved in the play-offs.
But Coleman says there is still the mouth-watering prospect of playing Lionel Messi's Argentina in a glamour friendly next year.
"There's talk of Argentina after Christmas," Coleman said. "It's been on the cards for a long time and it would be great if we could tie that down.
"Should we get to France then we need a couple of really good juicy games before we get out there.
"Once we know the (Euro 2016) draw we'll be right in the mix."
Source: PA
