Yorath won 59 caps in a distinguished career for Wales

Yorath, who guided Wales to the brink of World Cup 1994 qualification, said the recent performances against San Marino and Cyprus were "appalling".

But he spared manager John Toshack from criticism, and said he should continue in the job for the next eight years.

"I didn't see any passion at all in either game. I just sense there is a bit of pride missing," said Yorath.

"I saw people who didn't really know what they were doing or how they could get a bit of passion into their play.

"Sometimes the players have got to look at themselves. They are very well paid. We have got a small squad - we've always had a small squad.

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"Now we've got a squad without Giggs, Hartson, Savage - people who were really the lifeblood of the team.

"They always wanted to play for Wales. At the moment I look at the squad and think 'are they little boys who can take it or leave it and get paid too much money?'.

"If they don't want to play for Wales, tell the manager that and get out."

In the wake of Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifying defeat to Cyprus, Toshack accused some of his players of taking playing for Wales for granted and not appreciating their "luxury lifestyles".

Yorath agreed with Toshack's frank assessment and claimed many of Wales' players are in a "comfort zone".

He also said they are guilty of believing they are better players than they actually are.

It's no good criticising John - you have to look at the players Terry Yorath

"They aren't at any kind of level," Yorath, one of the most competitive players to ever wear a Wales shirt, told BBC Wales Sport.

"We've got to be beating teams like San Marino by more than two goals to one.

"But it's become easy for these players to get their wages without putting everything into it."

The victory over San Marino was Toshack's 10th in his 27 games in charge.

Many fans have called for him to go, and even Football Association of Wales councillor Phil Woosnam called for a managerial change last week.

The FAW secretary general David Collins has backed Toshack, though, asking fans to be patient as he rebuilds the side with youngsters.

Yorath is adamant Toshack is the best man for the job and has urged the FAW to show their faith in him by entrusting him with the job for years to come.

"It's no good criticising John - you have to look at the players and how many we've got available," said Yorath. "At the moment there aren't many.

"They should give John Toshack a longer contract and say 'we trust you - the performances haven't been good, the players have let themselves down as well as their country, now you sort it out over the next seven or eight years'.