"Gareth Bale is a standout player -- you don't play for Real Madrid if you're an average player -- but I honestly believe we've got one of the best defences in the tournament," Lafferty told British media.
"I don't think they've been given enough praise for what they've done. It's going to be a tough game but hopefully we'll be celebrating at the end."
Northern Ireland's played out a 1-1 draw with Wales in March and Lafferty said he felt the fighting spirit in Michael O'Neill's squad will see them win on Saturday.
"We played against Wales three or four months ago, we know about their players," the 28-year-old said.
"It's going to be a tough game, they've got some world-class players, but with our heart and determination we honestly believe that we can go on and beat anyone."
(Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru; editing by Ken Ferris)
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