Wales enjoyed their greatest day in football for more than half a century by overwhelming Russian Federation 3-0 on Monday to win Group B at Euro 2016 ahead of their oldest rivals England.
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Gareth Bale insists Wales will be staying off the beers but said the tournament debutants will happily soak up the plaudits as they wait to find out their last 16 opponents at their “amazing” Euro 2016.
Chris Coleman’s team will now play one of the third-placed sides in Paris on Saturday (Sunday NZT) with every hope of reaching the last eight, as they did in 1976.
“There are no easy games but this might give us a slightly easier game”, he said.
Bale, now the tournament’s leading goal scorer with three goals, has told The Guardian “it is hard to describe, it was an unbelievable occasion. Given the pressure of the game that was one of the best team performances I have ever been a part of”.
“The players were courageous tonight, they did everything they are capable of on the ball, which we did not do against England”, he said last night.
The former Turf Moor winger said: “The game stops with him in terms of he gets hold of it and players like Bale and Ramsey can play off Sam Vokes”.
“If we’re honest, he’s probably played a lot better for us – but it looked as if it was a matter of time before he scored”.
“I am not too sure (if other teams take notice)”.
An unmarked Bale got the ball in the box in the 68th minute and beat Akinfeev to bring the score to 3-0.
England could only manage a frustrating goalless draw against Slovakia and dropped to second place in Group B.
Russian Federation won his first five matches in charge and harboured hopes of making an impression even in the first group game against England when a last minute goal secured a 1-1 draw.
Wales had found themselves in a precarious position in the group after losing 1-2 to England in their last game. I’ve been waiting for a while for this moment, to show what we are capable of on a big stage.
“I said there was more to come from this group of players, they are on the way to something else, I am just glad we are on it with them”.
“Nights like tonight when you see your supporters celebrate like that.as a nation, geographically we’re small.
It was a great team performance and everything was spot on”.
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“I thought they were tremendous, so courageous in possession, we had a lot of chances, and on the back of such a crushing defeat against England four days earlier”.
