CARDIFF, Wales (AP) – The Welsh capital of Cardiff came to a standstill on Friday as Wales’ national team returned home to a rapturous welcome by an estimated 200,000 people after its historic run to the European Championship semifinals in France.
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Chris Coleman says the 2018 World Cup campaign will be his last as Wales manager.
“I am sure this will be my last campaign, whether we qualify or not”, he said. “With a little bit of luck, desire and hunger, anything can happen”.
For the first time in 58 years, Wales qualified for a major tournament and went on to achieve their greatest ever finish after bravely bowing out to Portugal in the semi-finals.
The 46-year-old is contracted until the end of the next World Cup, with his team playing their first qualifier at home to Moldova on 5 September.
“They did the whole country proud and I’m glad that I got to see Wales play in a major worldwide tournament”.
The success enjoyed by Coleman’s Wales has seen him linked with other jobs, but he said: “I would not consider going anywhere else”.
Ahead of the events on stage at the stadium, there will be a bus tour around the city, starting at Cardiff Castle from 1600.
Over 30,000 were present at Cardiff City Stadium and The Alarm’s Mike Peters and Manic Street Preachers provided musical entertainment.
“There’s loads of work to be done with this team, and I’ll give everything I’ve got in the next campaign”.
And, after annoying the England camp during the Euros by claiming that Wales had more pride and passion than their neighbours, the Real Madrid star could not resist one final quip.
“To get a welcome like this was incredible. I’ll give everything I’ve got in this next campaign”.
Gareth Bale added: “We’ve been watching videos from France, but seeing what it’s like here shows just how awesome our fans are”.
On the decision to dye his hair before the tournament, Ramsey said: “I’d been thinking of doing it for a while and I just thought ‘why not?’ I put in some decent performances so I’m pleased with it”.
“We may be only a nation of three million but we have shown to a global audience exactly what we can do – from the success on the pitch to our fantastic supporters”.
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“We can keep this momentum going”, Allen said.
