Wales' Euro Heroes

Wales Euro 2016 adventure has inspired a nation. I am very proud.

Sam Vokes. There are incredible performance has kept a gene alive.

When Bale was given the ball have to time I stopped believing. They set

pulses racing. Chris Coleman, put that into words. They exceeded all

expectations. Now we are a football mission. A football mission.

Robson-Kanu. Can someone explain what has happened? Semifinal. This

is how they made history. Wales extraordinary journey began

with hope and trepidation. They had never been to a major tournament. We

know what the expectations are as a group, as a team, as a country. We

know what we are capable of. We need to look at it in a positive light.

It is a huge challenge for us. To be fully involved as a nation will be

amazing for everybody and hopefully we can do everybody proud. For the

opening game against Slovakia Wales travels along with thousands of

hopeful supporters. It has been amazing. Everybody is good fun. As

soon as you see another Wales shirt. Everybody is looking forward to the

game tonight. After nearly 60 years of trying Wales were finally about

to play their first game in a major tournament. We did not know who we

were going to do against Slovakia. Some fans were apprehensive. Some

were just happy to be there. I never got there as a player and as

assistant manager I never got there, so thank you for inviting me.

The BBC had asked me to do the first two games which was five days apart.

I was in a rush when I got to the airport. I watched the first game in

a pub with my mates. It was just an odd feeling because we have never

done it before. The Norwegian referee blows his whistle. Slovakia

get the game underway. In five minutes Welsh nerves were being

tested. And believable. But those nerves were about to be eased. Great

position for a Gareth Bale on his favoured left foot. Half the time he

stopped breathing, as if that will help.

I guaranteed the manager has sat down with the goalkeeper and a short

all of Gaelic deal's free kicks but it is his reputation that makes the

goalkeeper panic. Left footed. He has scored. Bale for Wales. The

towers man has delivered. Who else? Now the chance. The equalising goal.

Even the also ' came back into the game and they went 1-1, I was

thinking we can still win this. It did not feel that we were out of it.

Aaron Ramsey. Robson-Kanu shoots. It is Wales two, Slovakia one. It is a

brilliantly shinned goal. Nobody cared. To get that result made a

statement in this competition. 58 years they have waited and victory

in their first game back on the big stage. You have once again made

hastily, a first match in a European Championships, and a first victory.

It is my proudest moments, when we came out. Our supporters keep on

topping what they have done. We win together and we lose together. Being

a manager when I game is finished you enjoy it for a ten minutes then

you worry about the next game. He had find a balance and that balance

is the secret to their success. Wales tournament had got off to the

perfect start but something far bigger was looming. A match against

the Auld enemy, England. The mind games began. If I can quote a few

quarts allegedly attributed to you, England pick themselves up, passion,

pride, patriotism. Did you see all that and did you mean it? I never

said they did not have passion. I just feel that we have more and I am

sure they have the opinion they have more also. We do not have any doubts

ourselves about our passion, desire and commitment. Our wish to do well

in the June two. If other people have an opinion that is fine by me.

I think I know your answer,. We had had the mind games, now came the

hype. The dragon under the mountain. A

week now. Both managers have tried to play it

down but we do not have too, we have been playing it up since the

fixtures were announced. I am more nervous now than when I was playing.

England have changed, not surprisingly. He needs players to

deliver. 21,000 days since I Welsh player 's board. When that whistle

goes both players will be at it, it will be a typical British game,

physical, aggressive. There is quality in both teams. I am looking

forward to a good game of football. Once the whistle goes and does not

matter what anybody said because it is going to business. I wanted Wales

to beat England. He wanted that kind of Picardy. It is because we are a

small country, there is that that of a grudge that I would accept losing

to other teams if they beat England. That is full, I know it is awful.

That is me. I way we go. The Lions, won the Dragon, it sounds like

legend. Raheem Sterling cannot keep it down. Wayne Rooney. Chris

Smalling met it. Just past the post. Not far past that. We thought that,

England are starting to click, we were taking a bit of punishment. Up

stepped the King himself, Lord Bale. We have seen some amazing things

from Gareth Bale but this would be something else if it goes on from

here. As he steps up, over the wall. He has scored. It is Bale.

Not many players in the world can do that. What a free kick. What I goal.

When it went in my shirt went up over my head and my wife shouted,

put your belly button back in. England needed and X Factor of their

own. Jamie Vardy is there, England are level. That momentum was now

with England. With the final whistle approaching England delivered the

decisive blow. Daniel Sturridge. He scores. I was gutted. It was

sickening. If they scored in the 70th minute you could live with it

but the fact they scored at the end, you are questioning what will happen

next. Talk about passion, talk about pride, this end and team has it in

bucketloads. Wales were down but not out. Inside we are still strong and

happy. We still have one more game to go. The tournament is not over

yet. We are still in the thick of it and we will go to the next game with

more strength. England were top of the table, Wales had four days to

pick themselves up for the final group game. We know we will be

disappointed but come tomorrow, this is done, as simple as that. We can

be disappointed about this result but now it is time to get on with

playing. It is not the end of the world. We still have a great chance

to qualifying. If we beat Russia we go through, we march on. Come on,

Wales. The fans headed south to Toulouse for the last group game

against Russia. Lose the match and they were in danger of going home. I

was happy with a draw. I just wanted that extra point to make sure we

were definitely going through. This is for Wales is it. The equation can

be simple. When. If they do that they are guaranteed to finish either

top or second in the group. Brilliant golfer Aaron Ramsey. He

scores for Wales. The Arsenal midfielder has drawn first blood.

What a ball from Joe Allen. Aaron Ramsey has got the audacity to wait

for the goalkeeper to go down and then he brings it over him, cool,

calm, collected. 1-0 Wales. Gareth Bale trying to exploit a gap in the

Russian rearguard. A great run. It has come to Taylor. His first ever

goal for Wales. They are in dreamland. We have not played 20

minutes yet. It is 2-0, Wales. Joe Ledley. Chris Gunter. Aaron Ramsey.

Weaving it through to Bale. He is on site. Surely, this time. There is

the man. There is the man with the plan. 3-0. Sam Vokes would have been

in an offside position, he was clever enough to leave it for Bale,

he sees the goalkeeper rushing out, he composes himself, outside of his

left boot, flex it, what a finish. 3-0, wheels. What a performance. We

could have scored 14 or 15 goals. The result was a flattering result

for them. That was the first time we thought we are in the great chance.

The whistle has gone. Wales are through. They are inspiring a nation

which is really something special. It is history being made in front of

us and I feel lucky to be witnessing it on television. That is what that

means. That is what it means to these vans. And believable passion,

spirit. The supporters have been amazing. It has been the best

moments of their lives they have said. A lot of them are glad they

are beer. We have waited for so long to be part of a huge tournament.

Fantastic. They have been unbelievable of this campaign. Their

support, the way they have behaved, it makes us proud to be Welsh. More

good news was to come. Wales has finished top of the group ensuring

an easier route through the knockout stages. The celebrations carried on

late into the night. # Please don't take me home

# I want to stay here # Please don't take me home. #

Wales edits to Paris for a last 16 match against Northern Ireland, win

the game and they would be in the quarterfinals. We were favourites

going into which was a little bit different. Northern Ireland expected

us to go in there and win. But Northern Ireland were organised.

There was that feeling that if they catch you on a counterattack you are

in trouble. Saturday 25th of June is a day that people will remember for

the rest of their lives and not only because it is the Beach Festival but

also because Wales will rise to one of their greatest triumphs of all

time. Bale for Wales, he has done it again. Robson-Kanu. We are behind

you all the way. It has come to Taylor. They are in G-man. We are so

proud of you. We can do this. Surely this time.

Pride and passion, give it to them. We know you can do it, see you in

the quarterfinals. With a quarterfinal place up for grabs the

stage was set. Get into the Parc des Princes, I got there in time for the

Welsh national anthem. proud to be a Welsh ban in all my

life. Never. It is a major tournament. It is Wales, it is

Northern Ireland, it is in Paris. For whoever wins the game there is

more of this yet to come. There are three red shirts in the middle. Sam

Vokes. Offside Aaron Ramsey as he turns the ball in. Jonny Evans. Shot

fired. Fired nicely by Jamie Ward. Robson-Kanu. Aaron Ramsey. Bale

behind him. It is turned into his own net by the unfortunate Gareth

McAuley. My favourite Welsh man at the moment, Gareth McAuley, a great

goal he scored for us against Northern Ireland. Thank you, you are

a true Welshman. It is wise he goes off before that

gets worse. Aaron Ramsey is saying it is fine. Adrenaline is taking

over here. That kind of will to want to stay, to not want to give up.

There's a bit where you go, your armies hanging off. In one of the

pictures I saw, you could see there was something wrong. But I

understand you want to give everything you could possibly give.

There is that never say die, never give up bit about she wants to be

there for that moment. From Martin Atkinson... It is another Wales

winner. On the way to the quarterfinals. Wales are in the

quarterfinals of the euro 16. It is beyond your wildest dreams. You

can't ask for any more. It is incredible. I saw your daughter give

you a message earlier. What did it say? He the talismanic for Wales,

the one they all look up to. The group have been led by him and I

have loved it because he's a player, a world class player and has

sacrificed at times maybe a little bit going forward to help the team.

He is solid enough to defend them. Incredibly, after 58 years of

failing to qualify for a major tournament, Wales were now on their

way to the quarterfinal of one. The party had already begun.

I think is a disco champion, to be honest. They all dance like that.

They don't score many goals until they do that!

The Joe Ledley shuffle. It just a bit matters what a good time they

are having. -- it epitomises. When you go on these tournaments you are

a long time away from people you want to be with. They seem to be

content with each other's company and when you are cooped up in a

hotel for a long time, that's a thing. The team returned activates.

Now, they would wait to see who will would join them for the last eight.

Some thought Wales get is the quarters was a surprise, but an even

bigger shock was coming. I is land, the smallest nation in

the competition had knocked out Icelander. -- Icelander. They would

face Belgium, the second-best in the world.

Won't somebody tell me what is the soul of man? Will somebody tell me,

what is the soul of man? # well, I've travelled to different

countries, I've travelled to the foreign land. I've found a nobody

who can tell me, tell me what is the soul of a man. Well I saw a crowd

talking, I just came up in time, the teacher, the lawyer and the doctor,

a man in nothing but his mind. I want somebody to tell me, and a semi

if can. Want somebody to tell me, tell me what is the soul of man. #

#, what is the soul of man. #. There's nothing for us to be afraid

of, no fear. It is tense, tough, exciting. The future is not written,

we do not know what it will be in a game of football or anything. What

is in our control is ourselves and our performance and that is what we

are looking at. SSE Arena here we go. Big chance, big save.

Brilliantly defended. Little bit of room. He took the shot, she scores

magnificently. My head was in my hand so many timers and I was in a

pub in the valley and everyone was just like, you know... The

atmosphere was outstanding and to be fair, that first goal was so, so

good. I really hoped that was the thing of what was to come. What I

see in the Welsh team is the team spirit. It goes beyond where you are

as an individual player. It is how they behave as a team. They have a

genuine belief they could go in and do well. They've got a plan. Aaron

Ramsey, he is on site. Aaron Ramsey has cornered Williams. Williams for

Wales! It's a great delivery. He's got his eyes on the ball, heads it

to the ground. Bail. Aaron Ramsey. What a goal from Hal Robson-Kanu.

What a finish from his left foot. Given the comedy is one of the best

goalkeepers in the world. Brilliant finish. I just couldn't believe it.

Wales were on fire and the world was watching. Hal Robson-Kanu! On the

fire! Towards Chris Woakes. Sam Vokes!

Wales are into the semifinal of the European Championship. Something

special is happening here tonight. He gets there first. Puts it into

the corner of the net. Unbelievable. Wales are going into the semifinals

of the European Championship. Amazing, amazing stuff.

Wales have done it. They've come from behind to beat the mighty

Belgians. Wales had pulled off the result of the tournament. Fans could

not believe what they were seeing. Yet! Getting there! Come on!

Wow, just wow. One of their greatest performances in the history of

British football. Version is commitment, desire, passion, but

most of all, they've shown ability. They 100% deserve to be where they

are. You're going home! I don't want to be the dampener on it, but your

car park balloons going to be high. I do mind, I'll put my hand in my

pocket. I suppose it was a funny story for everybody. I had all sorts

of people ringing me. I was on Brazilian television doing an

interview about it. I thought I was going to talk about football on

Brazilian television and the first question asked me was tell us about

your car in the car park! What is going on? Is probably generation of

young boys and girls staying up far too late to watch Wales make the

semifinal. So watch message for those back home? Dream. Don't be

afraid to dream. Four years ago, I was as far away from this as you can

imagine. Chris Coleman would once see his team jobs 117th in the world

and had taken Wales to the European semifinal. Their opponents would be

Portugal. I would never thought I would see Wales in a major

tournaments, never mind in the semifinals -- semifinals of a major

tournament. When you have the unity and determination they have, you can

do what you want. They're definitely showing youngsters you can dream big

and achieve it. They'd been ranked outsiders when they arrived at the

Euros. Now they were the talk of the town. It's worth saying twice, isn't

it, that Wales could reach the final of the Euros tonight? It's

incredible. Don't jinx it. From Pontypool... To London. I know the

whole house will want to wish Wales look ahead of the Euro 2016

semifinal this evening. We wish them all the best. And Los Angeles. Go

Wales! Go Wales! Together, stronger. Let us do this. Excitement was

hitting heights never seen before. Amazing, like a dream come true.

It didn't matter if you couldn't get to France. In Cardiff, 27,000 fans

gathered to watch the biggest match in Welsh football history on a big

screen. All eyes were fixed on Lyon for the European semifinal. Wales

versus Portugal. Bale versus Ronaldo. Further than any Wales team

that has gone before. Together stronger is the Welsh motto. They

were together team and get ready to kick off. The country's first ever

major tournament football semifinal. Rinaldo. Rinaldo was fouled and he

very nearly played. Something different! Bale. Portugal out.

Nearly everybody out. Bale skips past... The first half

remained goalless. Somebody had to break the deadlock.

Goal! Here's Ronaldo once again. Finished

off. It looks as though Wales all signing out. -- are signing out.

Listen to that. Wales were bowing out of the Euros. But the fans sang

to the end. Joe Allen. All over in Lyon. All over for Wales. It will be

Portugal in Paris on Sunday. But for Wales, this is only the end of one

story. In years to come, thousands upon thousands will be able to

fondly say, I wasn't there. -- I was there.

It will always hurt whoever is the first to bow out. I didn't expect it

to her this much. They should be proud of themselves, the nation is

proud of them, and so am I. It is Oliver tonight, but they will look

back and should know how will they have done for the country.

Portugal would go on to win the Euros. The Welsh campaign was over.

But they had exceeded all expectations. Everybody knows Wales

now. Some people didn't know where Wales was, believe it or not. But

now we are a football nation. A big nation.

The team were given a hero 's welcome.

It feels that that message of being a team has come at and really

strongly and that pride and passion and, you know, good luck to them! I

hope this is a stepping stone for Wales to go on and do lots of other

really exciting things. They will never forget the Welsh story, they

were sublime on and off the field. The fans were great, the team spirit

has been fantastic. It's just been a pleasure to be Welsh.

It's just been fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's put the

nation on the world stage. It's been a fantastic couple of weeks. Washing

them and also followed them. Over 100,000 fans had made the trip to

France. Now it felt as if they had all come to Cardiff. Is what you

dream of as a kid. Drugs that your country want them but played a major

tournament and have got through to these other -- semifinal, is

surpassed all expectations. I never thought we'd see this in our

lifetime, but it's such a special occasion. Is a credit to a phone who

came out to support us. We couldn't have dream of something like this a

couple of years ago. Credit to the manager and the country for pulling

together and achieving something like this. Quite emotional, really.

It is one of pride, what the lads in the staff have achieved, to

celebrate with the fans like this makes me proud. Imagine if you'd

would it! We just said that, what would it be like if we'd won? This

was a part in nobody wanted to miss. There is Joe Ledley! Even for those

getting married in IB. -- I be so. I give up.

It's what it means to the whole country. It is nice to say thank you

for supporting us and being there with others and these amazing

scenes. It is something we will never forget. The Welsh European

journey ended where it began. Now, a World Cup qualifying campaign begins

in September. So stand by. This story is not over. The adventure

continues. For others to achieve what we have,

this speaks volumes for the players. It is not just about talent, you

have to have a hunger and a desire. That was with us throughout and

carried us in a lot of games. It has been a privilege to watch them, be a

part of them guide them and lead them. I could not ask for anything

more from any of them. We have to build on this and not let it be a

one-off. We can be proud of what we have them but it is what is next and

we must push on.