0:00:02 > 0:00:04COMMENTATOR: 'The celebrations can start.
0:00:04 > 0:00:08'Wales will be in France next summer.
0:00:09 > 0:00:14'Chris Coleman's men have freed Welsh football from the shackles
0:00:14 > 0:00:16'of their history.'
0:00:19 > 0:00:23Wales have finally qualified for a major tournament.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31It's an achievement 58 years in the making.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33CROWD CHEER
0:00:33 > 0:00:38But to really understand the euphoria,
0:00:38 > 0:00:42you have to know about the pain that came before.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44CHEERING
0:00:44 > 0:00:46'Just listen to this atmosphere.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49MUSIC: Rock And Roll by Led Zeppelin
0:00:49 > 0:00:51'A sad afternoon for Wales.'
0:00:51 > 0:00:54I can't say any more. I'm sick of myself.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58- Forecast for the result from you? - 15-0 to Wales. Easy!
0:00:58 > 0:01:00'Dalglish gets a touch. What a goal!'
0:01:00 > 0:01:02It was the night when it all went wrong.
0:01:02 > 0:01:03'Keegan!
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Kicked away! No!
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Ba-ba-ba-ba.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Great chance for Ian Rush! Yes!
0:01:10 > 0:01:111-0.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Oh! And he's hit the crossbar!
0:01:13 > 0:01:15It's all over now, surely.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Tell them what happened in the room.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19The header and it's there!
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Utter disappointment and disbelief.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25Have you enjoyed six games, four defeats and two draws? I haven't!
0:01:37 > 0:01:42Long before Gareth Bale and the class of 2016, the hopes of Wales
0:01:42 > 0:01:45rested on the shoulders of another superstar.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54# Some people say a man is made out of mud
0:01:54 > 0:01:58# A poor man's made out of muscle and blood
0:01:58 > 0:02:03# Muscle and blood and skin and bones... #
0:02:03 > 0:02:07John Charles was a superstar of world football
0:02:07 > 0:02:11and the shining light of the Welsh football team.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15And in 1958, spirits were at an all-time high.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Wales were on their way to their first ever major football
0:02:19 > 0:02:22tournament, the World Cup in Sweden.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26# Boom, boom, boom, mm
0:02:27 > 0:02:30# They often call me Speedo
0:02:30 > 0:02:33# But my real name is Mr Earl... #
0:02:35 > 0:02:38After drawing games against Hungary, Mexico, and Sweden
0:02:38 > 0:02:42in the group stages, Wales beat Hungary again in a play-off.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48They had made it to the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51They would face Brazil,
0:02:51 > 0:02:55but would have to do it without John Charles, who was injured.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58They're without John Charles and if that isn't enough,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00they face the favourites, Brazil.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05And what's more, Brazil were about to unleash their own superstar,
0:03:05 > 0:03:07Pele.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10As you know, we are making a change in the programme now to bring you
0:03:10 > 0:03:15news of the World Cup game between Wales and Brazil at Gothenburg.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19Wales weren't given a chance, but fought all the way.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23It was a close match, but Pele proved to be the difference,
0:03:23 > 0:03:25scoring the only goal of the game.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34All credit then to gallant Wales for holding Brazil to a single goal.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Well, there it is. Wales are out of the World Cup competition,
0:03:39 > 0:03:43but they can go home to Wales with their heads held high.
0:03:43 > 0:03:48Wales were heroes. They'd made it to the quarterfinals of a World Cup.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51It should have been the start of something. It wasn't.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Years would pass, major competitions would come and go,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03man would go to the moon,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06man would have enough of the moon.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09The years just kept rolling.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Tournament after tournament would completely pass Wales by.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19England would win a World Cup.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24Some people are on the pitch. They think it's all over. It is now.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Wales couldn't get to one.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32The '60s were a really barren period for Welsh football, internationally.
0:04:32 > 0:04:37Produced some good players, but as a team, created nothing,
0:04:37 > 0:04:41no real excitement, no real threat of qualifying.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Good play by Terry Yorath.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45Oh, and a fine goal too.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47What about that one?
0:04:47 > 0:04:50For stars like Terry Yorath, plying his trade at high-flying
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Leeds United, coming to play for Wales was a bit of a let down.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00It was amateurish. The way they went about things was amateurish.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04The first training session, there was a fella called Jack Jones,
0:05:04 > 0:05:06who was physio-come-trainer.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09He'd pull his hand from behind his back and go...
0:05:09 > 0:05:11EXHALES
0:05:11 > 0:05:13And he'd have a fag.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17And I thought, "Dear me." I couldn't imagine this happening at Leeds.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21Goal kick. Goal kick. Because there was a bad call in there.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28In 1974, Wales would finally start to improve under a new manager,
0:05:28 > 0:05:32former school teacher Mike Smith.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37He changed the whole training. He changed how we were dressed.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42Kit, boots. I think that came from his teaching background.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44I think his organisation was fantastic.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50In just two years, Smith took Wales from qualification no-hopers
0:05:50 > 0:05:53to the brink of the European finals.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Just listen to this atmosphere.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58This is probably the most important match that Wales have played
0:05:58 > 0:06:02since their fine performance in the 1958 World Cup competition.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05In a quarterfinal play-off against Yugoslavia,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07it came down to one moment.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Toshack in on Maric.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Mahoney.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16And Maric doing supremely well.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19A penalty was awarded to Wales
0:06:19 > 0:06:22and the responsibility fell to their captain, Terry Yorath.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25I thought - well, you're the captain, you're going
0:06:25 > 0:06:28to have to take it. Never taken a penalty in my life before.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32And I swear to you, my knees were knocking.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37WHISTLE BLOWS
0:06:37 > 0:06:39And Maric saves it.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44Yorath wants the ground to open up.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48And surely that now tolls the bell of Welsh chances.
0:06:48 > 0:06:53I remember taking my family out in Cardiff that night and I had a shout
0:06:53 > 0:06:56from across the room, "That's the worst penalty,"
0:06:56 > 0:07:01and I looked over and it was Max Boyce.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04That was kind of him(!)
0:07:04 > 0:07:07# I want to be in that number
0:07:07 > 0:07:09# When the Reds go marching in. #
0:07:09 > 0:07:12It was the closest Wales had come to a major tournament
0:07:12 > 0:07:16since '58, but they'd given the fans hope and the next year, something
0:07:16 > 0:07:22bigger was up for grabs - a place at the '78 World Cup in Argentina.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25- Forecast for a result from you? - Oh, 15-0 to Wales, easy!
0:07:25 > 0:07:28He nearly lost our tickets. So they've got to win for us!
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Playing at Anfield, Wales had to beat Scotland to qualify
0:07:41 > 0:07:44and once again, Yorath would lead the team.
0:07:47 > 0:07:48Making a run is Sayer.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Chance for Wales.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Oh! Unlucky!
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Wales were giving it everything.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Toshack, nice touch. Chance for Yorath to shoot.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01And does, but it's blocked by Donachie.
0:08:01 > 0:08:02Toshack!
0:08:02 > 0:08:03Oh!
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Unlucky!
0:08:07 > 0:08:11But the match still remained level, as it drew to a close.
0:08:11 > 0:08:12Jordan was up there.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15Claims for handball.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17And it was.
0:08:17 > 0:08:18And a penalty's been given.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Well, there was a hand up there.
0:08:20 > 0:08:25I don't know why, but there was a hand up. There it goes. There it is.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29Bob Wilson, one could almost say that was a Scottish hand.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34And Dai Davies to save the day for Wales, against Don Masson.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36No problem.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Lifted by the penalty, Scotland quickly scored
0:08:42 > 0:08:45and Welsh dreams of a World Cup were over.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50Chance to put one in early. Dalglish gets a touch. What a goal!
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Two years, two penalties.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Wales were out again.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59It means that Scotland will definitely go to the World Cup
0:08:59 > 0:09:01finals in Argentina next year.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Terry Yorath, I don't think
0:09:03 > 0:09:06I've ever seen Wales play better than that.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Played very, very well. We're sick, obviously.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13There's been a few tears in the dressing room. I can't say any more.
0:09:13 > 0:09:14I'm sick myself.
0:09:14 > 0:09:19People that were involved in that game, they will sadly take
0:09:19 > 0:09:24that to their graves with them, the knowledge that we were cheated.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29I knew that was going to be my last chance,
0:09:29 > 0:09:31as a player, to qualify.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37As the '80s arrived, Wales found themselves back in the doldrums.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41More campaigns would begin with hope...
0:09:41 > 0:09:44What a terrible mistake and a goal for Wales.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46..only to end in disappointment.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Beautiful header and there's a chance.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52We can look back at that catastrophic night at the
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Vetch Field and the 2-2 draw against Iceland as the night
0:09:55 > 0:09:57when it all went wrong.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02In 1985, Wales would play Scotland again in another crucial
0:10:02 > 0:10:04World Cup qualifier.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Again, a penalty.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08And again, three familiar words.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13But this time,
0:10:13 > 0:10:17the game would be remembered for something more serious.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20Scotland manager Jock Stein collapsed at the end
0:10:20 > 0:10:22of the match and later died of a heart attack.
0:10:26 > 0:10:31By 1988, it was 30 years since Wales had been to a major tournament.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Terry Yorath, who had come so close as a player, was back.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37This time, as Wales manager.
0:10:37 > 0:10:42Terry understood players and he understood the motivation
0:10:42 > 0:10:46of players and he understood that we needed a little bit of freedom.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49We used to meet up on the Thursday.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52We never really had a great training session until the Sunday.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54The days before, I'd say,
0:10:54 > 0:10:58"Listen, I can get some tickets for Newbury racecourse.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01"Do the lads want to go horseracing?
0:11:01 > 0:11:03"Not one or two of you, all of you."
0:11:03 > 0:11:06So they all used to go. Cos they enjoyed their own company.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09They enjoyed being with each other.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12After three years in the job, Terry Yorath was building a team
0:11:12 > 0:11:15that would finally bring back hope of qualification.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17Rush.
0:11:17 > 0:11:18There goes Rush. He's through!
0:11:18 > 0:11:20Great chance for Ian Rush!
0:11:20 > 0:11:21Yes!
0:11:23 > 0:11:27They beat the world champions, Germany, and discovered a superstar.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31Speed runs over it. It is indeed Giggs. Oh, what a goal!
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Hopefully the first of many international goals for Ryan Giggs.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39But something far bigger was on the horizon.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53The road to next year's World Cup finals is
0:11:53 > 0:11:57completed on Wednesday with the last 12 qualifying matches taking place.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Wales, under Terry Yorath's guidance, will be
0:12:00 > 0:12:03going to the States if they beat Romania in Wales.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11No miracle required here, just the need for self-belief,
0:12:11 > 0:12:15that in what is terry Yorath's 100th match with Wales as a player
0:12:15 > 0:12:17and manager, it will all come right.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Sabau on the touchline. Goes for the shot again.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26And off the post from Petrescu.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Back in by Phillips.
0:12:30 > 0:12:31Rush.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33Oh, he was mightily close!
0:12:36 > 0:12:37Inside again.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40And it opens up for him and it's gone through.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47It's a good one.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Young.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Speed.
0:12:51 > 0:12:52In by Saunders!
0:12:55 > 0:12:581-1.
0:12:58 > 0:13:011-1, one more goal needed.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05It's all alive again at National Stadium.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Goss.
0:13:08 > 0:13:09Speed.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11Was he held?
0:13:11 > 0:13:12Was he held? Yes! Penalty!
0:13:17 > 0:13:18Paul Bodin to take it.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Oh, and he's hit the crossbar!
0:13:28 > 0:13:32Such opportunities cannot be spurned.
0:13:32 > 0:13:33It's so cruel.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35It had to be taken.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37But it wasn't.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41And here's Raducioiu.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43It's all over now, surely.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48Once again, they've been beaten at the last gasp.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51The nightmare was back.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54# Oh, Cherry, oh, Cherry, oh, baby
0:13:54 > 0:13:57# Don't you know I'm in need of thee? #
0:13:57 > 0:14:01I always defend Paul Bodin whenever anybody brings it up
0:14:01 > 0:14:04because you've got to have courage to go and do it.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06I tried and failed.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08But the thing that really bugged me
0:14:08 > 0:14:12was I went to Man City the Saturday afterwards to watch a game
0:14:12 > 0:14:17there and I got in my car and I turned the radio on.
0:14:17 > 0:14:18The first thing I heard was,
0:14:18 > 0:14:22"And Paul Bodin scored a penalty and equalised for Swindon."
0:14:24 > 0:14:26I looked at it in disbelief.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I just thought, "Are they trying to annoy me here?"
0:14:29 > 0:14:33The Romania game was Terry's last in charge of Wales.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37But the quest to qualify for a major tournament continued.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41Now, Wales needed to find the right manager to take them there.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48I was in Grenada and my friend sent me a telegram.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50It said "Gouldie, there's a job going in Wales."
0:14:52 > 0:14:56I then came back from Grenada with Marjorie and a lovely sun tan
0:14:56 > 0:15:00and I walked in and I said, "I have a dream
0:15:00 > 0:15:04"and that dream is to manage an international football team."
0:15:08 > 0:15:12It's a weird and wonderful world if you come from Wimbledon.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Bobby Gould had won the FA Cup with Wimbledon.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18He was a maverick, with an eccentric management style,
0:15:18 > 0:15:21but had no experience of international football.
0:15:25 > 0:15:26Wales under pressure.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29He's missed it and it's in.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32In his first year in charge,
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Wales finished bottom of the Euro 96 qualifying group.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39And within the squad, players began to question his methods.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45It was difficult for Bobby.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48I think he probably admits he made a few mistakes,
0:15:48 > 0:15:52in terms of his approach to certain things.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55He had an unique way of maybe instilling team spirit,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58which was questionable at times.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02At Wimbledon, apparently, Bobby had this sort of ritual where
0:16:02 > 0:16:05if two of the players weren't getting on,
0:16:05 > 0:16:07he'd say to all the other lads, "Right, lads.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10"Let's form a circle and we'll get these two in the middle
0:16:10 > 0:16:13"and they can have a little grapple or whatever it is,"
0:16:13 > 0:16:16and we all just looked at him and thought what are we doing here?
0:16:16 > 0:16:19This is Wales, Bobby. These are international football players.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23They're superstars. So anyway, Gary Speed's gone, "Go on, Harts.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24"Get in there!"
0:16:24 > 0:16:26And at one stage, I'm on the floor,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29and I am getting the biggest good hiding of my life.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33And at the end of it, I wanted to have a relationship with him.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36A lot of people might have thought I was a raving lunatic,
0:16:36 > 0:16:38but that's their opinion.
0:16:38 > 0:16:43Despite Gould's best efforts, his time with Wales didn't work out.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47Another Wales manager had tried and failed.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50I think it's in the best interests that somebody else is given
0:16:50 > 0:16:54that opportunity. And I have recommended that Neville Southall
0:16:54 > 0:16:56and Mark Hughes are given that opportunity.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Thanks for the interview. I've enjoyed your company.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01But your tie selection is crap.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13It was unexpected, I have to say, when Bobby said that he'd
0:17:13 > 0:17:17recommended me and Nev take over the game the following Wednesday.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21I thought, "Well, cheers, Bobby(!) That's good of you(!)"
0:17:21 > 0:17:25Mark Hughes had been one of Wales' most experienced players,
0:17:25 > 0:17:28but this was his first job as a manager.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31I think from my point of view, it was easier for me
0:17:31 > 0:17:34because I was coming in at a low ebb,
0:17:34 > 0:17:38I had to go in and be positive and make people think that there
0:17:38 > 0:17:41is a way forward and that was my approach to it really.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45He's probably one of the first Wales managers who kind of demanded
0:17:45 > 0:17:48higher standards.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50He would go to the FAW and say - we need this,
0:17:50 > 0:17:54this needs to be better, the medical team, the chef, he needs to travel
0:17:54 > 0:17:56away with the team, the food needs to improve
0:17:56 > 0:17:58and we need to get better at this.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03It was a work in progress.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08In the first two years under Hughes, Wales only won three games,
0:18:08 > 0:18:13but crucially, he had the belief of his players.
0:18:13 > 0:18:18We loved him and I always think if you've got a real liking
0:18:18 > 0:18:22for your manager, then I think you'll just go that extra yard.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28The faith shown in Mark Hughes would start to
0:18:28 > 0:18:32pay off in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2004.
0:18:32 > 0:18:33We got off to a flier.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36We beat Finland away and then we won our first four games.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39We were on 12 points out of 12, four wins out of four.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46Wales were winning games and winning back belief.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00I remember John Charles was announced to the crowd.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05The Manic Street Preachers played that night.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Bryn Terfel sung the anthem.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11And it was 72,000 and it was 20,000 fans outside, couldn't get in.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15The expectation was there and Wales delivered.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18Bellamy does well. Simon Davies into the penalty area.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20Can he pull it back?
0:19:20 > 0:19:21Yes! Simon Davies!
0:19:23 > 0:19:24What a goal!
0:19:24 > 0:19:26Gabbidon.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Hartson.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32Plays it through to Bellamy. Craig Bellamy!
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Craig Bellamy! It's 2-1 Wales!
0:19:36 > 0:19:40Craig Bellamy! The first real direct effort he's had on goal!
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Skilfully takes it round Buffon.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45The noise is incredible.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49Fantastic scenes here at the Millennium Stadium.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51Tremendous result.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58I'm going to say this very slowly. Wales 2, Italy 1.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02It's not something I can say very often, so I'm going to say it again.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Wales 2, Italy 1.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09Wales went on to finish second in their group
0:20:09 > 0:20:11and secured a play-off with Russia.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Once again, they were almost there.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21We were talking about how much we were going to
0:20:21 > 0:20:24get for qualifying for the Euros.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26So we thought we'd done the job.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Boulykin makes his run now.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36The header and it's there!
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Delight for the Russians.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42It didn't work out. Wales lost.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Dreams of Euro 2004 were over.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49In truth, I've never watched that game ever since.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52It's just one of those games that I can't really put myself
0:20:52 > 0:20:54through really.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01Wales' fans had spent nearly 50 years watching their team
0:21:01 > 0:21:04miss out on competing on the biggest stage.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07It had become the Wales experience.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15'Manchester City, obviously, are going to be, you know, the...
0:21:15 > 0:21:19'They play their second team... Hold on.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22'I'm just hearing that we're... hearing some... Oh, my goodness.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25'We're hearing some very, very serious and sad news.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29'The Football Association of Wales have just confirmed that
0:21:29 > 0:21:32'Gary Speed, the national manager, has died.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35'Er... The news has broken in the past couple of moments...
0:21:35 > 0:21:38'It's a very short statement on the FAW website...'
0:21:49 > 0:21:52For somebody so enriched with life, in fairness,
0:21:52 > 0:21:56he was very gregarious, everybody liked to be in his company, he
0:21:56 > 0:22:00was a leader of men as well and he was just a great guy to be around.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07Gary Speed had been a mainstay of the Wales football team
0:22:07 > 0:22:10for 14 years as a player and captain.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13In towards Speed. 2-0!
0:22:16 > 0:22:21In 2010, he became manager and took over a squad of young players.
0:22:21 > 0:22:26They had been through two qualifying campaigns under John Toshack
0:22:26 > 0:22:29but were still nowhere near a major tournament.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34Morale was low.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39He lifted the place at a time when we needed a lift.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Being in and around the camp and the hotel and stuff was a lot more fun
0:22:42 > 0:22:46when he was there and he was someone that got the lads' respect
0:22:46 > 0:22:48instantly the first day he walked in.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52Respect was one thing, winning was another.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58Wales lost their first three games under Speed,
0:22:58 > 0:23:03but they were also showing glimpses of what they could do.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05This is Gareth Bale through for Wales.
0:23:05 > 0:23:082-0 Wales!
0:23:08 > 0:23:12Gareth Bale streaked clear and tucked it past...
0:23:12 > 0:23:16Gary Speed has really stuck with his plan of trying to change
0:23:16 > 0:23:19the way Wales actually play football, involving Gareth Bale's
0:23:19 > 0:23:21skill and we're beginning to see that they can play
0:23:21 > 0:23:24- a different style of football. - Well, it's difficult for him.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27He's got a very young set of players and I think at club level,
0:23:27 > 0:23:32that's hard enough, but when you go on to the international scene, that makes it even more difficult.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36Wales would finish their first year under Gary Speed by thrashing
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Norway at the Cardiff City Stadium.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42Here come Wales again. Vokes. Vokes shoots right-footed.
0:23:42 > 0:23:444-1!
0:23:44 > 0:23:47Two goals in a minute for Sam Vokes.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52I think we've had ten games now and, you know,
0:23:52 > 0:23:56we knew it would take a little bit of time, but we've probably
0:23:56 > 0:24:02come probably further than I thought in a year, so I'm really pleased.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09The Norway match would prove to be Gary Speed's final game with Wales.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19It was so, so difficult to take it all in. You know, all
0:24:19 > 0:24:23the players were just shell-shocked, to be honest with you.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25Even now, talking about it now, I think
0:24:25 > 0:24:28a lot of people when they talk about him,
0:24:28 > 0:24:31they still get emotional about it now because, you know,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34he was such a fantastic person, first and foremost,
0:24:34 > 0:24:39not just a great player, but, you know, respected by so many people.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46I've got to say, of course, because of the circumstances
0:24:46 > 0:24:51I had a little question in my head - is it the right thing to do and...?
0:24:51 > 0:24:53But then I thought, somebody's got to take it.
0:24:53 > 0:24:58And I've always wanted to do it and so, you know, I thought -
0:24:58 > 0:25:00no, I'm going to do it. I want to do it.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04I want to try and continue where Gary left off.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07Like his friend, Gary Speed, Chris Coleman was an
0:25:07 > 0:25:09up-and-coming manager,
0:25:09 > 0:25:13but he was taking charge of Wales in the most difficult of circumstances.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17It was a strange place to be really, I think, playing for Wales.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19I think it was very difficult for him anyway.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22It would have been difficult circumstances coming in anyway.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26But with all that surrounding it, it was tough for everyone involved.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30We lost our first couple of games. I remember losing in Serbia, 6-1.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33It was very flat.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36And the players were still affected by it all.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47Chris Coleman's young team had been through the darkest of times.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51But the experience had made them stronger.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Here goes Bale. He will go for goal himself!
0:25:54 > 0:25:57What a goal from Gareth Bale!
0:25:57 > 0:25:59That is absolutely world class!
0:26:01 > 0:26:04When the results started to turn and they went on a good run,
0:26:04 > 0:26:08five or six unbeaten, clawing results back from losing
0:26:08 > 0:26:12positions. That sort of breeds spirit amongst the group.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16We started to come together closer as a team.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19We wanted to do it for Gary as well and we felt like we owed him
0:26:19 > 0:26:22something and we also owed Chris Coleman something
0:26:22 > 0:26:26because he came in, he worked so hard and the performances
0:26:26 > 0:26:28and the results didn't match that
0:26:28 > 0:26:30and we kind of felt that was on our shoulders.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33They had spirit, they had X factor...
0:26:33 > 0:26:35- Here we go. Here we go.- Gareth Bale.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37Just knocks it past the defender. Still going.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Play on, says the referee.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Now he runs straight at the penalty area.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Gareth Bale on his own, on his left foot. And scores!
0:26:47 > 0:26:49The magic of Bale!
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Wales had shown their potential,
0:26:52 > 0:26:57but now they had to make it count in the 2016 Euro qualifying campaign.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Bale is waiting.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Bale with the header!
0:27:01 > 0:27:031-1!
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Gareth Bale comes to the rescue!
0:27:05 > 0:27:09Back to Bale. Oh, lovely touch for Hal Robson-Kanu.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12Robson-Kanu's in here. Can he make it two?
0:27:12 > 0:27:13He can!
0:27:16 > 0:27:18Bale hits it!
0:27:18 > 0:27:202-0!
0:27:22 > 0:27:26This time, there would be no slip ups, no last minute heartache.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31That's a terrible header. Straight to Bale!
0:27:31 > 0:27:331-0, Wales!
0:27:35 > 0:27:38Gareth Bale strikes again!
0:27:40 > 0:27:45Ashley Williams and Aaron Ramsay is there!
0:27:45 > 0:27:49And Wales have the breakthrough from Aaron Ramsay!
0:27:49 > 0:27:52And now we do have lift off on the party.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55And Wales can celebrate going to France.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Finally, after nearly 60 years
0:27:59 > 0:28:03of trying, Wales had made it.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11I'm looking forward to seeing all the Welsh fans there,
0:28:11 > 0:28:13to be perfectly honest.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16I've always imagined the effect of so many Welsh fans going over.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19There's going to be thousands going over there.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25I wish I was over there, but I'm not.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27I'm down at Leeds United watching it
0:28:27 > 0:28:31with about 2,500 Englishmen.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34So I'll be on my own that night,
0:28:34 > 0:28:37if anybody in Wales wants to come and see me.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40It's great, you know?
0:28:40 > 0:28:43We're really happy for the fans cos they've had a lot of tough
0:28:43 > 0:28:47times and they get to celebrate this as well and go and have a good
0:28:47 > 0:28:50time and hopefully, everyone's proud of us and proud to be Welsh.