Y Daith i Ffrainc: Allez Cymru! Clwb

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-Angleterre.

-Angleterre.

-

-England.

-Wales.

-Wales.

-Position three in Group B.

-Everyone

-wants to play against England.

-There'll be no real pressure on us

-to win the game.

-I can't wait. You dream about it,

-what's it going to be like.

-We cannot subtitle match commentary

-due to broadcast rights.

-We need to make sure that it's the

-start of something and not the end.

-This is the start. Team spirit.

-We can go on for years.

-The stadium went bonkers.

-There were tears in my eyes.

-The journey to Euro 2016.

-Although this is a fairly new

-stadium, it already has a history.

-Things have happened here and

-in Europe over the last 18 months...

-..that has changed

-Welsh football forever.

-A strange, emotional tale taking

-us from Bosnia and Herzegovina...

-..to Cyprus, Israel and Belgium.

-To begin at the beginning,

-we must return to Andorra.

-I had a feeling before the group.

-Something told me we would do well.

-Not so much about winning or

-reaching the finals, but doing well.

-A penalty after six minutes.

-Perhaps the press conference

-the following morning...

-..would be about

-looking for a new manager...

-..never mind

-that the campaign was over!

-The referee was very poor.

-We almost gifted them a penalty.

-That wasn't in the plan, obviously.

-You think of all the hype

-before the campaign...

-..saying Wales

-are going to do well...

-..and then in the first game

-we fall flat on our face.

-It was a tough night

-because they got the first goal.

-It was the start of the campaign.

-We were thinking.

-Oh, no, what's happening?

-I stand by my statement. That was

-the toughest game we had to play.

-It was such a tough start

-to the group.

-It wasn't a nice feeling.

-Thank goodness

-Bale stepped up to the plate.

-The first goal was brilliant

-- a header by Gareth Bale.

-He scored other headers

-during the campaign...

-..but the cross by Ben Davies

-was excellent.

-There's a lot happening

-on the pitch.

-I saw Gareth on his own in space.

-I crossed the ball to him

-and he got his head on it.

-He still had a lot to do to score

-a goal and he did a great job.

-The pitch was one of the most

-difficult we've ever played on.

-The players ran onto that pitch

-and bounced the ball.

-There was a smell, like tyres,

-and all this black stuff flying up.

-I lost six weeks to a knee injury

-after playing on that pitch.

-The ball wasn't moving.

-Even players like Gareth and Aaron

-were struggling on it.

-That late goal from Gareth Bale.

-When he got the free kick,

-the defender infringes.

-The referee wanted it taken again.

-I said to a member of

-the association sitting with me...

-.."He'll score this time.

-He's had a sighter."

-It hit the back of the net and some

-supporters came onto the pitch.

-It was the emotion, the release.

-I felt we hadn't played well

-but had won.

-So many times in the first group

-game we've played well and lost.

-The important thing here

-was the three points.

-The pitch was bad...

-..but we were still in it

-at the end and got that late goal.

-Everyone was celebrating,

-because we had three points.

-That was the beginning of the

-development of the character...

-..which has brought this group of

-players closer and closer together.

-This squad has a really special

-bond amongst the players.

-Off the pitch, everyone pulls

-together, players and coaches.

-Andorra's pitch was very rough.

-But 2-1 was good enough.

-Despite the win in Andorra...

-..there was quite a ferocious

-response from some people.

-Some called for the manager to be

-sacked despite the three points...

-..and being guinea pigs as the

-first team to play on that pitch.

-Suddenly there was a lot of interest

-in the game against Bosnia.

-I felt we had a good chance

-after that first match.

-The first game

-is so important to set you up.

-The momentum was building.

-Everyone was starting to think -

-we can do this.

-We needed to get

-the supporters to believe...

-..and we needed points on the board.

-We knew we had tough matches to

-come, especially the away games...

-..in addition to matches in Cardiff.

-Following the escape

-in the Pyrenees, one month on...

-..two big games at

-Cardiff City Stadium...

-..faced Chris Coleman and his team

-- Bosnia and Herzegovina and Cyprus.

-Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen

-were both injured...

-..but the man himself

-was fighting fit.

-The fans turned out in

-their thousands to play their part.

-I thought about that header so many

-times throughout the campaign...

-..thinking - "Please don't come down

-to one goal or two points."

-Although we only got one point,

-in the Bosnia game...

-..you could see how much everyone

-was putting into the team.

-That performance and that result

-were vital parts of the campaign.

-After the Bosnia game,

-there was no great change...

-..but we had more confidence to

-do well against teams like that.

-We almost won.

-We had chances to win it.

-We tried to say to the players

-that we need to be more streetwise.

-More calculated, ruthless.

-If we need to shut the game down,

-we need to do it.

-Not just play lovely football,

-score some good goals...

-..but then lose 3-2 and get nothing.

-It's about making sure we

-have a strong footing in the game...

-..and don't give it up easily.

-I thought

-something's starting here.

-For our second game in four days...

-..there were almost 25,000 fans

-watching us play Cyprus.

-The support was amazing.

-Watching that game

-from the sidelines...

-..the first thing I noticed

-was the atmosphere.

-You could feel the crowd

-were behind the team.

-At the end, the exclamation

-from Gareth Bale, the emotion.

-The crowd's responded as one.

-Gareth is someone who loves playing

-for his country, playing for Wales.

-His performances proved that.

-It's brilliant

-for everyone to look at.

-If he can do it,

-there's no excuse why you can't.

-As captain,

-he's another player to lean on.

-He's stepped up this campaign.

-Everything he's done,

-the way he's played...

-..not only his goals but his whole

-effort has been massive for us.

-Seven points from nine.

-That hadn't happened for a while.

-I thought, "There might

-be something happening here."

-"Escape from Andorra's

-field of woes

-"On Bluebird grass

-fresh hope arose

-"A deep sigh of relief

-and much renewed belief."

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-"Yet to come, greater battles."

-Seven points and top of the table

-after three games.

-The next three games were huge.

-Next up, the second best team

-in the world in Brussels.

-The squad was sure

-it would do well against Belgium.

-But we got a draw

-on our previous visit...

-..so we felt they'd be ready for us

-this time.

-I remember getting there and hearing

-the noise and the support...

-..and realizing

-something big was afoot.

-The performance was exceptional.

-Everyone knows Belgium have been

-a real force in recent years...

-..in world football.

-They have so much talent.

-We cannot subtitle match commentary

-due to broadcast rights.

-There were moments in the game where

-Belgium were on top as expected.

-It wasn't a case of Wayne

-pulling off save after save.

-We were alright actually.

-We went there and did very well.

-We made it very difficult

-for Belgium to play through us.

-We had to defend a lot out there

-and we did a great job of that.

-It was a good point away from home.

-They had so many

-technically gifted players.

-Getting that point

-was massive for us.

-Our fans were magnificent.

-When our players were feeling tired

-at 60 or 70 minutes...

-..the fans kept going, which gave

-them that little nudge forward.

-The point was crucial.

-In previous years, we'd have lost.

-The celebrations

-were as if we'd already qualified.

-It was a massive game and

-performance to get a clean sheet.

-It really felt like a victory.

-The players took off their tops...

-..and the atmosphere was bonkers.

-The reaction afterwards...

-..where the lads

-threw their jerseys into the crowd.

-That really set it all off.

-Celebrating with the crowd

-after the game...

-..was the point where we realized

-there was a chance to make history.

-"A game that gave so much pleasure.

-A nil-nil we will always treasure."

-After that game, we visited

-the grave of the poet, Hedd Wyn.

-We wanted the players to know their

-history and who they represent.

-You never know

-how players will react.

-They all wanted to go.

-Fair play to them,

-they'd done their homework too.

-I gave them a little of the history

-of Artillery Wood...

-..and showed them the graves of

-young Welsh footballers who died.

-Graves of youngsters

-of similar ages to them.

-Gareth Bale came up to me and

-asked, "Where's the poet's grave?

-"My mother's reminded me

-to stand by the poet's grave."

-It was great that the world's

-most expensive player...

-..was asking me questions after

-talking to his parents about it.

-On the way back, they were

-all happy to have been there.

-It was an experience

-that gave you so much perspective.

-Welsh people

-had given their lives for us.

-You looked at gravestones...

-..that were unnamed

-or the soldiers were 17 or 18.

-It was heart-breaking.

-It was very humbling.

-The majority of us hadn't been

-to anywhere like that before.

-We went there and it was silence.

-All the lads

-were in their own thoughts.

-Some of the graves...

-..were for Welsh footballers,

-no different to ourselves.

-It was a very important experience.

-We'll always remember it as players.

-We left very humbled

-and in our own thoughts.

-We wanted to take the time out

-to think about it.

-Certain things

-have happened in life...

-..that we never have to see now

-because of that.

-That whole period.

-We went to a top country

-and got the result.

-There were thousands

-of Welsh fans there.

-The next day, it flipped around

-with a bit of reality.

-This is what Welsh people

-have done for their country.

-It was very special.

-After the Belgium game, the

-next game was even more important.

-The challenge

-was sustaining a good start...

-..and not coming up short

-at the end again.

-Every Welsh fan can remember many

-occasions when that has happened.

-This group of players was different.

-The next test

-was Haifa in the spring.

-Israel were also flying

-and were top of the table.

-They'd won their first three games.

-Israel away was incredible.

-The interest was incredible.

-The welcome

-for Gareth Bale was amazing.

-It felt as if he was playing

-for Israel rather than Wales.

-The whole stadium celebrated

-when Bale was on the ball.

-We controlled possession throughout.

-Our tactics were spot-on.

-The performance was superb

-from the start.

-It was a strange feeling...

-..to win a game quite so easily.

-That goal was great because

-we'd been working on the move.

-We wanted to press Israel really

-hard when they were on the ball.

-David Vaughan won the ball,

-fed Ramsey and he did his stuff.

-It was a special goal too

-because it sealed the victory.

-3-0 to Wales

-was more than we expected.

-When did Wales last play a match

-against a country in good form...

-..and win like that - 3-0?

-That was the point

-where I started to believe.

-That performance against a good

-Israel side gave us confidence.

-"The Dragon was breathing fire

-"Two great talents

-lifting it higher."

-After that game, I couldn't see how

-we wouldn't finish in the top two.

-I wasn't going to say it publicly.

-I sure a few others felt the same.

-The performance that night, bearing

-in mind the situation, was superb.

-I'll never forget that day.

-In years to come, that's the game

-people will be talking about.

-One of the best atmospheres

-I've ever experienced as a player.

-The performances on the field were

-up there with the best I've seen.

-A lot of them

-came from Welsh players.

-All I saw

-was this looping backwards header...

-..landing at Gareth Bale's feet,

-and he scored.

-I just thought,

-"Something's wrong.

-"The Belgian defender

-headed it straight to Bale!

-"Why head it back?

-Bale must be offside."

-The stadium went bonkers.

-There were tears in my eyes.

-I checked the clock and saw 70

-minutes to go and had to cool down.

-The coolest man in the ground

-was Bale.

-Everyone else was wondering

-what would happen next.

-Bale looked like he was in

-the local park having a kickabout.

-He slotted it home.

-I've been involved in

-a lot of football matches...

-..and played in front

-of 70,000 or 80,000 people.

-I've never witnessed

-an atmosphere like that.

-It was remarkable.

-I can't remember anything like

-what happened after 70 minutes...

-..when the fans sang the anthem.

-I was standing there thinking, "I've

-never experienced anything like it."

-The crowd realized

-the boys needed help.

-They knew they were exhausted.

-Sometimes, players

-are unaware of the crowd.

-They heard them that night

-and they responded.

-That was fantastic.

-Welshness at its best.

-The players fed off that support.

-They heard every man, woman

-and child urging them to hang on.

-It was only 20 minutes.

-It was so loud.

-It spurred us on even more.

-At the end, the lads were emotional.

-Chris Gunter was very emotional.

-The effort meant we had nothing

-left. We had the result we wanted.

-Once we'd won the game, I knew

-we weren't aiming for third spot.

-I knew we could qualify.

-We won't be the ones to nearly

-do it, this is going to happen.

-The feeling on and off the pitch

-and with the whole nation...

-..was that

-it was going to happen now.

-That night

-was a special, special night.

-To be honest, I sat down

-after that match...

-..and knew that was the one

-that had made history.

-I knew 100%

-we would qualify for France.

-"One thrill, one team, one night

-"One crowd singing with delight

-"One goal to set the hopes alight."

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-"In September it was sultry,

-but time to make history."

-September brought a trip to Cyprus.

-With four games left,

-the dream was in sight.

-The players and the fans thought

-it might be a big night in Nicosia.

-It was Wayne Hennessey's 50th cap.

-A clean sheet and a point

-would be cause for celebration...

-..and a huge boost

-to the hopes of reaching France.

-The game out in Cyprus was one...

-..where we thought

-a point would be good.

-They had beaten other teams in the

-group and given us a tough game.

-Winning the game was huge for us.

-It was just one of those moments.

-An amazing cross from Jazz Richards.

-He played fantastically well.

-The header was one to make

-John Charles or John Toshack proud.

-We cannot subtitle match commentary

-due to broadcast rights.

-Bale knows what he means to us

-and how important he is to us.

-When he got that goal, and so

-late on too, it was unbelievable.

-The reaction from everybody

-seemed to suck him over towards us.

-The gaffer told me later...

-..that someone gave him three

-little rabbit punches in the ribs.

-He's trying to find out

-who did that in the huddle.

-I put my money on Gunter.

-I put my money on Gunter.

-

-I think it was Chris Gunter.

-No-one's owned up to it.

-Someone's taken a bit

-of a cheap shot at me.

-I actually called a meeting

-to get to the bottom of it.

-None of the lads have owned up yet.

-From the last couple of years,

-that's the image in my mind.

-Everyone celebrating

-after Bale has scored yet again.

-Doing it

-right at the end of the game...

-..makes it even better.

-I didn't know if Osian

-was going to kiss him or what.

-I've spent decades telling

-coaches and managers...

-..that when they are

-in that technical area...

-..they must never get carried away.

-For that brief moment,

-it all went out of my head.

-That was down to the timing

-and what it meant to us.

-The picture

-shows how close we are as a squad.

-The goalscorer...

-..always wants to share the glory

-with the whole squad.

-Behind the goal to the left

-was a sea of red.

-That really said something.

-Together Stronger.

-The fans really joined in

-and saw the passion.

-The spirit between the players

-is quite special.

-The fans want to be part of that

-and feel they are a part of that.

-It isn't just

-the players on the pitch...

-..but the substitutes

-and squad players too.

-The single biggest thing

-that got us over the line...

-..was the strength

-of whoever the gaffer picked.

-They did the job and more.

-We've used 24 players

-during the campaign.

-Every one of those

-has played his part.

-A few haven't come off the bench.

-However, their role and what they've

-brought to the group is crucial too.

-"Gareth Bale, our diamond

-"Drives us towards the horizon."

-As they returned to Cardiff Airport,

-the situation was clear.

-Beat Israel and the waiting would

-be over with two games to spare.

-We flew back

-and we felt we could do it.

-We just needed to win the game.

-We were confident going into it.

-We didn't expect them

-to be so defensive.

-That threw us a bit

-and we couldn't open them up.

-We had a job to do and

-we weren't going to lose the game.

-That was crucial

-because Israel are a good side.

-There are no easy games

-at this level. They are all tough.

-As a squad, we thought we'd do it.

-We had lots of chances early on.

-Had one gone in,

-the game would have been different.

-On the night, it was a good

-performance but we couldn't score.

-From that double-header,

-I thought we'd get four points.

-I expected one away and three at

-home, but we got three points first.

-If we'd beaten Israel...

-..we would've qualified

-in the capital in front of the fans.

-We got a point and everyone

-walked away a bit disappointed.

-They weren't thinking

-it's another one of them.

-Everybody knew we'd do it.

-We just wanted to do it in Cardiff

-in front of everyone.

-I left the ground wondering

-if I was happy with a point.

-We were closer

-but we'd missed an opportunity.

-We knew

-we had Andorra to fall back on.

-We knew we'd get it done...

-..but we wanted to get it done

-as quick as possible.

-That was a frustrating game

-to be honest.

-"The fires of hope had been muted

-"A crowd's optimism

-suddenly diluted

-"Ghosts of old failures,

-deep-rooted."

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-"A feast of cheese

-and kisses on the cheek

-"Croissants and baguettes so sleek

-"The English channel on the swell

-"Our football dream

-remains alive and well"

-We are unable to subtitle commentary

-due to broadcast rights.

-We needed a point

-or to win the game.

-We wanted to win, celebrate,

-come home and celebrate again.

-It was a strange night - it showed

-how much we'd matured as a team.

-For 70 minutes,

-we were totally comfortable.

-We were convinced that

-we would eventually win the game.

-We were probing, we were the ones

-creating goalscoring chances.

-We were going

-from strength to strength.

-For long periods, it was

-the most comfortable we had been.

-The Bosnian crowd

-was whistling their own players.

-They couldn't break us down

-and we should have scored.

-Then they scored a poor goal.

-When we went one down,

-Bryn Law was quite near the bench.

-He was listening

-to a live feed of the other game.

-I was fuming with the game until we

-got a message about the other game.

-This was about eight minutes to go.

-Those whispers, I had to know

-where they were coming from.

-Someone said, "James Collins

-had heard from somewhere."

-I asked if they were sure.

-The next thing I saw was James

-Collins sprinting behind the bench!

-It was very quick for him.

-He came back

-and said it was still 2-1.

-They scored again

-and I forgot the other match.

-I was so annoyed and fuming.

-That game was the only

-disappointment in the campaign.

-We didn't want to lose any matches.

-We played very well that day.

-We were unlucky to lose it.

-At the final whistle,

-we weren't 100% certain.

-We didn't want to look like fools

-and celebrate prematurely.

-We decided to walk off quietly...

-..find out for sure

-in the dressing room...

-..and celebrate if we were certain.

-But Chris was really disappointed.

-He'd already walked from

-the technical area to the tunnel.

-As I was walking off, I was shaking

-hands with the Bosnian players.

-I could see Mark Evans, our

-secretary, walking across the pitch.

-It was hard to tell...

-..because Mark always looks

-like he's had a bad day.

-Unless you talk about

-Merthyr or darts, he never smiles.

-We're walking onto the pitch and

-Mark Evans says we're in the finals.

-The other result had gone our way.

-Chris was walking towards us.

-I asked Mark if he was certain

-and he said he was.

-"You can tell him," I said.

-I didn't want to tell Chris

-and for him to start celebrating...

-..only to have to apologize later

-for being wrong.

-I didn't want the responsibility

-but Mark was fine.

-He has a beard,

-he's the Owain Glyndwr of the FAW.

-He marched up to Chris, told him

-and away went Chris.

-He said, "Israel have one."

-The way he said it sounded like,

-"Israel have won"...

-..not one goal.

-"Israel one," small pause,

-"Cyprus two."

-He said, "We've qualified."

-I desperately wanted to believe it.

-I said, "Are you sure?"

-He said, "We've qualified."

-Some of the players

-wanted to celebrate.

-I said, "No, we're not sure."

-One said,

-"What about him over there?!"

-Chris Coleman

-was with the fans celebrating.

-All the boys were at the back

-with their heads down...

-..because we'd lost the game.

-We looked up and saw Chris Coleman

-running towards our fans.

-That was the moment

-we knew we'd qualified.

-The place went bonkers

-and it was great being a part of it.

-We celebrated as a squad

-with the fans behind the goal.

-It was an amazing feeling.

-There was a fence between us.

-I could see grown men crying.

-They'd been through so much

-following us over the years.

-They'd seen a lot of disappointment.

-That one day we were all together.

-They're crying

-and we're going bananas.

-It was all worth it.

-It was quite surreal.

-It was the best of news.

-It was odd,

-we'd lost but we were celebrating.

-The best defeat ever.

-After the game,

-going back to the hotel...

-..with the people who'd been with us

-all the way was very special.

-Owain Fon Williams

-was on the guitar.

-It was a good night.

-We were all in the bar.

-No-one was in their rooms.

-It showed how close this squad is.

-That's how it's been from the start.

-Everyone's pulled together.

-Nobody went their own way.

-We all stayed together.

-It was fantastic.

-Memories like that

-are the ones you never forget.

-It's great to have that night

-to remember forever.

-It had been a long time coming.

-It was nice

-to finally cross the line.

-"Teammates

-working for the greater good

-"Shoulder to shoulder

-our lads stood.

-"Losing the game

-but a victorious brotherhood."

-It was a nice game to be honest.

-There aren't many games

-in your career...

-..that you can relax and take

-a minute to enjoy the atmosphere.

-The build up and everything

-made for a nice game.

-Playing Andorra meant we had a lot

-of the ball and a lot of chances.

-It's amazing

-what this set of lads has achieved.

-It's something

-we can look back on with pride.

-It was brilliant.

-Everybody enjoyed the feeling

-that we had done something special.

-After the game, it looked like

-we'd won the World Cup!

-Unless you're Gaz at Real Madrid...

-..you don't get to

-celebrate like that too often.

-You don't win many things.

-It was nice to get on the pitch

-afterwards and do a victory lap.

-Wales has been looking forward

-for years to do something like this.

-It wasn't just for the fans

-in the stadium.

-It was for anyone who's been

-at a game over the years.

-We were always hopeful...

-..that Wales

-could qualify for a tournament.

-It's something we hadn't done

-since the days of John Charles.

-'Diolch' is a simple word.

-You can ask someone,

-"What's thank you in Welsh?"

-"Diolch."

-It was a message

-that went around the world.

-Others may disagree with this...

-..but I think

-it made more of an impact...

-..than a forced government policy

-or protest group action.

-It's all about the players.

-We prepare them as much as we can...

-..and squeeze every last ounce out

-of them to get them on the pitch...

-..to produce a performance

-that the whole nation is proud of.

-That's how it works.

-He came into the job at the toughest

-time ever for a new Welsh manager.

-He may have felt that the players

-nor the association wanted him...

-..and the fans

-weren't behind him either.

-He just persevered.

-Of course

-I'm delighted we qualified.

-I'm delighted

-that my country has qualified.

-But in a way, what I'm proudest of

-is that he's made it.

-He's proved his critics wrong.

-He won't say it

-but someone should say it for him.

-I wasn't sure if

-I was ever going to experience it.

-Not just as the manager of Wales...

-..or as a player...

-..but I didn't know if

-I'd experience it in my lifetime.

-When you've done it and you've been

-a part of it - it's indescribable.

-We would run through

-a brick wall for him.

-He's an honest guy.

-He's a player's manager.

-We all have

-a good relationship with him.

-His speeches are legendary

-before we go out to play.

-Getting a camera in on

-one of them would be worthwhile.

-When he's finished speaking,

-you want to headbutt the ball.

-You're so up for the game.

-He speaks from the heart.

-He tells you how it is.

-You want that as a player.

-It's still a young team

-with more to come.

-One long-term aim was to make sure

-this doesn't happen once a decade.

-We're a team with perhaps

-our best years ahead of us.

-We hope going to France

-is just the beginning...

-..of a Wales team

-that can qualify consistently.

-We dream about what it will be like.

-I honestly can't wait.

-We have to get out of our group.

-Simple as that.

-We can't go there thinking,

-"We did so well to get here."

-It's done.

-We've got to go there to produce.

-"Two young brothers

-in a life sentence!

-"Tonight, half an age of hope

-became fact

-"The faith in an old photo

-turned into sheer joy."

-There's something special

-about an empty stadium.

-Close your eyes

-and you can hear the past.

-If I'm lucky enough

-to come back here in 50 years...

-..I'll see Ashley and Ramsey

-and Joe Ledley's beard.

-I'll remember Osian and Coleman

-on the touchline...

-..hear Robson Kanu's song

-and The Land of My Fathers.

-I'll see Bale bellowing...

-..and one word on a red shirt

-encapsulating it all - diolch.

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

-.