September 3 – The next few days are being touted as the defining moment in Welsh football history and it’s easy to see why.
Not since the 1958 World Cup have Wales reached a major tournament finals but qualifying victories away to Cyprus tonight followed by a home win over Israel on Sunday and Chris Coleman’s team will be in the hat for next summer’s Euro finals in France.
With their talisman Gareth Bale leading the hopes of a nation, Wales lead Group B with 14 points, three ahead of Belgium, who they beat 1-0 at home in June, and five clear of Israel.
For years the principality has suffered a series of near-misses, losing out on goal difference for the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, being edged out in 1994 followed by a playoff defeat against Russia for Euro 2004.
Four years ago, Wales had slumped to 117th in the FIFA rankings, with only five European teams below them. But now they are ninth, their highest-ever position, even above Big Brother neighbours England.
Wales were included among the top seeds for the qualifying round draw for the 2018 World Cup finals in St Petersburg in July and suddenly there is real optimism that their near 60-year wait for a return to a major finals is about to come to an end.
“We’ve been low in the rankings and had that rubbed in our face many a time,” said Coleman. “At the same time, the rankings are not going to get us to France. Success is getting to France.”