Aaron Ramsey: A great moment for Wales

The other result in that group saw already qualified Iceland draw 2-2 with Latvia.

Manager Chris Coleman echoed his sentiments and believes the tactical approach that has served Wales so well during this campaign – with a disciplined defence soaking up pressure and allowed the likes of Gareth Bale and Ramsey to strike quickly on the break – will do so again next summer.

Reuters Wales ended a 57-year wait to qualify for a major tournament despite Saturday’s 2-0 defeat in Bosnia.

“This is right up there to be honest”, said Bale, who scored when Real beat Madrid rivals Atletico in the 2014 Champions League final. “Everyone knows how important Wales is to me and how proud we are to all play for our country”.

Coleman is determined to ensure Wales capitalise on their success over the past year by implementing the sort of changes that will increase their chances of Euro 2016 not being a one-off, and that is the message he will take into his contract discussions next month. I have never celebrated a loss like that. “We’ve missed out so many times, so to finally do it is an unbelievable feeling”.

“The dressing-room has been a lot of fun and it is something we have been working hard for”. But we can breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the occasion. “It won’t take time to sink in”.

But Israel’s surprise 2-1 defeat at home to Cyprus, courtesy of a victor from Walsall defender Jason Demetriou, means that the Red Dragons have reached their first major tournament since 1958.

Belgium also qualified from Group B by beating Andorra 4-1, the country’s first Euros since co-hosting the tournament in 2000.

The Scandinavians are two points clear of Croatia in second, with Italy already having wrapped up top spot after a 3-1 win over Azerbaijan in which Manchester United full-back Matteo Darmian scored.

Coleman says that if and when he does move on nothing will compare to leading Wales to France next summer.

“We’ve got think about how we replicate this campaign after we’ve been to France”.

Bosnian fans were demanding the entrance of their hero Dzeko, who was warming up, and there was little to excite them on the pitch until substitute Milan Djuric struck with 20 minutes remaining.

Although he had only just recovered from a calf injury, the winger was at the heart of every Welsh move and often dropped back to help a packed midfield stifle the Bosnian engine room.

Begovic added: “We did a good job thanks to a disciplined performance, particularly in defence”.