Ramsey delighted with Welsh qualification

Chris Coleman insists Wales will not be going to Euro 2016 to simply make up the numbers.

Wales were drawn from the pot after Belgium passed up the opportunity to play Israel and they eventually reached the quarter-final, losing 1-0 to Brazil as a 17-year-old Pele scored his first worldwide goal.

“All I’m focused on is the European Championship and I’m trying to enjoy the moment because it is one we have never experienced”.

Amid the jubilant scenes in Bosnia on Saturday night he said that he felt like signing a ten-year contract to remain as national boss.

“He’s definitely in our minds at all time when we play for Wales”, said the Swansea defender.

“We just want to get out on the pitch, try to perform well again and then celebrate with the fans”.

“It was a hard game, but we have done it and everyone is very happy”, he added. He thought of quitting three years ago when Wales started the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 6-1 loss in Serbia.

He said: ‘It is up to me to go and rattle a few cages and say, “We have done this but to get to the next stage we need to change certain things”.

In an intimidating atmosphere in Bosnia, it was a tough game for Wales where they struggled to break down a Bosnia & Herzegovina side which includes Chelsea keeper Asmir Begovic and Roma star Miralem Pjanić.

Italy qualified with a 3-1 win over Azerbaijan, while in the same group Norway’s 2-0 win over Malta left them on the brink of also making the finals.

The “Together Stronger” motto that has been seized upon by the marketing gurus during the midst of this European Championships qualifying campaign, and has since been embraced by the players and fans, also exudes an emotional aspect that has a tangible sense of Speed’s legacy about it.

“We have almost got there in the past, but we haven’t delivered”, Coleman said.

Euro 2016 now has 12 teams qualified for the tournament after Belgium, Italy and Wales secured their progress to France on Saturday.

“But, for me, as far as I am concerned, Cardiff City Stadium is where we will be playing during the World Cup campaign”.

It’ll be the first time in 58 years – since 1958 that Wales will play in a major competition and the current squad of players will go down in history. Wales hosts Andorra in Cardiff on Tuesday, while Belgium is at home to Israel.

But with Norwich City’s Kyle Lafferty mirroring Bale’s performances by netting seven times, Michael O’Neill’s men took the group by storm, qualifying with a game to spare.

Coleman’s stock has never been higher and he is fully aware that he may not get a better chance to return to managing in the Premier League.

Israel’s only hope now is to beat Belguim in Brussels in their final game on Tuesday and hope Bosnia-Herzogovina don’t beat Cyprus. I know he’s been watching from above and cheering the team on.