MATCH-WINNER Gareth Bale has warned that Wales have not achieved anything yet, despite the stunning victory over Belgium on Friday night.
Bale celebrated his 50th cap with the first half goal that was enough to beat the second best team in the world and put Wales three points clear at the top of their qualifying group with just four games to go.
But the Real Madrid star insists that, even if the Wales fans are now convinced that their heroes are on their way to Euro 2016, the players know they still have plenty to do to seal their place in France next summer.
“We’re not there,” said the world’s most expensive player. “We know we’re in a great position and we’ll enjoy this result but, come the next bunch of games, we’ll be focused and ready to go as normal.
“It’s easy to get carried away and I’m sure everybody will. We know we’re in a great position but there’s still a long way to go and anything can happen in football and we’ll be focused.”
Chris Coleman’s men are next in action in Cyprus on September 3 before hosting Israel three days later and concluding their campaign in Bosnia-Herzegovina on October 10 and at home to minnows Andorra on October 13.
“I think everybody knows how much I want to get to a major tournament with Wales,” added Bale.
“It’s right at the top of my list now and it’s on so we’ll keep working hard to do it.”
The 25-year-old ran himself into the ground at the Cardiff City Stadium and he praised the Wales fans for creating an incredible atmosphere that spurred the team onto an historic victory.
“For most of us it was probably our biggest game in a Wales jersey and I think we all showed again, like Israel, we all stepped up to the mark and did what we had to do.
“I hadn’t played for a couple of weeks and I couldn’t walk after 70 minutes. The gaffer said ‘leave it all out on the field’ and I couldn’t have run any more.
“But we have the best supporters in the world and I don’t think I’ve played in too many atmospheres like that,” he added.
“If they keep turning up and supporting us hopefully we can keep putting in performances like that.
“It was very special and very emotional as well. I had all my family here to celebrate my 50th cap but the most important thing was to get the win and it was nice to celebrate in style.”
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