Williams strives for Euro 2016 qualification

 

Ashley Williams has revealed that leading Wales to Euro 2016 would be his greatest achievement.

Wales start their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign tonight against Andorra and with stars such as Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale and Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey, there has been a lot of talk about the side reaching their first major finals since the 1958 World Cup.

However, skipper Williams is not getting carried away with the optimism surrounding the Welsh team, but does remain hopeful that they can do it. The BBC quotes the 30-year old as saying: “We’re aware of the great Welsh teams in the past that fell short for whatever reason.”

He added: “For this group now, the time is perfect. We are settled and have now been with each other for a long time, everyone concerned feels we can do it.

“We’re putting pressure on ourselves and saying we must do it, there’s more expectation than hope. We are not hiding that we are going into this to qualify, not just to see where we get. It would be the biggest achievement in my career.”

Wales have come close to qualifying for major finals before, most notably a defeat to Romania which cost them a place at the 1994 World Cup and narrowly losing a 2003 play-game to Russia, meaning they would be watching Euro 2004 at home.

However, manager Chris Coleman believes that his current crop can change the fortunes of Welsh football: “That feeling of getting so close and not doing it is not nice, so that’s what drives me on.

“This crop of players is a very good crop of players and it’s my job to protect them when they get labelled as the golden generation.

“They need to produce the goods, then they can be the golden generation and they know that.”

Tonight’s tie with Andorra will be played on a 3G pitch, which only passed a UEFA inspection last Wednesday.