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He’s been the talisman behind Wales’ incredible road to Euro 2016, an idol to the fans.

It’s been an amazing journey and the day after qualifying ended, Gareth Bale attended a McDonald’s sponsored event where he helped coach the starstruck youngsters at Sully Sports near Cardiff.

Football Correspondent Chris Wathan met up with Bale to hear his verdict on Chris Coleman’s history-makers, his passion for his country and his aims to make sure this stunning success lasts beyond next summer in France.

(Image: PA Wire)

CW: Here we are - Wales in a major finals. You always believed this would happen but I bet it still feels like a dream?

GB: It does a little.

Every campaign we start off saying we can do it, but there was a bit more belief this time. We were a little bit older, that bit more experienced with a few of us on more than 50 caps.

The pressure mounted with every game, the expectation went up and we just tried to embrace it. Certain victories gave us even more belief as we went on.

In friendly games we may have won five in a row but we’d never put that form into a qualification campaign, that was the key for us.

And as soon as we got the ball rolling, the momentum just took us. We weren’t conceding goals, we were nicking 1-0 wins, it was a perfect campaign.

CW: You became winners...

GB: We just had that mentality that the gaffer stuck into us and gave us the extra belief we needed. Next we’re going to France.

CW: The way you celebrated in the game at home to Cyprus, roaring to the sky, shows how much it means. Is it your favourite part of football playing for your country?

GB: Yeah, I think it should be for every player. To represent your country is a massive honour.

Every time I pull on a Madrid or Wales top I run myself into the ground. I’ve come off with cramp and I don’t usually do that.

It’s a massive honour.

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The players have been together for the last eight or nine years. We know each other, we fight for each other, and to have that team spirit and togetherness is really special.

It makes you want to come away with Wales and enjoy every minute.

CW: You only missed three minutes of the campaign?

GB: I came off with cramp in that one. I don’t think they wanted me to play 90 minutes against Andorra, but I wanted to play, I wanted to help the team and enjoy the occasion and get a goal.

Every second I’m on the pitch for Wales is an honour and I love playing.

CW: Did you apologise to Coleman when you came off against Belgium with cramp?

GB: Yeah. I did as much as I could. I think I had cramp 15 minutes before I came off, I was just hobbling around.

I tried to run and then it got to a point where it was like, ‘I can’t.’

(Image: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

CW: Did the golden generation tag weigh down on the squad?

GB: It was never for us to say that about ourselves, it was for the media and the public to say. But we knew how good we were and we’ve proven how good we are.

I don’t mean to be disrespectful to the side that qualified in 1958, but I think I’m right in saying they didn’t qualify outright so we are actually the first team that have 100% done it.

And I take a lot of pride in that.

We’re just proud to represent our country and be that first team. Hopefully we can go and actually make an impact in France.

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CW: We’ve seen Denmark in 1992 and Greece in 2004 - the Euros are a competition an unfancied nation can do well in?

GB: Yeah. You have to go there with that ambition.

Thierry Henry said something similar a few months ago and we believe it.

We know we don’t concede too many and we can nick a goal against anybody, so there’s no reason we can’t.

Obviously you might need a bit of luck on the way but we’ll be going there trying to upset a few people.

CW: Any thoughts about who you would like to draw?

GB: To be honest we’ll take anyone when we get there.

We want to test ourselves against the best and to do that you have to play the best.

So whoever we draw we’ll be going there to cause an upset no matter who we play.

CW: Will other nations be pleased to avoid Wales?

GB: For massive nations who have been there and won it, the pressure will be on them if they play the likes of us.

They will be expected to beat us, but we are confident we can beat anybody on our day.

Provided we concentrate on ourselves, I’m sure we will do everybody proud.

CW: You could draw England. Your agent has mentioned in the past that you could have played for them.

GB: Never an option. Straight away.

(Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

CW: Were you contacted by the English FA?

GB: I’m not sure. I was really young at the time.

Literally it was a one-second conversation. I just said stop: I’m from Wales and love Wales and everyone knows how much I love playing for Wales.

I’m Welsh. It was never an option and I would never want it to happen.

Everyone wants to represent their country in the biggest tournaments.

To have qualified is something I can tick off the list.

It’s great to have but we want to do well there too and get out of the group stages.

CW: Have you had any messages from managers or teammates?

GB: Not many have got my number to be honest! I try to keep as low a profile as possible.

Obviously I had a message from Rafa Benitez and people at Madrid.

I haven’t checked a lot because it’s been a bit manic but it’s a great moment for Welsh football and everybody needs to enjoy it.

I’ve said from day one it’s not just about qualification, it’s also about growing football and getting youngsters to play in Wales and trying to get it massive again, get the hype and excitement about it.

That’s why I like to come to things like this, to get youngsters excited and one days these youngsters could be pulling on a Wales jersey and qualifying down the line.

We want to grow ourselves as a country and more players gives us a greater chance of qualifying.

CW: Are you expecting congrats when you get back to Madrid?

GB: I should hope so!

They were telling me we were almost there last time and welcoming us to a major tournament but obviously it will be nice to go back and tell the lads, ‘We’re there, see you in France.’

CW: Will you ask the likes of Sergio Ramos about how to face a tournament?

GB: Getting used to a tournament mentality will be a very different experience, and I’m sure some of the lads will have some good advice, but we’ll embrace it.

(Image: Action Images / Carl Recine)

CW: There’s been talk of a big warm-up game next month and Portugal have been mentioned at the Millennium - it could be you against Cristiano Ronaldo!

GB: It would be great to host such a good nation as Portugal, they have great players as well.

But whoever we get, it will be hopefully a big team and one that we can test ourselves against.

That will be the best way to prepare ourselves for the Euros.

CW: You obviously have so much passion as do the rest of the side. Do Wales show it more than other countries?

GB: Yes I think.

I know for a fact our players, even the ones who are injured, send texts saying ‘Wish I was there, wish I was there’.

The passion from the players is I would say the best in the world. From the fans as well.

Whether it’s away from home, at home, for the football, for the rugby, for everything, we are probably the most passionate nation.

The country really gets behind the team.

The anthem is just incredible when it’s sung, even in the middle of a game, an incredible feeling.

Video: The passionate national anthem before Wales v Andorra

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CW: Did you hear it in that Belgium game?

GB: That’s what kept me on for 15 minutes more! It was an amazing feeling.

Whenever we’re playing in front of a Welsh crowd they really do give you that extra bit to get the win.

It’s that smaller nation thing, I suppose. Everybody is just so together.

Maybe other nations get on each others’ back. Here everybody is just together, the media is on our side.

When everyone is pulling in one direction it is a lot easier for us as players to perform on the pitch.

(Image: Reuters / Rebecca Naden)

CW: There’s six months before the finals. Is the best way to prepare to go full throttle and win everything with Real?

GB: That’s the plan. But if you start thinking about things in the future you’re not concentrating on the present.

It was the same in qualifying.

If we thought we were going to France we probably wouldn’t have made it.

It’s about taking each game as it comes - everyone says it but it is really true.

I obviously want to win as much as I can for my club and then, when internationals come around, I will be 100 per cent focused on that.

(Image: David Davies/PA Wire)

CW: What do you usually do in the summer?

GB: Go on holiday - but this year it will be for two weeks instead of eight.

But I’m not complaining because we’ve never been in this position before and it’s something we’ve always wanted.

It’s better to play at a big tournament than go on holiday.

The main thing is that we’re fully prepared for France.

(Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

CW: What about the pressure out there; Fergie said recently it’s the pressure on England that stops them doing well ?

GB: I get the impression the English media is a bit negative towards their national team, that’s my opinion, but in Wales there is a feeling that they are really pushing us forward.

It doesn’t give us unwanted pressure, negative pressure, it’s a good pressure of wanting to do well, wanting to perform and not that if you don’t you’re going to get slaughtered.

There’s pressure but we will embrace it and everybody in Wales - us, the media, the fans - pushing in one direction to do something special.

Chris Coleman didn’t start off brilliantly but even when we weren’t performing we believed in him and what he was doing.

The media, people and players stayed behind him and I think that shows how special this country is.

It’s never negative from the Welsh media, which helps everybody. Then, when you stick with a manager, it really can get the good results.

We’re really reaping the rewards and long may it continue.

* Welsh superstar Gareth Bale surprised Sully Sports FC U13s to deliver the 100,000th free kit supplied by the McDonald’s Accredited Club scheme. For more information and to win kit for your club visit www.mcdonalds.co.uk/kitscheme