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Fans are flooding into Chisinau from all corners as the excitement builds to Wales’ crunch World Cup qualifier against Moldova on Tuesday night.

But as well as seeing supporters from Flint, Fishguard and Ferndale make the awkward trip to eastern Europe, there’s also French representation in the Red Wall.

Amid the Welsh dialects on the streets of the Moldovan capital, ‘Don’t Take Me Home’ will also carry a French accent after two 23-year-olds were so inspired by the Euro 2016 heroics of Chris Coleman’s men – and the atmosphere generated by the Wales supporters – they pledged their allegiance to the Dragon.

Albay le Guennec from Lorient and Alen le Burel from Concarneau made the trip from Bretagne to Chisinau on Sunday having been embraced by Wales fans during last summer’s tournament.

They have already left family members stunned by heading out to Belgrade for the June clash with Serbia and are excitedly planning their first home visit when – if all goes to plan – Wales will be looking to seal World Cup qualification against the Republic of Ireland last month.

Speaking to WalesOnline in Chisinau, Alen, “as in Joe”, says their loved ones think they’re “crazy” deciding to snub the glittering stars and guaranteed success of supporting the France national side for the ups and downs of life on the road with Wales.

But the pair say every penny and effort is worth it, and that they can’t wait to join in with the chants in Chisinau as the countdown to kick-off brings more and more Wales fans onto the streets.

There are close cultural links between Wales and Bretagne, with the FAW strengthening sporting bonds when they used Dinard as a training base during the Euros, while also organising a link-up for youth teams with the Bretagne FA.

And Alen said: “We support Wales because we are brothers, family. We have celtic spirit. They (our families) think we are crazy. 'What are you doing? Why Wales?' But we love it.”

Albay added: “We support Wales because we are from Bretagne and we are a celtic country so we prefer supporting Wales than France. For us, Wales are our twins.

“We have the same national anthem, we have a common history. We watched all the games in France in the summer and then Serbia and now Moldova. It is great to meet other Wales fans.

“Some are surprised and think it’s amazing we do not support France and the beautiful team they have with Greizmann and Mbappe, but we love being Wales fans and I can’t wait to go to Cardiff.”

Albay has already secured tickets for Cardiff City Stadium for the final game of the group against qualification rivals Ireland – though he is hoping to be able to swap seats from the Grandstand “because I want to sit in the Canton end with the singing”.

And he is desperate to see Wales grab the wins they need in their remaining fixtures, adding: “If we qualify, I will go to Russia – no problem!”

Wales need to see off bottom side Moldova first, but they have their backing from Britanny, with Albay predicting a 4-0 win and Alen adding: “It will be 3-0 – with three goals for Joe Allen!”