Euro 2016

Ashley Williams: Reaching Euro 2016 would be "proudest" moment

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter | 05 September 2015

Wales captain Ashley Williams believes that qualifying for Euro 2016 would be a bigger moment for Gareth Bale than his Champions League final win with Real Madrid.

Wales captain Ashley Williams has claimed that reaching Euro 2016 would be the "proudest" moment of his and Gareth Bale's careers.

The Real Madrid man scored the only goal of the game to guide Chris Coleman's men to victory over Cyprus in their qualifying match, leaving them in touching distance of reaching the tournament in France next year.

Williams believes that Wales's progression to a major tournament for the first time since 1958 would trump Bale's Champions League triumph with Real in the 2013-14 campaign.

He told reporters: "Before the campaign started, I felt 100% it would be the proudest moment of my career to lead this unbelievable group of lads to France.

"And yes I am pretty sure Gareth has said it as well. I know it will definitely be up there for him and all the boys. What it means given the history of the football team, the whole country and what it would mean to us as players, fans and coaches.

"I think we deserve it, we have gone through a lot as a team which people sometimes overlook. It has been a long road and we are close now so we would like to get the job done."

A victory over Israel on Sunday would secure Wales's place in Euro 2016.