Wales job ‘best in the world’ – head coach Craig Bellamy

As well as the obvious impact of Gareth Bale, who Bellamy described as a “once-in-100-years player”, the new Wales head coach also pointed to a change in crowds.

Bellamy experienced huge attendances at Principality Stadium, against the likes of Italy in 2002 and England in 2011.

But during the same period, Wales would frequently sell less than 15,000 tickets for games, leaving the national stadium feeling empty.

Now playing at Cardiff City Stadium, home games are always close to full capacity, and Bellamy says those crowds have played a huge part in their recent success.

“We’ve had some big games, especially qualifying games,” said Bellamy.

“During those games you always get a sense of where the crowd is at, every game you get a certain period when you won’t be dominating.

“That period when your back is against the wall, that’s when you know you’ve got a crowd, because they see it as well.

“We can all go quiet or get edgy and on players’ backs, and as an opposition player you sense those moments, that’s when you can start challenging.

“I’ve felt over the last four or five years they have never allowed that to happen, they got louder because they’ve seen those moments.

“That’s why I believe we qualified for major tournaments, because the supporters read the room and understood the players needed them.

“They’ve played a huge part in it and I hope they know that as well.”