Chris Coleman: Wales are close to being the golden generation

Victory over Israel in Cardiff on Sunday will see Wales qualify for next summer's European Championship in France - their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.

Gareth Bale and company have worn the 'golden generation' label for some time but Wales have previously under-performed when it comes to qualifying and Wales fans wondered whether they could ever take the nation to a major finals.

However, it has been a different story this time as Wales remain unbeaten in Euro 2016 qualifying despite being pitched into a tough group with Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"We'll be the golden generation when I'm sitting here with a smile on my face and we're celebrating because we've got enough points not to be caught and we're on our way to France," Coleman said.

"Then, yeah, absolutely. They will deserve being called that.

"I said in the first camp in Andorra, to the players privately, that I thought this group of players are something special.

"With that comes a bit of pressure, but there's a lot of quality there.

"We have to handle that but I do believe it's on the way."

Wales followed their sensational victory over Belgium, ranked second in the world, in June by grinding out a more methodical victory in the heat and humidity of Nicosia.

Bale's late header eventually proved the difference on a momentous night but Coleman believes there is an even bigger occasion around the corner.

"Everybody will talk about the Belgium game, it was fantastic," Coleman said.

"But this Cyprus result for me is equally as important.

"There are three games left and the biggest one has yet to arrive.

"Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later."

Bale grabbed the headlines again with his sixth goal of the qualifying campaign and the 14th in his last 17 international appearances.

But Coleman singled out skipper Ashley Williams for special praise as Wales kept a fourth consecutive clean sheet in competitive football for the first time since 1981.

"Ash is absolute rock, he makes me feel calm," Coleman said.

"He's a great leader and I think the spine of the team is extremely strong - and any successful team needs that.

""At one end of the pitch you've got one of the best defenders in the Premier League and, at the other end, you've got one of the best offensive players in the world.

"You've always got half-a-chance if you've got that in your team."