Martin Blackburn: Arsene Wenger has made Wales dark horses to WIN Euro 2016 with the Dragons now 25-1
ARSENE WENGER revealed to Aaron Ramsey that he fancied Wales as dark horses for Euro 2016 before the season ended.
And the Arsenal boss was in the Parc des Princes to see them take the next step on their amazing journey.
In truth, it was not a game the Frenchman would have approved of — a real war of attrition with a fittingly scrappy winner.
Yet you can understand why Wenger believes boss Chris Coleman’s Dragons can go deep into the competition.
You cannot play well in every single game — and the Welsh were nowhere near their best here.
But you know what they say about teams who win when they do not play well.
Wales began the tournament as an 80-1 long shot to become champions of Europe — but by yesterday morning some bookies had shortened them to 25-1.
That is roughly the same as you can get on Leicester retaining their Premier League crown next season.
This competition has been won by rank outsiders before — such as Greece 12 years ago and Denmark in 1992.
Both those sides were solid — like the Dragons — but neither had a player of the quality of Gareth Bale to bank on.
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The £86million Real Madrid superstar has the ability to win games on his own, as he has shown countless times for club and country in recent years. And when you have players like Ramsey and Joe Allen slotting in alongside him, it can make for a rather heady combination.
When it clicks, that is.
It didn’t really here in Paris — yet Wales talisman Bale once again put them through as his vicious cross was turned in by unfortunate Northern Ireland centre-back Gareth McAuley.
How grateful Wales were to their Galactico once again — just as they have been countless times before in the qualifiers.
In the first half they looked nervous, many of their players having never experienced a game of this magnitude.
They also looked tired. England boss Roy Hodgson was hammered for resting six players in the final group game against Slovakia.
It backfired as the Three Lions drew 0-0 to finish second in Group B — but at least Wayne Rooney and Co will be fresh for the remainder of the tournament — however long that may be.
Coleman has relied on the same nucleus of eight players in each of their games so far. At least they have six days rest now before their quarter-final.
The pressure will only increase and Coleman will find out whether his players can handle it.
Welsh fans certainly can. They are loving the party out here — and the ‘Red Wall’ now moves on to Lille on Friday night.