Monday 9 May 2016 22:42, UK
Hal Robson-Kanu hopes success at this summer's European Championships can turn Wales into a football nation.
The country has predominantly been one fixated on rugby and its successful national team; two-time World Cup semi-finalists, four-time Six Nations winners and ranked second in the world in 2015.
But manager Chris Coleman, who named his 29-man squad for a pre-tournament training camp in Portugal on Monday, has taken the football team to their first ever European Championships and only the second major tournament in their history.
And 26-year-old forward Robson-Kanu, who was released by Reading on Monday, said: "Hopefully, with the performances we've put in, we can finally say again that we're a football nation.
"Football hasn't been classed as the main sport in Wales. Normally it's rugby. But the fans played a massive part in what we achieved and we've done this for them really.
"They're delighted and they let us know that whenever they see us. I'm always getting stopped and congratulated. It's a great feeling, and what we've been working for and putting effort into for the last three or four years."
Wales have been drawn in a tough group with rivals England, Russia and Slovakia, but Robson-Kanu insists they have developed a style of playing that utilises their assets - namely Gareth Bale - and they can be a threat.
"I think with the tactics we've got work very well. It's effective because we're a threat and through the squad we've got top quality, through every position.
"We said after qualifying we definitely want this to be the start of something special. For us this is the beginning of something. Our focus now is doing the nation proud, and if we do that we'll be satisfied."
