Wednesday 29 June 2016 23:19, UK
Gareth Bale says Wales have pulled off "an amazing achievement" by getting further at Euro 2016 than the other home nations.
Chris Coleman's side are the last men standing after their last-16 win over Northern Ireland was followed by England's humiliation at Iceland's hands.
Neighbours the Republic of Ireland also departed at the first knockout stage, leaving the spotlight on Bale and his team-mates ahead of Friday's quarter-final against Belgium.
A video emerged this week of Wales' players celebrating Iceland's shock win, and Bale is happy for Wales to hog the headlines ahead of what he agrees is their biggest game since the 1958 World Cup quarter-final.
"We're happy," the Real Madrid star said as he was again nominated for press duties two days out from the game. "It's our time to shine. We're the last ones left and it's an amazing achievement in itself.
"The Northern Ireland game was a very ugly one that wasn't suited to us but to play an ugly game and win shows our spirit and character. We're very happy and proud to fly the flag."
Bale puts the success of Wales and the unfancied Icelanders down to team spirit and a lack of pressure, and said "the dragon on my shirt" was his sole motivation at the finals.
And he described downtime in Wales' Dinard camp as being packed with "quizzes, table tennis" and "like being with mates on holiday."
The serious business starts again in Lille on Friday and, according to Bale, Coleman has left "no stone unturned" in preparing his players for the task of facing Europe's top-ranked side.
The sides have recent history having come through the same qualifying group, Wales winning in Cardiff on their way to a first major finals tournament in 58 years.
"It was a changing moment for us as a team and we're still riding off the confidence," Bale said. "Just one of those where it gave us that extra belief we could really do it. We always did believe but it was a snowball effect.
"From beating Belgium - No 2 in the world at time - it gives you extra confidence and takes you to the next level, we've gone up a level and taken our game on."
That is in no small part down to the manager, according to Bale, who said: "The preparation is second to none.
"We have meetings about what we need to do, when we need to do it, how we need to do it and he makes sure every single player knows exactly what they need to do.
"He's been incredible and hopefully he can help continue the rise of Wales and hopefully we can get further in this competition."
Bale confirmed Ashley Williams will be fit for the Belgium game, which takes place on a relaid surface at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.
UEFA has said Wales and Belgium will be unable to train on the new pitch, which was put down after it cut up badly during previous matches in the tournament.
However, the ruling will have little bearing on Wales' preparations for the quarter-final tie as they will stick to their original plan of a morning workout at their Dinard base before flying to Lille.
