IF our national football team qualifies for the Euro 2016 finals it will be the first major tournament to include a Wales side for 58 years.

There have been decades of depressing qualification campaigns as giants of the game like Ian Rush, Neville Southall, Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy have seen their international careers end without appearing at a major finals.

Could all that be about to change as Wales sit proudly atop their Euro 2016 qualification table after an unbeaten start to their campaign?

A gritty 2-1 victory over Cyrpus on Monday night was proof, if needed, that the Wales squad believes the time is right to make history.

All the talk may be about Gareth Bale - and he is the Welsh squad's one genuine superstar - but the performances against Bosnia last week and Cyrpus on Monday suggest manager Chris Coleman is building a strong team spirit among his players.

Bale's roar of delight at the end of Monday's match showed just how much playing for, and succeeding with, means to the Real Madrid player.

We are not sure we have seen such passion from Wales' best players in the past.

But the victory over Cyprus was a true team effort, with players from Fulham, Reading and Charlton contributing as much as the Champions League winner.

If that team spirit can be maintained then there is every chance Wales can end almost 60 years of hurt in 2016.