NO more excuses, no more nearly runs and no more glorious failure, the time is now for the Welsh national football team.

Tonight's big kick-off for Wales in their European Championships qualifying is a must win game in a must-qualify-from group and it is no longer relevant to point to young players, injuries, a lack of depth in the squad nor question marks about the manager, Chris Coleman.

We've seen more than enough in the past decade to suggest Wales are no longer plucky underdogs with unrealistic aspirations, they are in fact a progressive nation with good players in a relatively easy pot and that's an uncomfortable reality for Coleman and his bosses who have flown under the radar in terms of expectation for far too long.

We have spent half a decade allowing the youth to come through under John Toshack, got excited by real and tangible progress under Gary Speed and have watched on as the awful and unthinkable loss of the Wales manager set Wales back massively.

Coleman was in a seriously difficult position succeeding his great friend, but Wales are now ready to take the next step.

Here are ten reasons why.

1: Qualification is easy for the revamped Euros

The dilution of quality at the European Championships, the corporate and financial decision to expand the competition to 24 teams, is phenomenal news for the likes of Wales.

Forget the bigger picture, forget the analysis across the board of each and every qualifying game, the situation is simple. To get to a Euro 2016 play-off, Wales must simply finish above Andorra, Cyprus and Israel. To qualify outright, they need only pip Bosnia to second place in group B. Anything less than a play-off against a less than stellar side that have also finished third in their group, would be an unmitigated disaster.

2: Wales should beat Israel, Andorra and Cyprus quite comfortably

It’s right and respectful to laud the vastly improved Belgiums and the underrated Bosnians, but the fact is, Israel, Andorra and Cyprus aren’t very good.

Having failed to even score a qualifying goal in four years, Andorra are dismissed out of hand and Cyprus should be treated with similar contempt from a serious footballing nation.

In qualifying for World Cup 2014 Cyprus finished bottom of a group that included Albania and the Cypriots only picked up one win in ten games. They aren’t worth worrying about.

Israel, might be. They finished third in their World Cup group behind Portugal and Russia, but they only finished above Azerbaijan, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg.

In simple terms? All Wales have to do to give themselves a 50% chance of qualifying is beat Israel, Andorra and Cyprus home and away. That’s not a big ask.

3: Wales have a perfect start to the group

Last time around in World Cup qualifying Wales began at home to Belgium and when James Collins was sent off after 25 minutes that was basically that.

This time, Wales can and will make a fast start.

Wales should have a minimum of six points from their opening three games and could well end up with seven or nine, which will create impetus.

They’ll win in Andorra tonight and then face back-to-back home clashes with Bosnia, a bonus game and Cyprus, another can and must win clash.

4: Starting fast will make you care again

It might be a long time ago, but I still remember the roar of the Millennium Stadium when Mark Hughes’ Wales would easily pull in sell-out crowds.

You believed in Ryan Giggs, Gary Speed, Craig Bellamy, Simon Davies and even Robbie Savage and there was a belief that Welsh football was reaching new heights.

That proved to be a false dawn, but the feel good factor will change everything for Coleman.

5: This progress hasn’t happened by accident

While we might not be sold on Coleman, his tactics or his inability to stay out of the tabloid newspapers, there is no doubt the status of Welsh football in the professional game is at an all time high.

Not only have we a Premier League club, Cardiff flying high in the Championship and Newport back in the Football League, but across the board, the FAW have been getting it right in terms of grass roots football.

Participation at youth level is soaring and Dragon Park has legitimised Wales as a soccer hotbed, the likes of Roberto Martinez lauding Dragon Park as THE PLACE to hone your skills in the UK. For once, everything is in place.

6: We can finally make a case for the defence

When Wales began their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, they did so with Darcy Blake as a key part of their rearguard and in 2014 World Cup qualification, that distinction fell to James Collins, who won’t want to recall his form.

However, ahead of 2016 qualifying, Wales’ back four looks to be as good as it has been in decades with Chris Gunter, Ben Davies, Ashley Williams and Hull’s James Chester all Premier League calibre performers.

7: So much strength in midfield

Wales’ quality in midfield is so great that it rivals England’s, in terms of the home nation sides.

Forget Rambo for a moment and remember that Wales can also choose between seasoned Champions League campaigner Joe Ledley, £15 million man Joe Allen, Premier League regulars David Vaughan and Andy King and down the line, I expect Lee Evans to join the conversation as well.

8: Rambo

If it wasn’t for number ten on this list, there would be more excitement and expectancy of Ramsey, recently described on Match of the Day as a “£40 million player.”

Ramsey is a genuinely world class talent and he has the ability to win games single-handedly and that gives Wales an asset Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland could only dream of. And Ramsey isn’t even Wales’ best player.

9: Experience of big games

We’ve spent a long time making excuses for young Welsh sides losing big games, but the experiences have been invaluable. It’s almost absurd that a guy in his mid-20s like Chris Gunter can already have 50+ international caps, but it really will stand Wales in fine stead now the pressure is really on them.

10: The world’s most expensive player just happens to be Welsh

Anything is possible with Gareth Bale in your ranks. Take it from a man who still has to battle the tears every time I see his majestic brilliance in the white of Real Madrid. When the third best player in the world is Welsh, you really do have a chance and that’s why now is the time for Wales.