WALES’ Euro 2016 match-winner Hal Robson-Kanu says his goal to beat Slovakia was the fulfilment of a schoolboy dream.

The substitute netted nine minutes from time to earn Wales all three points at the Stade de Bordeaux on Saturday after Ondrej Duda had cancelled out Gareth Bale’s opener.

The goal took Chris Coleman’s men to the top of Group B and puts them in a great position to qualify for the knockout stages in France ahead of Thursday’s huge clash with England.

“The magnitude of the goal has just started to sink in,” said the striker, who is available on a free transfer this summer at the end of his Reading contract.

“It was a special moment for myself, for my family and for the nation.

“It is something you dream of as a kid, when you are putting all those hours in on the training ground when no-one is looking.

“When you graft to better yourself it is for moments like that.

“It was a special feeling,” he added. “I have played in big games throughout my career but that atmosphere and the way we won the game, the team spirit we showed is something I will not forget and hopefully we can build on.”

Robson-Kanu was a mainstay of the qualifying campaign but started on the bench on Saturday after recovering from an Achilles injury.

And he’s desperate to return to the starting XI to face England in Lens.

“I feel good. I feel fit,” said the 27-year-old. “I feel strong and if called upon, which hopefully I will be, I will be ready to put on another performance.”

Robson-Kanu, who was released by Arsenal as a teenager, grew up in England but he denied that he has a point to prove against the Three Lions.

“It is more about scoring for your country, that feeling is unbeatable, especially with how hard we have worked to get to where we are now,” he said.

“It would be special [to score against England]. It is a great stage to show what you are capable of, but I won’t be going into the game thinking I have to prove what I can do.

“I am very confident in what I am capable of. I have played in the Premier League and shown what I can do and it is about putting in a performance and getting another result.”

A win on Thursday would ensure Wales make it past the group stage and put England on the brink of elimination.

Robson-Kanu continued: “Our focus will be what we can do, we will not be thinking about who it knocks out, if we put in a performance and apply ourselves there is no reason we will not get another result.”

South Wales Argus: