Taylor to keep Wales partying
NEIL TAYLOR hopes to keep Welsh football on a high after revealing how he found himself being mobbed in the street after Euro 2016.
The Swansea full-back helped the Dragons reach the last four in France during the summer, surpassing anything achieved by the national side in their 140-year history.
Thousands of supporters packed fan parks in France and at home to cheer on Chris Coleman’s men in scenes normally reserved for the nation’s rugby side.
Taylor, who is preparing for Monday’s opening World Cup qualifier against Moldova in Cardiff, admits it was difficult for the players to appreciate the depth of feeling for them among their supporters while they were across the Channel.
But it quickly sank in once he got home and found himself being regularly stopped in the street by people keen to offer their congratulations.
“It was an unbelievable time in the summer and we are keen for that to go on,” said Taylor.
“It is still being talked about. When we were in France we didn’t see what it did for Wales as a country, but since getting back it has been great.”
The challenge for Wales will be to ensure their qualification for France is not a one-off and that they do not rest on their laurels after their stunning achievement.
“We cannot afford to make a slow start to the qualifiers. We need to get up and running,” he said.
“We lost to Portugal, albeit in a semi-final, so we have to bounce back. We are more than capable of winning if we perform.”