Chris Coleman could be just ten days from glory with Wales as he starts the work on the preparation for the international double header against Cyprus next week and Israel three days later in Cardiff.

Coleman knows that two successive wins would take Wales to France next summer and give him a place in history as the first Wales manager since 1958 to lead his team to a major international finals.

That would eclipse anything that he has achieved as either a player or a manager and ensure that his name goes down in Welsh football folklore.

He has already earned his country a place in the Top 10 of the FIFA rankings which says much about the form that he has got and they have a group which they can qualify from as a result in the next World Cup as well.

But for now it is all about the next two games and leading Wales through the group with two games to spare which tells you all you need to know about the form shown in this qualification group.

"Growing up, you watch World Cups and European Championships. You hope and pray that you can be part of that," said Coleman.

"I wasn't good enough as a player to be part of it, hopefully I can be part of it as a manager.

"It's impossible not to think that experience might be coming along.

"That spurs me on as well, to think it might be a possibility, but we have to deliver to make sure we get there.

"It would be something special.

"The players have done brilliantly. The good thing is that when we get together now it's always about the next game, we've never had to tell them not to get carried away

"Actually, I'm more towards saying to them 'you should go around with a bit of a strut because you need that confidence'.

"Without it you don't progress. It's pointless if we have the attitude that we're Wales and the population is only three million people."

Photo: Action Images

Swansea City Polls