It’s time to put behind us the rivalry of last week and concentrate in the real business that starts next Monday (21st Nov) when Wales take on the USA at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan in Qatar. From next Monday it’s three fixtures in Group B which as far as this Cymru squad are concerned are all winnable.

As the squad assembled in South Glamorgan the interviews started and in amongst it all Connor Roberts turned up with Welsh cakes for the assembled throng. It was a moment which really encapsulated the togetherness of this squad and the belief you can sense as well. Joe Allen was there too, his manager Russell Martin admitting he will be ready for the games ahead ( to an extent ) "Joe will be available at some point," said Martin. "He'll have an involvement, I just don't know when because I'm not the physio and I'm not Joe. I know he's giving everything he possibly can. The fact he's going and is going to have an involvement in some of the games over there is an amazing achievement from where he was. Not many could have done that. It's testament to his professionalism and his mentality. He will impact it. How early will depend on what Rob sees in training and what the sports science and medical team with Wales see. I hope he can play as much as he possibly can because it'll be great for him, great for his country and great for us as well."

Gareth Bale put his fitness on the line when he said today he would play three ninety minutes in a row if he had to. Nice midfielder Aaron Ramsey was quick to defend the choices of Chris Gunter and Johnnie Williams in the squad. “There's no eyebrows raised here, they're so important for us. There was no doubt that they deserved this as much as all of us do. It's brilliant that they're here and they can experience a World Cup as will the rest of the team."

Everywhere you looked today there were current or ex Swansea City players, that’s huge for the club. Rodon, James, Davies, Allen, Cabango, Cooper and Roberts. We will be reporting on this World Cup throughout the competition and will bring you Wales news as it happens. No other club is this well represented in the Cymru squad. And that’s why we are ‘Together Stronger’ again.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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