Wales national football team (The Dragons)

The Welsh national football team`s first game was a 4-0 loss against Scotland, in 1876. Their first home game came at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham where they again lost to Scotland, 2-0 this time.

Wales didn`t play their first game outside of the United Kingdom until 1933, when they drew 1-1 with France in Paris.

In 1958 Wales reached their first World Cup having beating Israel in a play-off to qualify. They drew with Hungary, Mexico and Sweden, the hosts, before overcoming the Hungarians 2-1 to progress to the quarter finals. There they lost 1-0 in a close game with Brazil, Pele scoring the only goal.

Wales nearly qualified for the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, both times missing out only on goal difference. Again the Welsh came close to reaching the 1994 World Cup in the USA, needing to beat Romania to go through to the finals. At 1-1 Paul Bodin missed a penalty and Wales went on to lose 2-1.

Wales reached the play-offs for the 2004 UEFA European championships, losing 1-0 on aggregate to Russia, this result was challenged by the Welsh after a Russian player tested positive for a banned drug. The appeals were rejected and Wales were made to wait to make their first European Championships appearance.

The Welsh National Football Team finally qualified for its first Euro championship in 2016, coming out of a tough qualifying group as winners, inspired by the wonderful Gareth Bale. A successful tournament saw Wales win their group and beat Northern Ireland, going on to defeat Belgium in the quarter final.