After a wonderful performance by Wales at the ongoing Euro 2016 tournament in France, after 2-0 loss to Portugal in the semi-finals, the Welsh stars are to get heroes welcome as they return home.
Wales entered the tournament as underdog, and went on to become favourites after finishing top of group B, defeating Northern Ireland 1-0 in the second, before demolishing Belgium 3-1 in the quarter-final.
Their Euro 2016 adventure was crushed by Cristiano Ronaldo’s 50 minute header and Nani’s 53 minute strike in the semi-final tie against Portugal on July 6 at the Stade de Lyon, in a game that saw Wales failing to find the back of the net for the first time in the tournament.
Despite Gareth Bales’ effort, Aeron Ramsey’s absence due to suspension was obvious as Wales appeared flat and had no answer to Portugal’s defence even in the absence of Real Madrid defender, Pepe who is nursing a thigh injury.
According to Welsh media, Wales’ football stars will mark their stunning success at Euro 2016 with an open top bus tour and a public celebration event at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday.
They will be greeted at Cardiff Airport on Friday afternoon by First Minister Carwyn Jones and whisked to Cardiff Castle for a private walk around the grounds before an open top bus parade through the streets of the capital, Wales evening post reported.
The tour of the Cardiff and homecoming party is being held to give a Welsh nation an opportunity to say thank-you to the aces who lit up the tournament in France with their thrilling deeds, walesonline reported.
Bale in a post-match interview said, “We are obviously massively disappointed but we have to be proud of ourselves first and foremost… We will pick ourselves back up, we will lift the spirits and go again, we have to be proud of what we have achieve…Nobody expected us to get this far, we continue to battle on…”.
Although Wales Euro 2016 dream is over, their performance will be remembered in a long while, as we expect more from the team.