How bright is Wales' future?

Robert Earnshaw's brilliant debut goal sealed a famous win for Wales over Germany at the Millennium Stadium.

Does this signal the beginning of a new era for Wales?

This season Wales struggled through a lacklustre World Cup qualifying campaign, once more failing to join football's greatest tournament.

However, there were signs towards the end of the qualifying matches that manager Mark Hughes had helped Wales turn a corner.

That was followed by encouraging performances in friendlies against Czech Republic and Argentina as a new crop of Welsh players began to find their feet at international level.

The emergence of players such as Earnshaw, Simon Davies of Tottenham and Tranmere's Jason Koumas has added much-needed depth to Wales' squad.

Will Wales now become a force to be reckoned with at international level, or will it prove to be another false dawn?

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C'mon guys, just because they have beaten Germany in, of all places Cardiff, there is this talk of Wales being a force in the future. If the match were to be played again in the same place, I am sure everyone in the other part of the world except Wales would bet on the Germans to win again and again.
Jude Quah, Malaysia

I think we have a bit of a way to go to before we can be a major force but if we keep Mark Hughes and keep developing the squad we can get better. I really hope Mark isn't going anywhere for a while!

I don't want to expect too much but I have to say that Tuesday was one of the best matches I've ever been to. Hughes is building for the future so I don't expect anything major like winning the Euro Cup (would be nice though) but in a few years I think we will have a decent squad. And anyway it's the law of averages we have to start to do well and we need something to boost Welsh sport because rugby is at a low!
Hayley, Wales

It's so classically Welsh to get so over-excited with one result. I can think of countless examples from rugby where the Welsh public gets a little too excited over one defeat of a rival. Similarly though, we're always far too hard on ourselves when we don't win with aplomb.

Time will tell but I have a proud smile right now

Gavin Price, Wales & Australia

This time though, I think it's a little different. This result against Germany result has come on the back of many other good results. Sparky seems to have quality written all over him. He's SO measured and in control when he's talking to the press, this cool confidence is something he's instilling in the team. I also have a suspicion that he will see out his existing contract.
James, Wales and Canada

The future is bright if we are luckily enough to have the majority of our key players fit when the "real" games begin (Euro Quals). When you have electric pace (Giggs/Bellamy/Earnshaw) and power (Hartson/Blake/Roberts) you will create problems for any team in the World.

Coupled with experienced combative midfielders, the guile of Davies and Giggs, a more experienced defence and Goalkeeping depth there is a recipe to believe we will make it. Football is a game of surprises/luck at times and it seems as though Wales are due some good fortune. Confidence is a key factor in achieving success and the magic Red Dragons are gaining more and more belief under the "Great Sparky!"

Teams will begin to worry about us especially if we make it fortress Millenium Stadium...............Time will tell but I have a proud smile right now - let's not worry about what everyone else thinks - you can say what you like but results speak for themselves. Good luck to Eire and England in the World Cup! But we'll be out to get you soon! Cymru Am Byth!
Gavin Price, Wales & Australia

Wales should stick to the Rugby

Harry Komer, USA

As a Hughes fan I feel in the last 12 months they are going forward. People forget how bad things were under Bobby Gould, the damage done to our FIFA rankings & to the moral & confidence in the players is something that Hughes has put right over time. Wales now how confidence to compete before they didn't have believe. Hughes as with Yorath has generated a good team morale & I believe Wales will finish 2nd in their qualifying group.

We as always need extra cover at centre half but there as some excellent younger players coming up like Matthew Collins at Fulham. Fulham paid £100,000 for a 15 year old defender!
Mark Phillips, Wales

Wales will never be a force to be reckoned with in international football, but they have the nucleus of talent and the inspiration of Hughes to at least give them a good shot at qualifying for Euro 2004. What Wales lack to become a contender is simply a tiny population and the fact that football is seen as second to rugby as the national sport. If Jack Charlton's Eire could qualify for two World Cups with a team full of pub cloggers, then I don't see why Wales can't when they have top drawer talent like Davies and Giggs. And for the record, it was a great result over Germany and anyone who says that Germany are a spent force so the result is meaningless is an idiot. The Germans may not win the World Cup this year, but they are still one of the top 10 teams in the world.
Matt, NZ (ex-pat)

I think that Wales will continue on the current wave. As long as Mark Hughes stays with us, the money keeps coming in and Cardiff keep doing well then there is no reason why anybody should give up hope. I would say that Wales will give it their best shot for Euro 2004 but may well miss out, especially if injury problems emerge. There are two very strong sides that Wales must compete against. Never give up though, ever!
Iestyn Halborg, Wales

Sorry Wales, but I see no future for your team, I can think of one good Wales player, Ryan Giggs. Wales should stick to the Rugby. 19 out 20 times the Germans would trash Wales.
Harry Komer, USA

The real problem for Wales is that they have slipped into the fourth group of seeds, making qualification almost impossible

Phil, England

A great performance, with Earnshaw making a huge debut (and I'm a Swan). The only question that remains about the potential of this side is whether the FAW can hold Mark Hughes to a full-time deal. His tactical nous - setting out a 4-5-1 counter-attacking formation against a slow German back division, shows that Wales not only have the players, but the brains to mount a serious challenge for qualification to a major championship for the first time in a decade. We can only hope that Mark Hughes will not be tempted elsewhere.
Gwydion Gruffudd, Wales

This was a very encouraging result for Wales, though against probably the worst German team ever. The real problem for Wales is that they have slipped into the fourth group of seeds, making qualification almost impossible.

However, if they can sustain these results against supposedly stronger opposition in the qualifiers (countries like Belgium, Croatia, Denmark etc) they might be able to 'do a Slovenia' and compete with the big boys. I hope so, their long suffering fans deserve it!
Phil, England

Damn cynics! Ok, maybe Germany aren't the force they once were, but are you seriously saying you expected Germany to lose last night?! Was the fact that a Division Two striker (albeit the best) put one past Oli Kahn completely standard and underwhelming?

Can we have some credit please? When we drew against the Czech Republic, it was a dull game, and when the Argeintinians had to peg us back, it was because they had a weak side. Rubbish. Roll on Euro 2004!
Nathan Hamer, Wales

I can't see Italy beating us in Cardiff

Francis Barbuti, UK

I was actually at the Millennium Stadium last night and witnessed a fantastic performance by the Welsh lads. I watched 37,000 fans become ever more excited and perhaps even amazed as our 11 more than matched a World Cup-bound German side.

For years we have been frustrated by 'just missing out' or the occasional lucky draw but we still turn up at the national stadium in hope....

So, it's on to Finland in September, and the first step in an incredibly tough group...for the other nations unfortunate enough to be in our group.
Ben Howard, Wales

What a show. It only goes to prove what many Welsh fans have believed all along, that Wales truly can and will be a football nation.

With respected draws and the recent win against a side tipped for World Cup glory, I challenge anyone to say that this new and emerging Welsh football team is not destined for glory.
Paul Savage, Canada

I think we can qualify from our group. Coming top may be difficult but a play-off spot is not beyond us as we have the nucleus of a very good team. I can't see Italy beating us in Cardiff. I think we'll do well.
Francis Barbuti, UK

I don't think that Wales will be a force to reckon with at International level, however I do think that they may be able to hold their own against European Chamionship countries, such as Belgium.

For a small nation, we produce a lot of high class footballers

Phil, Wales

I also believe that the FIFA World Ranking system is totally flawed, how could a country like Qatar possibly be higher?! And the fact that Wales drew against both the Czech Republic and Argentina yet make no real climb in the rankings is a complete farce.

Wales are superior to many countries placed above them, the only reason they are higher is they gain points by defeating poor teams at international level.

FIFA must find a more accurate point scoring system in order to correctly place countries at the rank that they deserve. I will bet that the win against Germany will move Wales up about 5 places to 92nd. Obviously, something is wrong there.
Kevin Feathers, Wales

For a small nation, we produce a lot of high class footballers. The size of Wales needs to be kept in perspective though. Perhaps we expect too much of the first team, but on paper with a full squad, we have the quality to challenge anyone as we have shown against Germany and Argentina and a record of just 2 losses in 14 matches shows that we can match other "stronger" European teams.

Hopefully, we will now get the respect we deserve. The question is have we got the bottle to get to a major championship and do well in it.

With the confidence that Mark Hughes has built up in the squad,and the balance between the experianced and the young, with the likes of Simon Davies, Mark Delaney, Mark Pembridge, Craig Bellamy, Robbie Savage and of course Robert Earnshaw excelling in a Welsh shirt, I dont see why not.
Phil, Wales

This just puts England's 5-1 thrashing of Germany into a more accurate perspective

Bill, UK

I think it says more about Germany. Thrashed by England, couldn't win at home to Finland to get through to the World Cup direct and friendly defeats from Scotland in the recent past and now Wales. Friendlies are not good guides to form, especially when one side is so short of several key players. For Wales to gain credibility they need to qualify for something.
Ron, England

This just puts England's 5-1 thrashing of Germany into a more accurate perspective. I'm sorry Wales, but Germany simply aren't that good anymore and you've got a long way to go before you're a force to be reckoned with. Having said that I'll quality it by adding that England too have a little way to go and despite Germany's recent lack of form, beating them is still a quality result.
Bill, UK

I think Wales is a a force to reckon with. Draw against Argentina and then a win over Germany is a sign of things to come. This can never be a fluke considering three good performances over football strongholds. I wish them all the luck anyway.
Joel Maina, Kenya

The future is very bright for Wales, they are now believing that they can beat anybody on their day. If they keep on playing like this on top form they might qualify for Euro 2004 or World Cup 2006.
George Nipah, England