Making it to the last four of the 2016 European Championship surely surpassed the wildest dreams of even the most optimistic of Wales fans and players. After all, for decades even qualifying for a major tournament had proved a pipe dream for generations of Welsh internationals. For all the European trophies players like Mike England, John Toshack and Ryan Giggs won with their clubs, they never played a World Cup or European Championship with their country.
Neither did Ian Rush and and Mark Hughes, even though they formed an impressive front two in the mid eighties that would have easily walked into the line up of much bigger countries. The pair complimented each other perfectly: Hughes was a powerful target man who fought for every ball, while Rush was a clinical finisher.
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| Mark Hughes and Ian Rush pose during a training session |
The highlight of their partnerschip was a 3-0 home defeat of Spain in 1985 in a qualifier for the 1986 World Cup. Rush scored two goals against the Spaniards, who had made it to the final of the European Championship the year before, while Hughes scored one.
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| Hughes scores the second goal with a spectacular volley |
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| Rush and Hughes celebrate the second goal with team mates |
It was a legendary night for Welsh football, but not enough to make it to Mexico: Wales would be eliminated from the qualifying proces on goal difference.