Chris Coleman reflected on the “privilege” of leading Wales through their Euro 2016 campaign as they arrived home yesterday.

Coleman’s men defied the odds to make the last four in France, bowing out to Portugal at the semi-final stage.

They returned to a home-coming party in Cardiff and Coleman has spoken of his great pride in his side and his country.

“It’s been a privilege,” he said.

“When we first arrived in France, we had a friendly game with Sweden that didn’t go so well, so for us to achieve what we have speaks volumes for the players.

“It’s not just about talent. You have to have heart and desire and that carried us through a lot of games in France.

“It’s been a privilege to be a part of it, to try and guide them. You see the team on the pitch, that’s the finished article, but the work that goes on, my whole staff work so hard.

“We are together every day, up at six, going to bed at 12 at night. We are at it every day… everyone has been fantastic.”

Wales will become the top-ranked home nation on the back of their success and will now be viewed as a scalp.

For Coleman, the challenge is to now build on the last month.

“Can we work on our facilities, can we find a better way to work with our players?” he asked.

“Can we improve our football structure? Can we improve our young players?

“There is a long list of things to concentrate on, something to work on when we get back to business. So, we have to go to work immediately.”

On his side’s ranking, he added: “It changes quickly. We mustn’t get carried away. We have had some dark times when we have dropped outside the top 100, so when you start playing around with the top 10, that’s a good feeling. But still you can’t get carried away.

“There’s a different kind of pressure on us, we can’t be ‘plucky old Wales’. People will expect us to deliver now.”

After such an euphoric summer, Coleman is hoping he can keep his squad together.

“Your playing days are your best days,” he said.

“We are going to need everybody again, I hope that this is not the time of any of them thinking it is time to bow out.”