Neil Taylor claims Wales’ wild celebrations at England losing to Iceland reflected their joy at being part of European football’s new order.
A video clip leaked online showed Taylor, Gareth Bale and some of their team-mates going ballistic as the Three Lions were dumped out of Euro 2016 in a shambolic 2-1 defeat on Monday.
But Swansea left-back Taylor attempted to explain why the Wales players reacted as they did. Wales lost to England in Lens, but still finished top of Group B.
The 27-year-old believes the success of Iceland, home to just 330,000 people, increases the belief of smaller nations such as Wales that they can continue to shock bigger rivals.
The Dragons will have to do just that in Lille on Friday when they meet Belgium in the quarter-finals.
Taylor said: “The clip wasn’t meant to get out but we don’t regret it, it was a bit of a laugh.
“As a squad we’ve followed the underdog in this tournament like Albania and Hungary and we have enjoyed Iceland all the way through the competition.
“When you really sit down and think about Iceland, what they have done with the population of their country is unbelievable. They were completely written off and talked about as being too defensive – and look where they are now.
“It’s the same thing for us now, definitely. But in the last three or four years the results across Europe from the smaller to the big teams are no longer 7-0 or 8-0.
“It’s very much changed European football, and every nation. The gap between top and bottom isn’t what it used to be and a bit like the Premier League – everything is coming a lot closer together.”
Wales squeezed past Northern Ireland 1-0 in the last 16, but Belgium are the hot favourites on Friday after a four-goal demolition of Hungary.
Taylor added: “On paper they could put two teams out that would be able to compete at this Euros. They have had a blessed generation of players coming through.
“Teams like Belgium can force you to be defensive sometimes with the players they have because they move the ball so well. You have to respect them otherwise like the other night they can blow you away.”
Wales skipper Ashley Williams took part in training and has declared himself fit after a worryingly-looking shoulder injury late on against Northern Ireland.
* EDEN HAZARD will be fit to face Wales, despite missing Belgium training on Tuesday.
Coach Marc Wilmots rested the 25-year-old star, and he is not due to be in action again until Thursday.
Chelsea midfielder Hazard has drawn rave reviews at these finals after one goal and four assists, but needed to be substituted during the 4-0 win over Hungary in the last 16.
But Wilmots expects his captain to be fully recovered to take on Chris Coleman’s side in Lille.
Wilmots said: “Eden had a bit of a pain in his quadricep during half-time of the Hungary game. He will return to the pitch on Thursday and will be 100 per cent for Wales.”