World Cup 2022: Ben Davies says Wales aiming for 'something special' in Qatar
Wales defender Ben Davies says the team has taken a step forward by qualifying for the World Cup after success at Euro 2016
Wales defender Ben Davies hopes he can help his nation achieve 'something special' at the World Cup in Qatar.
The Welsh will be playing in their first World Cup since 1958, when they were beaten by Brazil in the last eight, and for this generation it is a second major tournament in recent years after their run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.
Davies was part of that squad and, speaking at a press conference on Saturday, he said: "We've done the Euros, so what's the next step we can take? By reaching the World Cup and to have the chance of doing something special."
"There's a similar feeling now, a new feeling for us, facing teams we've not played against before. It's a success for us as a country just to qualify for a World Cup.
😎😎😎#ArBenYByd | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/2uY52sq0dXNovember 19, 2022
"But that doesn't mean we don't have a lot of ambition to do something special in this competition."
Wales kick off their World Cup campaign against USA on Monday and Davies said: "The first game is so important and we could be top of the group if we win our first game.
"We know the first game is so important. We'll have to start well in the first 10 minutes, keep our heads and stay calm. We'll need to relax as much as we can beforehand and raise our game. It will be a really difficult game."
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Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.