The Wales Under-21 squad has been told that the "door is open" for them to write themselves into Welsh football history.Brian Flynn's side face Malta in Valetta on Tuesday in a vital UEFA championship qualifier.
Their chances of qualifying for the finals in Sweden next year have been boosted by their remarkable victory over group favourites France in Cardiff in November.
Only one Wales team has ever qualified for a major finals and that was the seniors in the 1958 World Cup - also in Sweden.
Wales boss John Toshack said of his country's youngsters: "We want to qualify from this group, it is a great opportunity. If we finish second it takes us into a play-off in October to reach the finals in Sweden in 2009.
"When the door opens for us, we have to take it. The door is open now for the Under-21s because we can qualify, the win over France has convinced us of that.
"We want to do everything possible to help the Under-21s. We have lads coming through, Jack Collison, Arron Ramsey and Ched Evans, who are close to the first team squad but they will be needed for the Under-21s."
With so many of Toshack's seniors still qualified for the Under-21s, there is every chance that the best Welsh youngsters could be utilised if qualification is a real prospect in the coming months.
Toshack said: "We really must win in Malta. Then there is a tough one against Bosnia in March before we have Romania home and away. I would not rule out some of the lads in the senior squad dropping back into the Under-21s for maybe one or two group matches.
"They will all have it explained to them what we are doing and why. Nobody will need to feel that they have been pushed down into the Under-21s.
"If you take the Under-21 side that beat France plus the nine lads already in the senior squad still qualified, and we have 20 young players all coming through together at roughly the same age.
"There is still a lot of work to do. Three of their last four are away from home and even then there could be another double header to get to the finals, but we are absolutely delighted with the way they are going."
Wales flew to Malta on Sunday, having lost Nicky Adams (Bury) and Mark Bradley (Walsall) through injuries playing for their clubs at the weekend. They have been replaced by Jonathan Brown (Cardiff City) and Lloyd James (Southampton).
Flynn has been praised for his work at youth and Under-21 levels with Wales and the production line of youngsters are now being utilised by Toshack at senior level.
Flynn said: "Having beaten the French it would all be wasted if we cannot win in Malta.
"I am delighted with the young players I have got, it is a growing group with some more to get through from the Under-17s and Under-19s.
"We have improved a lot. The real breakthrough for me was winning away in Sweden last year. We were 3-1 down and won 4-3. That kick-started our confidence.
"We then gave France a tough game in Grenoble, only losing to a late own goal, and then beat them in Cardiff. Now we must not waste this opportunity."
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