The Welsh Under 21’s near miss at qualification for next years summer finals – they lost 5-4 to England on aggregate – has led Swans defender Williams to believe that now they have come through the ranks, the senior team can push on and end their 50+ year wait for a major finals.
Williams won his 7th Welsh cap in Germany in the last qualifier – a game that Wales lost narrowly 1-0.
Speaking to Wales on Sunday, Ash said โThe talent coming through is unbelievable and I think we will qualify โ if not for this one then the next one
โThe average age of the side is a lot younger than it was before and it is going to get younger.
โMaybe the performances we have had recently are because we have got no fear now.
โMaybe we just donโt know any other way.
โWe are not fearful because we are just young lads playing football.
โYou look at any nation playing well and the core of the team has been together for a good three or four years.
โIf we can stay together now and stay fit when we meet up it will almost be like a club side getting back together.
โI think we will have a brilliant team in a few years when we all get to know each other.
โIt will be strange that when the lads from the under-21s come through we will be the experienced players even though we are still only young ourselves. It is going to be a very exciting time.โ
Williams also singled out Aaron Ramsey – who scored his first Arsenal goal in the Champions League win this week – for special praise โHe is a quiet lad, not arrogant in any way and I was really impressed with him when he trained with us.
โI think he is a brilliant player, a special talent.
โIt is fantastic that he is Welsh.โ