Wednesday 12 November 2014 12:02, UK
Guiding Wales to a major championships would be as rewarding for Gareth Bale as winning the Champions League with Real Madrid, according to Iwan Roberts.
Belgium are the favourites. They've got an unbelievable squad of players, but they're beatable
Bale, who moved from Tottenham to Madrid in an £85.3million deal in 2013, helped steer Real to their 10th European Cup last season and now has the chance to lead the Welsh to Euro 2016 and a first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.
Wales are preparing for this weekend's crucial European Qualifier against Belgium and Roberts, who won 15 caps in a team featuring Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes and Neville Southall yet never advanced to a world or European finals, insisted Bale's international commitment should not be questioned.
The former Norwich striker said: "He's still only 25, but he's achieved so much in the game already. If Wales qualify, Gareth will have a big say, and it will be up there with winning the European Cup with Madrid for him.
"The relief in his reaction when we beat Cyprus was unbelievable. You'd have thought he'd won the Champions League again."
Wales' wait for a first tournament in almost 60 years - after a number of near-misses - could end after a strong start to the current campaign. They lead qualifying Group B after three games, although Israel and Belgium have a game in hand.
But the mood in manager Chris Coleman's team will be high, especially with Bale's inclusion in the squad following a spell on the sidelines with a muscle injury.
Roberts added: "There are some big players who have missed out on playing in World Cups and European Championships.
"We came close in 1994 with the game at the old Arms Park, where Bods (Paul Bodin) missed a penalty. We had a great start to the 2004 campaign, when we won our first three games and then hit a bit of a brick wall and lost to Russia in the play-offs. We don't want the play-offs this time.
"I do think we'll qualify automatically. With the start we've had, with the players we've got, with the confidence that's flooding through the squad now.
"We've lost one in seven and that was against Holland when there was no Aaron Ramsey, no Bale, no Ashley Williams, no Ben Davies. We've had a good start. Seven points from our first three games, but we've got three tough games coming up."
Next up for Wales is a trip to Brussels for the first of two matches against Belgium, either side of a trip to Israel.
Roberts said: "Belgium are the favourites. They've got an unbelievable squad of players, but they're beatable.
"It would be one of the best results in Welsh football history if we went there and got three points."
Watch Belgium v Wales live on Sky Sports 5 HD from 4.30pm on Sunday, 16 November
