As Daniel James dons the red jersey of Wales when lining up against the United States of America, only one person will feature in his mind.
The winger tragically lost his father Kevan in 2019, although he has used that heartbreak to achieve his dreams at both club and international level.
Following his father's death, James secured a big-money move from Swansea City to Manchester United and has gone on to represent his country at a European Championship.
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But the biggest stage of them all awaits the 25-year-old, although it's one that he may never had had the opportunity of gracing had it not been for his father's smart thinking more than a decade ago.
"I wouldn't be in this position today without him," said James. "He took me to a north Wales camp when I was 12 years old.
"He emailed the person there to say I was eligible to play for Wales. If he didn't do that then I wouldn't be here today.
"I got picked up at Swansea when I was 15 playing for Wales against Poland. I wouldn't have played that game and may not have been at Swansea and ended up going to a World Cup."
Fortunately, James' father was only too aware of his son's talents, and he was no doubt an immensely proud man watching on from the stands at Cardiff City Stadium as the flying winger netted the winner for Wales against Slovakia in his first competitive outing for his country.
It was to be the final time Kevan watched his son in action for Wales, and James had precious little time to grieve ahead of his £15m switch to Old Trafford.
"That Slovakia game when I scored on my debut, he was there and I'm so glad that before he passed away he got to see me play for Wales," added James.
"He took me everywhere, taking time off work to take me to places. To north Wales camps and ultimately he travelled to watch me play for Wales from 15, 16 and onwards. It's down to him that I'm playing here today. Whenever I pull that Wales shirt on I always think of him."
With his status elevated to new heights after joining the Red Devils, James always remained grounded and loyal to his roots. It's clear that family means more than anything to the Swansea City academy product - who is now a father to Layke.
"He's 13 months now," James says of his son. "I don't think it's changed the way I play football. But family is so important, having a little one changes your life for the better.
"Coming home everyday saying 'you've had a bad day in training' but then going home to that always gives you a spark and strives you on to do more."
James is one of many who will have a strong contingent of support in Qatar, with six members of his family heading out to the global showpiece - which will be in stark contrast to Euro 2020 where fans were advised not to travel owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
"Baku was very strange," recalled the attacker. "You couldn't have family going and there weren't too many fans. Credit to the fans who did go.
"I've got six going - my missus, my baby, my mum, my brother and her parents. It's brilliant that they can all come along and support me."
James heads into the World Cup having netted his first goal for Fulham, ironically against former club Manchester United.
It was an achievement that may well mean more to James than originally meets the eye given the bold decision he made in the summer to leave Leeds United - the club who signed him from Manchester United two-and-a-half years after failing to secure his signature from Swansea.
And James admits concerns over a lack of game-time at Elland Road ahead of the World Cup ensured he had to make the loan switch to Fulham this term.
"It's (World Cup) one of the pinnacles of my career," he explained. "I wanted to play games and be fit coming into the tournament. It was always on my mind.
"I was there for a season (at Leeds) and really enjoyed it. I loved the place and my family loved it there.
"It was tough (to leave), it was deadline day and it was last minute. I was thinking about the World Cup and maybe I was going to get more game-time. That was always on my mind. I've never thought since that I've made the wrong decision. I still believe I made the right one.
"I spoke to the gaffer (Marco Silva) at Fulham and felt that was the best move for me in that moment."
And on his strike against Erik ten Hag's side on Sunday, James said: "I think it's always important to feel confident coming into the international break, to go to a World Cup, and getting a goal means I'm going into it with full confidence."
Rob Page's side have just days to wait for their first World Cup fixture in 64 years. They lock horns with the USA on Monday in what is undoubtedly a crunch fixture between two sides who harbour strong hopes of finishing in the top two of Group B.
The contest comes little more than two years after Wales hosted the same opposition in what was Page's first match in charge of his country in Swansea.
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A side packed with familiar names from top European clubs, James is only too aware of the threats Gregg Berhalter's side possess.
"Think they've got an incredible squad," James said of Wales' first group stage opponents. "We played against them in Swansea and they played all their European players because of Covid.
"They're a very athletic team and I played with two players at Leeds (Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson), they've got great attitudes. I think it will be a great match up.
"Going to the World Cup, they've got expectations of going through. With us it's just about how we can go into every game believing we can win and with full confidence."
It's been some rise to the upper echelons of the game for James who failed to get a single minute of action on loan at Shrewsbury Town just five years ago before dazzling crowds with Swansea under now Chelsea boss Graham Potter.
It will make that emotional and proud moment in Qatar all the more sweeter for a player who will be beaming on the inside as he glances up to the skies and looks out for his loved ones in the stands before getting down to business in the world's biggest football tournament next week.
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