Welsh-language singer Dafydd Iwan has had his say on his remarkable performances during Wales' World Cup play-off final win over Ukraine. Rob Page's men secured a historic World Cup spot for the first time since 1958 thanks to a 1-0 win.
They faced Ukraine at a sold-out Cardiff City Stadium and booked their place at this year's global showpiece in Qatar. The electric atmosphere was impossible to dampen, even though traditional Welsh weather did its best.
Fans were treated to not one but two stirring renditions of Yma O Hyd, one before the match and another after qualification had been sealed, with 78-year-old Dafydd joined by Wales' stars on the pitch as they celebrated together.
Read more: Dafydd Iwan's epic rendition of Yma o Hyd brings the house down at Wales v Ukraine
Speaking to WalesOnline, Dafydd said Sunday's performance was very different to his performance at the stadium prior to Wales' play-off semi-final win over against Austria in March.
He said: "The plan was always to have me perform before both games. Ahead of the kick-off against Austria was a memorable moment, it felt like there was a lot more singing than I had expected.
"This time round, it felt like everyone was singing. It felt like there was an effort to sing a Welsh-language song, even if some did not understand the words. I'm glad that the song has reached new levels and feels like it belongs to football fans even when they don't speak Welsh.
"Of course, it was pouring with rain and I was soaked. But, if anything, it added to the atmosphere and the message behind the song: in spite of everything and anything, we are still here."
The folk singer said he was only supposed to perform ahead of kick-off, but it was decided a few minutes before the final whistle that he would perform for a second time - this time joined by the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
"I went up to Gareth Bale and shook his hand, it didn't feel like I needed to do anything else other than that. This team has done an amazing job uniting the nation through football, through song and through the Welsh language. You get this idea that they are fully embracing its culture.
"People have come up to me and told me that this song either makes them cry, sends shivers down their spine or raises the hairs on their arms. There's a sense of pride there in Welshness and I think that's so important for those that don't understand the language.
"When I initially wrote this song, I had no idea that it would develop into this. I wrote this song due to Thatcherism and following the disappointment of the failed devolution referendum of 1979. It has had a revival and means so much more to people, it really has reached another level."
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