Where on earth are you from?

'Hey, where you from?', the cliched opening gambit of one backpacker seeking to temporarily befriend another over a cold beer. As a Welshman, I know that in many instances my response will draw a blank face and a 'Ah, Cool. Where's that?'. Each time, I sigh internally, so as not to come across rude, before offering up a token 'next to England'.

On reflection, Wales' notoriety level or lack of, probably says as much about what the principality is bringing to the global stage, as it does about the geographical awareness of my fellow traveller. This lack of global identity is not an issue for our Celtic brethren from Ireland and Scotland. They have many an export, synonymous with their nation that have become common place in global society. The fact is, Brains isn't Guinness, Penderyn isn't Glenmorangie or Jameson, and despite his statue in the middle of Corwen, Owain Glyndwr isn't William Wallace. But then again, Wallace was seven feet tall, and killed men by the hundred.

Sure, their are famous Welsh actors, actresses, singers, bands and sports personnel who excel on the world stage. However, you will often find that although people recognise the famous names they don't necessarily know them as famous Welsh names. 

For the past month, this mist of anonymity has cleared. Wales has been thrust the spotlight thanks to the performance of its Football team, and it's army of work hating, beer drinking, supporters in the 2016 European Championship. Rugby may be considered the national sport in Wales, but outside of the game's global hotbeds, it's value as a conversational currency is a pittance when compared with Football.

From not making a major Championship since 1958 to defeating Slovakia, Russia, Northern Ireland, and the world's' second ranked team, Belgium, en route to a Semi Final is some success story, one worthy of the international coverage it attracted. 

In Gareth Bale, Wales have both a superstar and a statesman. Whether it be his goal scoring exploits on field or his magnanimous media off it, the man is all class. The Galactico reinforced time and again how proud he was to represent Wales, he spoke of how having the Red Dragon on his chest made him feel "10 feet tall". That's a whole 3 feet taller than William Wallace. Bale deserves all the recognition he has received throughout the tournament, and if he's the first thing someone thinks of when they think Wales, then that's alright with me. 

Wales' return home to an open top bus parade through the nation's capital is, on the face of it, easy to criticise. Perhaps celebrating failure serves as a self limiting factor on our success and global presence. However, the parade must be viewed in context, one perhaps only the Welsh people will understand. It was an opportunity for mutual thanks, from the team to the fans for their unrelenting support, and from the people to the their heroes for giving the nation something to shout about, something to be proud of, an identity.