Wales boss Chris Coleman has told his players to prove they are the best team in years by going one step further and qualifying for Euro 2016.

The Welsh went top of qualifying Group B on Saturday with a 3-0 win in Israel. Gareth Bale scored twice and Aaron Ramsey grabbed his ninth international goal as Wales continued their best run since losing a Euro 2004 play-off with Russia 12 years ago.

Three wins and two draws from their first five matches mean Wales are in a strong position to qualify for their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.

And Saturday’s victory – which Coleman described as the most important since that defeat to Russia in 2003 – came against a side that had won its last three qualifiers in a row.

Coleman’s side is being labelled a golden generation by Wales supporters and the manager is demanding his players rise to the expectations and qualify for next year’s finals in France.

“We’ve got the chance to prove we are the best Welsh team since the one that qualified for the 1958 World Cup,” Coleman said.

“We nearly did it in 1994 and 2004 and now we have the opportunity to go a step further.

“People say it’s a golden generation but we need to earn it. We’re doing it but we’ve not done it yet.

“But we want the chance to prove since 1958 this team is as good as anything that’s gone before.”

Wales continue their push for qualification when they host rivals Belgium at home in June.