Hughes backed his forward line of Ryan Giggs, Simon Davies, John Hartson and Craig Bellamy to deliver the goods in front of an ecstatic Millennium Stadium crowd.

Wales ran out deserved 2-1 victors and Hughes said: "I went for the win, I felt we had the weapons that could really worry them, and that's how it proved.

"We restricted a great team to very few chances, and we then put in as good an attacking display as I have seen.

"The players should be proud of themselves. I'm not going to single anyone out, they were all magnificent."

Hughes insists on playing it cool, but even the experienced campaigner had difficulty containing his elation.

He said: "I still don't believe we are favourites to qualify, we have only played two games and we must keep our cool and keep working.