Euro 2016: Wales are in France to win the tournament insists Gareth Bale

The unity in the Welsh camp has been key to their success

Bale is delighted that he and his team-mates finished above England (Getty)

Gareth Bale revealed that Wales' "ultimate goal" is to leave Euro 2016 as champions as they prepared for their last-16 clash with Northern Ireland on Saturday.

Wales have already confounded expectations by winning Group B, in their first major international tournament since 1958, with Bale scoring in all three matches. The Real Madrid forward said at his press conference in Dinard on Thursday afternoon that Wales are setting themselves no limits, and would not be satisfied unless they lift the trophy in the Stade de France on 10 July.

"Obviously you come to the tournament for one reason, to win," Bale said. "Not to play three games and go home. The ultimate goal is that we want to try and win the tournament. Each and every game is as important as it comes. It's a cliche but we'll take each game as it comes. Yes we would love to win it, but all our focus now is on Northern Ireland. Until that whistle goes and we’re through we cant think about it a second before."

Bale revelled in the fact that their two group victories meant that Wales finished Group B with six points, one ahead of England, who now face a far harder route to the final. Wales managed to beat Russia and Slovakia while England drew with both sides.

"It is a moral victory for us." Bale said. "We get bragging rights to finish top. It is always nice to get one over on the English."

Bale said that Wales' remarkable success has been down to the unity in the camp between players who have been representing their country for years at various levels.

"It's an amazing feeling in the camp," Bale said. "We have not just been working on it two years. It's been since we were all young boys, playing together. I was 16, some were 17, 18. We've come through a massive journey. We've been in some bad places, we were 112th in the world. Now we're in the last 16 of the Euros."

The players celebrated with a beer and a barbeque after beating Russia 3-0 on Monday night but Bale said they are both relaxed and focused as they prepare for Saturday's knock-out game in the Parc des Princes. "

"The camp is happy, we enjoyed it after Russia but the next day was down to business, back on the training pitch," Bale said. "Recovering, preparing like we always do. There's bubbly characters who like a laugh but we do the serious work when we have to."