GARETH Bale says Wales are not feeling the pressure ahead of Wednesday’s historic Euro 2016 semi-final against Portugal, insisting the players want to continue to enjoy the experience of a lifetime in France.

Chris Coleman’s men have already exceeded the hopes and dreams of a nation but they don’t want the adventure to end in Lyon.

And, while Bale knows that Portugal and his Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo will be tough to crack, he has his sights set on Sunday’s final in Paris.

“Ultimately we want to win the tournament,” said the Welsh talisman. “We always said the first goal was to get out of the group and then we’d take it step by step.

“But we always believed we could go all the way – you see the likes of Greece and Denmark and teams like that who have done it before. We always believed but doing it is another thing.

“We’ve just grown throughout the tournament and when we’ve had to win ugly we’ve won ugly and when we’ve had to play football we’ve played football. At the crucial times we’ve come up with the goods.

“There’s no fear in the group. We’re just enjoying the ride and it’s a great journey to be on.”

Bale suggested that the relaxed atmosphere at Wales’ training base in Brittany has helped shield the players from the fevered atmosphere of anticipation and expectation back home.

“We are wrapped up in a little bubble to be honest,” he said.

“We understand what is going on back home and I am sure that we will reflect on it in the future and look at that kind of thing after the tournament. “The most important thing for us now is that we need to concentrate more than ever on this tournament and try to leave everything else on the back burner for after the tournament.

“It is obviously amazing that we are putting Wales on the map and putting us where we think that we belong.

“And hopefully we can keep improving,” he added. “We know we played a good game against an incredible team in Belgium, but we still want to keep improving.

“You can never be totally satisfied, you can always improve in football, whatever level you are at, that is what we will keep trying to do.”

Bale too feels he can improve and keep learning from the likes of Ronaldo.

“We know he is a great player and everything he has achieved in the game is amazing,” he said. “He has set the standard for football, him and Messi.

“I feel like I am on my own journey. I am trying to achieve what I can. I feel like I’m on a good path, I am improving every season, I am getting better and hopefully I can continue to get better and play in a major tournament final for my country.”

Penarth Times: