WALES legend Ian Rush has warned that Chris Coleman’s men will find life more difficult after their Euro 2016 heroics.

Wales take on Moldova in Cardiff tonight in their opening World Cup 2018 qualifier.

And, after their surprise run to the semi-finals in France this summer, Rush believes opponents will have a new-found respect for Wales and will attempt to frustrate them at home.

“I think it’s amazing the success they’ve had over the last few years,” said Rush.

“With the Euros they probably overachieved but they were superb.

“We’re taking it to a different level now and we just don’t want to make this a one-off.

“Now that we’ve qualified for the Euros and experienced the fantastic success and the fantastic achievement of the Euros you want to go to a World Cup.

“You can’t be going up and down all the time. You’ve got to take it to a different level again.

“But the biggest thing now is that everyone is respecting Wales and teams are going to come to Wales now and go away and be happy with the point.

“Teams will probably come and park the bus now – the lesser sort of teams.

“And the problem Chris and the rest of the boys will have is how to break them down.

“I’m sure we’ll be better away from home than in Cardiff because teams will take a point now because the success we had in the Euros.”

The key man in breaking down stubborn defences will be Gareth Bale and Rush believes the Real Madrid star has got better since teaming up with Ronaldo in La Liga.

“He’s got stronger and faster and I think there’s more to come,” said Rush. “I think he’s learned a lot from Ronaldo.

“Some of the goals he’s scored, especially his headed goals, remind me very much of Ronaldo.

“We all know who’s going to take the dead ball situations but when he’s running at defenders he seems to have got bigger and stronger and more powerful.

“That’s what makes him the player he is and I’m sure he’ll get even better.

"Playing for Real Madrid is going to make him better for Wales," he added.

"After I played for Juventus and I came back to Liverpool I was a better all-round player but when I played for Wales you become more used to European football.

"He’s learned that and if other Welsh players go abroad I think they’ll be better for their clubs and for the country."