World Cup: Elis James - Wales fans' elation and guilt over Ukraine win

With a laugh, Elis James says he doesn't care what happens next now Wales are finally heading to the World Cup

"I cried in the anthem, I cried at the goal, I cried at the final whistle."

Thousands of Wales fans have woken up perhaps still not quite believing Wales are heading to the World Cup.

Like many fans, for comedian and Wales super-supporter Elis James, watching Wales' men's team qualify for the tournament for the first time in 64 years was an emotional rollercoaster.

But while overjoyed, he admits he felt "guilt" the team had to beat Ukraine for the place in the finals.

Fans have been celebrating after a deflected Gareth Bale free-kick secured a 1-0 win over Ukraine in Cardiff, sending them to their first World Cup finals since 1958.

Many Ukrainian supporters praised the outpouring of love from Wales fans

Ukraine fans praised the home supporters for an outpouring of love and compassion, saying they never had so many hugs following the result on Sunday, with fans heading across the seats to show their support amid the war with Russia.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today on Monday, Elis, 41, said the ongoing conflict gave the evening an "emotional subtext that was unique".

He appeared on the show after TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson tweeted that the win over Ukraine was "a momentous win for sure, but also the biggest PR disaster in Welsh history".

'They threw the kitchen sink at us'

"I think what people forget though, is that it's sport," said the stand-up comedian, who also presents the BBC podcast Elis James' Feast of Football and has starred in BBC Three's Josh and BBC Wales' Tourist Trap.

"The Ukrainian players would have wanted to get there on merit... they threw the kitchen sink at us, some of the Welsh defensive heroics will live long in the memory."

He described having watched a rousing press conference before the Scotland game, where the Ukraine legend Andriy Shevchenko spoke of how much qualification would mean to Ukraine amid the war. Moments like that meant the Wales game "transcended sport".

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But, said Elis, "ultimately there is nothing we can do... it was just a sporting contest".

"I do feel a guilt I wouldn't have felt if we'd have played Scotland or another country... but it was extraordinary."

In common with all Welsh fans, he had been waiting a long time for Sunday's result.

The presenter of BBC Wales' Football Nation said not being able to qualify had "hung over" Wales for 64 years, and in his years following the team he had a lot of heartache.

"We had this knack of getting to the final game and needing a result, and then not quite getting there," he said of the time before the team eventually qualified for the Euros in 2016.

'I couldn't be happier'

"So people think of drawing with Scotland in '85, when we needed to win, losing to Romania in '93 when we needed to win, the play-off against Russia in 2003, there were so many of these."

He described the evening as one of the most emotional moments of his life, and a "unique experience". In his view, there's something special about this team, and it was particularly significant for captain Gareth Bale.

"I've been to quite a few of these games, the last chance saloon, where we needed to win in the final group game," he said.

"The feeling I always take away from these matches is you are watching it slip away from you on the pitch, but it didn't happen last night.

"We've done it, especially for Bale, he's got the full set now, he's played in the European Championships, he'll play in a World Cup, I couldn't be happier."

So what are his hopes when the team head to Qatar later this year?

A laugh, and: "I don't care".