These Welsh lads are going...

Image source, Getty Images

So are these English fellas...

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And this Northern Irish bloke...

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Heard the one about the Englishmen, the Welshmen and the Irishmen? They are all going to be taking part in the same international tournament next summer. No joke... Au revoir!

Robbie Savage
BBC Radio 5 live at the Cardiff City Stadium

"Going into a European Championship is unknown territory for Wales, but if they get a good draw, why can’t they do well? Germany were beaten by the Republic of Ireland, Spain are not the Spain of old. 

"This Wales team will go there with confidence. I believe defensively they are very good, and with Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey, and a superstar like Gareth Bale in the side, you’ll have a chance in any game you play in."

John Hartson
BBC Radio 5 live at the Cardiff City Stadium

"I think we're going in to the finals as the unknown - and that could help us. No-one gave us a chance to finish second, no-one thought we would take four points from Belgium.

"We'll just go in, we're very humble, we know what our strengths are. We will cause problems with the players - and the pace of Gareth Bale - that we have. And the fact we are pretty much an unknown will help us next summer."

Wales skipper Ashley Williams hails the leadership of manager Chris Coleman as the pair celebrate reaching the Euro 2016 finals.

"He simplifies everything for us," says the Swansea defender. "Every time we step onto field we are right up for it. We always try to perform for him, we are disappointed for him when we lose."

Image source, Reuters

Excellent question - arguably without a simple answer. But of the nine qualifying groups, eight comprised six teams and one only five.

So when the points are tallied up for the teams in third, all of the nations in a group with six teams have the points taken away from them that they picked up against the side that finished bottom.

Capiche? 

Eight teams face a nervy two-legged decider to see if they can nab 

one of the four spots available through the play-offs:

Republic of Ireland, Bosnia, Ukraine, Slovenia, Hungary, Sweden, Norway, Denmark.

The draw for the two-legged play-offs will be held on Sunday, with the matches taking place next month.

So to recap then: 

Here are the 19 teams who have secured automatic qualification and will be joining hosts France at next summer's Euro 2016: 

Czech Republic, Iceland, Turkey, Belgium, Wales, Spain, Slovakia, Germany, Poland, England, Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Romania, Austria, Russia, Italy, Croatia, Portugal, Albania. 

So that's the Euro 2016 group stage done and dusted. England, Wales and Northern Ireland are there, the Netherlands are staying at home, and the Republic of Ireland are still in limber over their summer plans. Let's have a recap...

Image source, AP

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Leanne Wood, leader of Plaid Cymru, is straight onto Twitter to offer her congratulations to the Welsh football team...

Flashbulbs lights illuminate the Cardiff City Stadium as a horde of press photographers snap away at the jubilant Welsh players. Chris Coleman and his army of coaching staff pose for their own pictures a few yards away. Cameras are clicking from the press gang on the touchline, the elated Welsh fans in the stands and the ecstatic players who have taken their phones onto the pitch. Everyone is desperate to capture this moment of history. 

Image source, Getty Images

The entire squad link hands, sprint towards one of the ends behind the goal, diving Jurgen Klinsmann-style across the turf. Joe Ledley (who else?) leads the dancing, busting the robotic moves out. Sure that one will be coming out later in the middle of Cardiff's premier nightclub...

Image source, Getty Images

Not sure how they celebrated in 1958, but this generation of Wales players are doing it in style. Bouncing up on the podium, spraying pricey champagne over each other, dancing to trance music. Great scenes!

Image source, Reuters

The loudest cheers are reserved for star man Gareth Bale, skipper Ashley Williams and, the last man out of the tunnel, Chris Coleman. Coleman is beaming like a dad who has just seen his new-born baby for the first time as bounds out to the podium in the middle of the pitch.

Image source, PA

Each of the Wales players who have contributed to this glorious Euro 2016 campaign are being introduced to the Cardiff crowd. One-by-one they jog out, wearing 'Together Stronger' T-shirts, Welsh flags draped over their shoulders. I'm waiting for Joe Ledley to come out dancing...

The full-time whistle has gone, but no-one is leaving the Cardiff City Stadium to secure an early exit from the car park or dash for the last train. The Wales supporters have been promised a party, and have been teased about some mystery post-match celebrations.

Ooh exciting times! Is Tom Jones going to turn up? Don't want to ruin anything but I did spot him outside our Salford office about five hours ago...

All over! The Cardiff City Stadium erupts as referee Kevin Blom blows time just before the end of the allotted two minutes. Poor Andorra keeper Ferran Pol pulls his hamstring as he goes to take a goal-kick - Dutchman Blom sympathetically peeps his whistle. Maybe the ref wants to find out how his national team have got on. It's not good news Kev...

Image source, Reuters

Two minutes of injury-time. Two minutes until Cardiff is going to party like it is 1958...