Coleman hoping for Slovakia victory on birthday
Chris Coleman celebrated his 46th birthday on Friday with a cake - but the real present the Wales manager wants is a winning start at Euro 2016.
Wales end their 58-year wait to play at a major tournament on Saturday evening when they meet Slovakia in Bordeaux.
But the Wales squad got the formalities out of the way first as they celebrated their manager's birthday before leaving their Brittany base in Dinard for the south-west of France.
"I had a lovely cake, but I've left it in Dinard - I'll eat it after the weekend," said Coleman.
"Yes, it's my birthday. But when you're involved in football you don't think about that.
"It's all about the game and getting that win we need.
"It's the first game, we want to win, Slovakia want to win, and we've both got two other bites of the cherry.
"But the two teams will see this as an opportunity of getting that first win."
Wales have had injury concerns in the build-up to their Euro 2016 opener with Joe Allen, Joe Ledley and Hal Robson-Kanu not returning to training until this week.
Allen should start after shaking off a knee problem, but Ledley and Robson-Kanu are in danger of missing out.
David Edwards and Andy King are on standby to replace Ledley, who has made a remarkable recovery from a fractured leg suffered on May 7, and Sam Vokes could join forces with Gareth Bale in attack.
Asked about Slovakia's focus being on Bale, Coleman said: "We've grown used to that, it's normal for the opposition to pay him a lot of attention.
"Once you become the most expensive player in the world, you're playing for Real Madrid, and you've won two Champions Leagues in three years, you become used to it.
"Gareth's used to the spotlight and having the eyes of the world on him.
"I expect Slovakia to pay him attention, everyone we play against pays him attention."
And Coleman says he also expects referees to ensure Bale gets the necessary protection during the tournament.
"Our players, except for Balo, play in the Premier League and the Championship," said Coleman.
"They are used to a certain type of football where referees are more lenient than those we are going to see in this tournament.
"Hopefully Balo will get the protection that he and everyone deserves - and I am sure he will."
Coleman admits it will be a proud moment leading out Wales before the game but says his players can not just soak the occasion in.
"I understand we've got 25 or 30,000 Welsh supporters behind us, which is incredible," said Coleman.
"I thought it would never happen but we're here and walking out will be something special.
"But we've got to remember that we're not just here to have a laugh, a smile and a joke.
"It's not the time to sit back and enjoy the moment, if we perform that's when we will enjoy the moment.
"We've not had this bunch together since Andorra (when Wales qualified) and eight or nine months is a long time.
"This is the gang that got us to the tournament in the first place, and these players have never disappointed when the big challenge comes."