Wales winner like a "dream", says Robson-Kanu
Wales striker Hal Robson-Kanu realised a childhood dream with his Euro 2016 winner in Bordeaux.
Robson-Kanu, a regular during Wales' qualification campaign, had to take his place among the substitutes against Slovakia on Saturday evening after suffering an Achilles injury last month.
But the 27-year-old enshrined himself in Welsh football folklore when he came off the bench to score an 81st-minute winner.
Robson-Kanu's third Wales goal secured a famous 2-1 victory and put Chris Coleman's side top of their section, with England and Russia drawing the other Group B game 1-1.
"I have played in big games throughout my career," said Robson-Kanu.
"But that atmosphere and the way we won the game, the team spirit we showed, is something I will not forget.
"It is something you dream of as a kid, when you are putting all those hours in on the training ground when no one is looking.
"When you graft to better yourself it is for moments like that.
"It was a special feeling myself, for my family and for the nation, and hopefully we can build on it."
London-born Robson-Kanu was capped by England at Under-19 and Under-20 level.
But he qualified for Wales through his Caerphilly-born grandmother, and switched allegiance to be capped by the Dragons at Under-21 level.
Now he could line up against England on Thursday, the ideal shop window for a striker currently without a club and available on a free transfer this summer.
Asked what it would mean to him to score against England in Lens, Robson-Kanu said: "It is more about scoring for your country.
"That feeling is unbeatable, especially with how hard we have worked to get to where we are now.
"It is a great stage to show what you are capable of, but I won't be going into the game thinking I have to prove what I can do.
"I have played in the Premier League and shown what I can do, and it is about putting in a performance and getting another result.
"If we apply ourselves there is no reason we can not do that."
Robson-Kanu's journey to the Euros has not been a straightforward one as he failed to break through at Arsenal.
He played in Arsenal junior teams alongside Kieran Gibbs, Fabrice Muamba and Jack Wilshere, but moved on to Reading where he played over 220 first-team games in a decade-long stay in Berkshire.
"I was one of the smallest in the whole academy when I was there, I developed quite late," said Robson-Kanu.
"Liam Brady (Arsenal Academy director) sat me down and said 'You've got a wand of a left foot, you'll have a career'.
"He offered me another year to stay and see if I developed and grew.
"But Reading was a good decision for my career and one that I'm pleased I made."