From Graham Thomas in Dinard
If any player should understand how to harness the power of the underdog at Euro 2016, it is Andy King.
The Wales midfielder – who is set to replace the injured Joe Ledley for the opening match against Slovakia on Saturday – was part of the Leicester City squad that bit off more than the rest of the Premier League could chew last season.
If King can summon the powers that took Leicester from barking mad 5,000-1 no-hopers to champions, then Wales should not feel inhibited by their own ranking in France as mere 80-1 outsiders.
“In a tournament where you have six or seven games to win it, anything is possible,” says King, who is spreading the gospel of the extraordinary made real at Wales’ training camp in Dinard.
“You hear a lot about good team spirit, especially with Leicester and Wales. With Leicester, we had a couple of heartbreaks and the great escape last season and so we had been through a whole range of emotions.
“That’s the same with Wales. The whole Gary Speed incident was devastating for the whole country and many of the players. So, we have come out with Chris Coleman, who the players are also massively fond of.
“You have to go through stuff to come out strong and that is what grows that spirit together but unless you are hard to break down and have outstanding attacking players who can score goals, you are not going to get anywhere. We have a good squad and, in my opinion, probably the best player in the tournament. It is a real good mix.”
Whatever happens with Wales over the next three weeks, 27-year-old King can only be a powerful influence and perhaps a good luck charm. Not only did the Foxes’ unlikely triumph make him the first player since the 1960s to be part of winning teams with the same club in the top three divisions, but he is only the fourth Welshman to win a Premier League title.
The list comprised of the Manchester United trio of Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes and Clayton Blackmore, now includes King.
For a largely unheralded player to have achieved so much, it is hardly surprising that King is thinking only positive thoughts about how far Wales might progress.
“If we can bring that underdog spirit here with Wales, we have probably got a better chance of winning the Euros than Leicester had at the start of the season of winning the Premier League. Why can’t we go on and do something different?
“I think what we achieved at Leicester has changed perceptions of what is possible, the whole outside expectation as well, not just within the dressing-room.
“It is all well and good having that team spirit but we are football players so you need talent. I am fortunate to play in two teams where we have got that in abundance.”
King qualified for Wales through a Welsh grandfather and is one of nine English-born players in the 23-man squad – the largest contingent of players born outside the country they are representing among any nation in the tournament.
But he is adamant there is no lack of Welsh identity or bond among those not born in Wales.
“You see it across many countries where the players were maybe not born directly in the country and the players go on to represent their country.
“My mum was on me to learn the anthem since I started playing internationally. We are one proud nation; we all want to win for Wales.
“The boys who obviously weren’t born directly have played for a number of years. It’s not been a problem. We are one proud nation – we all want to win for Wales and I am sure all the boys know that whether they were born in the country or qualified through a different matter.”