CHRIS Gunter has admitted it was hard dealing with the comedown after everything that happened at Euro 2016, but he insists the Wales players must raise the bar even higher if they want to push on and qualify for the next World Cup.

Newport-born defender Gunter and his countrymen made history in France this summer when they became the first Welsh team to reach the semi-finals of a major tournament.

Now, on the back of that remarkable run to the last four comes an opportunity for Chris Coleman’s men to match the achievements of the John Charles side of 1958 and reach the World Cup finals.

A little under nine weeks after they exited the Euros at the hands of eventual winners Portugal, Wales start their qualification campaign for Russia 2018 against Moldova at the Cardiff City Stadium on Monday.

Reading right-back Gunter, who has 73 caps to his name, says it was difficult readjusting to life after the Euros and the euphoric homecoming parade in Cardiff.

But now that he is back playing football again Gunter is looking forward to having a crack at the World Cup, and he is well aware that the Wales squad cannot rest on their laurels.

“It was a tough couple of weeks,” he said when speaking about the post-Euros comedown. “For many weeks it was building up towards it, then it was a long time when we were in it, so it was seven weeks in total.

“For it to all stop was a massive thing, the semi-final, the homecoming and then it was just...you could get in your car and go anywhere you wanted, and we hadn’t had that for such a long time.

“I got away but all you're thinking of is what you've been through because it's all in such a short period.

“It wasn't the greatest and I was actually quite pleased to get back in at the club to have something to focus on. I went back in a couple of days early and it was nice then because the season was pretty much ready to go.”

On wanting to follow up this summer with another major finals appearance in Russia in two years, he added: “The first time it was wanting to achieve it and be the first squad to do it, but after what we've been through the hunger and determination has to be more because we know what it feels like.

“That's only going to help, what we've been through. It's not a case of now we've done it people taking it easy or the hunger won't be the same, it can only be more because, speaking to the boys and when we were there, it was some of the best weeks we've ever had in our lives so it's only natural you want it more and we'll give absolutely everything to replicate what we've had in the last two years because it's a massively special time for this country and us as players as well.”