Wales striker Hal Robson-Kanu has praised late manager Gary Speed for laying the foundations for the Dragons' current success.
A point away to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday will seal the British side's place at the Euro 2016 finals in France next summer.
Speed was appointed as Wales manager in December 2010, managing the Dragons until his death in November 2011.
Robson-Kanu told BBC Sport: "When Gary Speed took over a number of years ago he came in and changed the environment in the football nation.
"Before that there wasn't really a desire to win, to be the best, and to do as well as you can. But Speedo really implemented that and, when he passed, Chris Coleman came in and has now really taken that on and beyond."
Wales were 117th in the FIFA rankings just over four years ago, but they are now among the top 10 sides in the world.
