No Welsh identity crisis in Toulouse as Chris Coleman's side deliver best display of manager's reign on dream night

As the ‘away’ side’, Wales should have been forced to change into the same second strip worn against England. But they lobbied Uefa and Russia, not particularly tied to their maroon number, agreed to adopt white instead.

So Wales wore red, their colour, and delivered a display just as identifiable. After the poor imitation of Lens, this was the real Wales. They were at it from the off and hardly let up.

Gareth Bale produced an individual masterpiece, enjoying a personal duel with Igor Akinfeev and finally coming out on top with his third goal of the tournament.

Gareth Bale races through to slot past Igor Akinfeev and put the seal on a historic night for Welsh football

A team united: Wales' players, dressed in their familiar red, congregate to toast a memorable night's work

Wales' beating of Russia took them top of Group B

But this was about the collective. There were excellent contributions all over the pitch and the fluidity of movement in open play that escaped against England was found in glorious fashion. So too was the defensive resilience that got Wales here.

It meant that even when Bale got his free-kick chance it did not matter he sent it wide. True, Russia were pretty abject, a far cry from the muscular side that gave a number of these Welsh players a harrowing experience in their formative years by winning at the Millenium Stadium to snatch away their chance of competing at Euro 2004.

That was the last time Wales got close to a major finals, so it was catharsis of sorts that Russia were put to the sword in such style now.

Job done: Chris Coleman turns to celebrate Bale's goal and progress into the last 16 at Euro 2016

Ashley Williams (left) forgot his lapse vs England to deliver a resolute display in the middle of Wales' defence

Such was the gap between these teams that Chris Coleman could even afford to take off Bale with eight minutes of normal time left, replacing him with Simon Church as oles from supporters rang out.

A like for like replacement it may not have been, the message from Coleman was clear. Squad unity is crucial and Church, having played his part recently, deserved his moment.

Coleman took a greater gamble before kick-off. While Roy Hodgson was rolling the dice in St Etienne, Coleman picked Sam Vokes up front in place of Hal Robson-Kanu. This was the Wales manager’s third different centre forward selection in as many games and most surprising, mainly because of the Burnley striker’s immobility in the warm-up game against Sweden a fortnight ago.

Not only that but while Vokes got a creditable 15 goals in his club side’s Championship promotion campaign, he had not scored a competitive goal for Wales since September 2008.

Up against a Russian centre back pairing with a combined age of 70, it seemed pace would prosper but Coleman wished for a greater physical presence at the point of his attack and better hold up play than he witnessed in Lens.

The selection of Sam Vokes up front represented a gamble by Coleman, but the move paid off handsomely

A family affair: Neil Taylor savours his goalscoring contribution with his children on the pitch in Toulouse

While Robson-Kanu runs in behind to free space behind, Vokes lays off to bring others into play and so Bale, starved of possession against England, would benefit.

The truth of that theory was evidenced in the opening minute when Vokes chested Chris Gunter’s long ball down to Joe Allen, who then fed Bale on the wing. Bale advanced, cut in and shot, only for Igor Akinfeev to save. The sequence would become a recurring theme of the night.

Allen was central to much of the verve Wales illustrated. Quietly, he has become his country’s second-most influential player behind Bale, a metronome of patient midfield passing, very good against Slovakia and England.

Last night he was superb, covering ground across the pitch and bursting forwards too. His pass for Ramsey’s goal – unexpected, perfectly weighted – was worthy of the Andrea Pirlo nickname he would rather not have.

It's all too much for this particular fan, overcome by the emotion of seeing Wales see off Russia to top Group B

Joe Allen will struggle to keep playing down the Pirlo and Xavi comparisons after his latest terrific display

Liverpool may not have a particular place for him in their line-up, but a host of other Premier League clubs should.

This was easily the best football Wales have played since Coleman took over, with triumphant performances all over the pitch.

James Chester, unable to get a place in West Bromwich’s central defence, was excellent, building on bright contributions already in France by nipping in when required. It was his interception that triggered the move for Ramsey’s goal.

Ashley Williams, uncharacteristic with the error for Jamie Vardy’s goal last Thursday, repelled anything the Russians could muster and led by example.

Ben Davies brought the ball forward with impunity, Gunter found space on the right and used it.

On the left, Neil Taylor got forward regularly, so much so that in the 20th minute he looked contracted with vertigo when seizing possession in the area. The goal that followed his inadvertent one-two with Akinfeev will be remembered joyously for its peculiarity as much as its rarity.

The whole match will live long in Welsh minds, a thrilling realisation of all that seemed possible when they dared to dream.