Wales vs Moldova preview: Ashley Williams ready to create new World Cup memories with Wales

Ashley Williams feels Wales are ready to create new World Cup memories after choosing to stay away from the 74,500-capacity Principality Stadium on the back of their Euro 2016 heroics.

Wales open their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign on Monday night, with Group D outsiders Moldova the visitors to the Cardiff City Stadium.

There was a clamour in some quarters for Wales to switch their home qualifiers to the spiritual home of Welsh rugby, with interest in football at an all-time high after reaching the semi-finals of the European Championship this summer.

But the Football Association of Wales resisted the temptation to cash in on that interest and elected to stay at a 33,000-capacity ground which served Chris Coleman's side so well in the Euro qualifiers.

"This is our home ground when we play for Wales, that's what we feel," said skipper Williams.

"We fill it out and we have had a lot of success on this pitch in recent years.

"We're comfortable here, we don't see the need to move to a stadium and pitch we are not as comfortable on.

"We've got some great memories and experiences here and we want to create more."

Williams revealed how the squad sat down to watch footage of their summer exploits when first meeting up for the Moldova game.

But he said a line had been drawn under Euro 2016, and the focus was now on qualifying for Russia 2018 from a group which also includes Austria, Serbia, Republic of Ireland and Georgia.

"The first video when we got back together was about the Euros, just to relive a couple of those memories and relive what it was like," said Williams.

"It was important to acknowledge what we did, but also important to put that to bed a little bit.

"We want to use the experience of it and move into the next campaign, knowing what's required to qualify.

"It is another goal of ours to try to get there. We want that elation that we had this summer again."

Williams ended his eight-year stay at Swansea when he returned from the Euros, joining Everton in a reported £12million deal.

The centre-back celebrated his 32nd birthday a few weeks later, but he insisted there was no desire to call time on an international career which has brought him 65 caps.

"I am not retiring today," he said with a laugh. "I feel OK, I feel good, I am enjoying it and have no immediate plans for that.

"I love coming away and playing for Wales. I want to try and keep that going for as long as possible."

Asked if his move to Everton, which Williams conceded had created plenty of interest among his Wales team-mates, had given him fresh impetus, he replied: "Yes, it has a little bit.

"When you go to a new place, and you are the new boy, you have to try to impress everyone and get your head down and start from scratch.

"I have been working hard in training to try to get up to speed and get my body in good shape.

"I've had two 90 minutes and training is pretty intense up there as well, so I feel fine and ready."

PA.