Between the World Cup of 1958, where Wales reached the quarter-final, and the European Championship of 2016.
What the wait looked like
Wales came close more than once and each time something happened. A play-off, a disallowed goal, a group finished a point short. Generations of players good enough to qualify did not.
The squad that finally did was built around Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, with a defence that had played together for years, and was managed by Chris Coleman. Coleman had taken the job in 2012 after the death of Gary Speed, which is not a normal way to inherit a team.
The group
Wales beat Slovakia, lost to England to a goal in stoppage time, and then beat Russia three nil to finish first, above England.
In the round of sixteen they beat Northern Ireland with an own goal.
Lille
Belgium were ranked second in the world and had Hazard, De Bruyne and Lukaku. Radja Nainggolan scored from twenty five yards after thirteen minutes.
Ashley Williams headed in from a corner before half time. Just after the hour, Hal Robson-Kanu received the ball with his back to goal, turned two Belgian defenders with a Cruyff turn and finished. He was without a club at the time, having been released by Reading.
Sam Vokes headed the third near the end.
The semi-final
Portugal beat them two nil in Lyon. Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies were suspended.
Since
Wales reached the last sixteen at Euro 2020 and qualified for the 2022 World Cup, their first since 1958. They have not reached another semi-final.