LYON -- Aaron Ramsey hopes Wales can continue their journey after exiting Euro 2016 at the semifinal stage.
Wales, playing in their first international tournament since the 1958 World Cup, defied expectations to reach the last four before losing 2-0 to Portugal on Wednesday.
Wales boss Chris Coleman promised afterwards that they will give their 2018 World Cup qualification campaign "a hell of a crack" and Arsenal midfielder Ramsey is eyeing a bright future.
"We have done extremely well," he told reporters in Lyon. "We would like to have gone that one step further and got to the final but it wasn't to be. We can be proud of what we have achieved and build on it now for the future.
"Hopefully it is the start of us qualifying for major tournaments regularly and make a lot more teams notice what we are all about -- the way we play and the passion we play with. Hopefully now we have started something and can continue building on this."
Ramsey was suspended from the semifinal defeat to Portugal but refused to use that as an excuse for the loss to a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Portuguese team.
"Who knows? I fully believed in the team we had out tonight," he said. "We had quality all over the park but it was just one of those things where it wasn't meant to be. But I can't criticise anybody -- I felt everybody gave 100 percent tonight."
Ramsey was outstanding throughout Wales' tournament, and especially in their 3-1 quarterfinal defeat of Belgium, during which he received the second yellow card that led to his suspension.
He said: "Before the tournament I was really keen to do well in this competition and stand up and be noticed. I felt that I've done that. It helps playing in this team as well but I wanted to personally do my best and I think I have.'
Ramsey indicated that he is likely to miss the start of the new season with Arsenal, if manager Arsene Wenger follows his usual practice of giving tournament players four weeks off playing.
"I am back on Aug. 1 so I have a few weeks off, but obviously it kicks off a couple of weeks afterwards," he said.
He highlighted the fact that Arsenal's Germany players missed the start of the 2014-15 season after winning the World Cup because they "came in just a few days before the first game."
He added: "So he does like to give players a little break and I'll be getting the same treatment. I feel I need a few weeks off now."
Meanwhile, Wales defender James Collins disappointment over the Portugal defeat.
Ronaldo gave Portugal the lead on 50 minutes before Nani added a second on 53 minutes, and Collins said: "The first half went very well.
"They chucked a lot of crosses in and we were ready for that and we'd worked on it in training. It was going well and then to concede two goals so quick knocked the stuffing out of us. It's bitterly disappointing."
Of Ronaldo, the West Ham player said: "I don't think he really did anything amazing in the game but he's scored the first goal which is obviously going to be important. He's a world-class player who's performed on the world-class stage."
The 32-year-old, who played in place of the suspended Ben Davies, said he hoped to continue playing for Wales.
"I think so," he said. "I am going to have a chat and see how things are going at West Ham next season and take it from there."