Gareth Bale knows he needs all the help he can get off Wales team-mates as stats show the nation's record scorer is slowing down.
Wales began their Group A campaign with a gutsy point in a 1-1 draw against Switzerland thanks to Kieffer Moore's late header.
But skipper Bale, who turns 32 next month, rarely looked like adding to his 33 international goals in his 93rd game for his country in Baku.
It is now 12 matches since he has found the back of the net for Wales.
Bale was a peripheral figure against the Swiss as he completed just 17 of 26 passes with an accuracy of 65%.
Official stats show over half the Wales team ran quicker than him too in the match.
Only Ben Davies (27.4km/h), Kieffer Moore (25km/h) and Joe Morrell (24.7km/h) clocked a slower top speed than Bale (28.4km/h) among the side's outfield starting XI.
The FedEx performance zone also calculated by the end of the weekend, Bale had dropped from 210th best player in European national team competitions to 629th based on his stats.
It is a far cry from when Bale scored in every group game five years ago as Wales progressed and famously ended up in the Euro 2016 semi-finals.
He also seemed a lot more confident in 2016 when he spoke about trying to win the tournament from the outset after arriving fresh from a second Champions League triumph with Real Madrid.
This time around Wales' task looks a lot harder with a game against Turkey in sweltering Baku on Wednesday before finishing up in Rome against Italy.
But Bale insists there are positive comparisons to Wales' 2016 heroes from France as the current squad is also similarly united and tight.
Bale reflected: “Everyone knows what happened in 2016 but this is a new task and new challenge.
“We know it is going to be difficult.
“To reach another semi-final would be incredible but we really do have to take it one game at a time.
“It is one of those things you dream of as a kid leading your country in a major tournament.
“It is probably one of the biggest accomplishments I am going to have.
“The most important thing is we perform as a team together.
“As long as we give 100% on the pitch we can have no doubts after.
“We have always been known as having a good team spirit and good togetherness.
“It is similar to what it was before.
“We are going to make sure, especially us old players, that we are all working together and pushing in the same direction.
“That goes along way come the matches.
“We are doing as much as we can on the training field in the lead up to prepare as best we can.
“We need to make sure we go out and give 100 % and perform to the best of our abilities.”
Ryan Giggs bossed Wales to automatic qualification for the tournament.
But Rob Page was then promoted last November from his FAW coaching role to interim charge of Wales when Giggs was arrested.
Manchester United legend Giggs has since appeared infront of magistrates over three criminal charges including alleged attacks on two women.
In his absence, Page has since taken Wales for nine matches, including just two defeats.
Bale added: “It was a difficult situation at the start but he has really taken on the role well.
“I think the results prove he has done a fantastic job leading into this.
“We have only lost to France and Belgium which is not bad.
“He has been great with us and the lads.
“He has got us all together and we have always said we have no excuses.
“Preparation wise, training has been fantastic.
“He has been great since he has stepped in and hopefully we can repay that faith.”
This news was first posted here.
