A Wales fan made a last-minute decision to fly to Qatar to watch last night's match against England in the World Cup without telling his girlfriend.
David 'Dai' Jones, 33, said he couldn't resist travelling after seeing pals partying at the tournament from their base in Dubai.
David enlisted the help of his pals to get him a ticket and visa to board the flight to Doha on Monday night, despite receiving an ultimatum from his partner of 11 years.
After landing, he slept at Hamad International Airport and headed to a pre-match party being held by Wales supporters at the Intercontinental The City hotel.
David told WalesOnline : "I didn't have a ticket to come out originally because my girlfriend said I couldn't afford it - she still thinks I can't afford it now.
"She said if you go that's it, but I said if I didn't go I'd never forgive her. I saw my friends having the time of their lives in Dubai and going to the first two matches and I just thought I have to be there.
"It's Wales' first World Cup in 64 years - and that's it. The three of us have been following Wales away for years and we're the 'three amigos', and now the band is back together."
The electrician added: "I did everything but gain her acceptance to go. And I thought she might get over it in time, but I never would, so I made the decision to come.
"She rang my dad because my phone was off and he told her I'd be home in a few days."
His friends James Lewis, 32, and Jamie Shipp, 31, helped him plan the 24-hour journey that included an overnight coach from Cardiff to Heathrow, catching another bus to Stansted before boarding a plane to Turkey to catch a connecting flight to Doha.
The father-of-two has been told by his boss that he will be sacked if he is not back at work on Thursday.
James said: "We came out here and then he was saying all week that he wanted to be out here with us.
"It feels amazing to have him here, I've known him since we were small and we've always travelled to watch Wales together."
Jamie said: "He's mad, but he's the best. I do feel sorry for his girlfriend though."
The three men were among thousands of Welsh fans who saw their hopes of making it to the round of 16 crushed.
England won last night's match 3-0, securing their place at the top of the group and into the knockout stages.
