Ryan Giggs insisted it made no difference whether or not Great Britain's Welsh players sang the national anthem at the Olympics after helping make Games history.
The 3-1 victory over UAE at Wembley was Team GB's first of London 2012 and therefore their first at an Olympics for 52 years, while captain Giggs became the oldest scorer in the tournament's 88-year history when he gave them a half-time lead.
Giggs and fellow Welshmen Craig Bellamy and Joe Allen caused a row during their side's opening 1-1 draw against Senegal on Thursday by not singing God Save the Queen.
They were silent during the anthems again tonight and Giggs said afterwards: "It's a personal thing.
"The British anthem is the same for a Welshman, Scotsman or an Englishman.
"It's difficult but it's not an issue for us. It might be for other people but, once the game starts, we're all pulling in the same direction and I think that's the main thing."
Team GB's final group game against Uruguay takes place at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium where Giggs, Bellamy and Allen can expect a hero's welcome.
The national anthem may not be so warmly received in the Welsh capital.
"I hope it won't get booed and I hope the fans will get behind us as they have in our first two games," Giggs said.
"It will mean a lot to all of the Welsh lads to play in our own stadium, our own back yard so it will be a great occasion."
Giggs broke an 88-year-old record tonight by netting at the age of 38 years and 243 days.
UAE equalised before Scott Sinclair scored with his first touch and fellow substitute Daniel Sturridge also netted.
Giggs added: "It was a very important win, especially after the Senegal result and the pressure was on.
"I'm still disappointed not to play in a World Cup, a Euros or a major tournament and now this is something I'm relishing."
Giggs was replaced moments before Sinclair's goal and he revealed he had a tight hamstring, while manager Stuart Pearce admitted he was preserving his captain for Wednesday's do-or-die Uruguay clash.
Tonight's match was played in front of 85,137 at Wembley as the momentum behind Team GB built.
Pearce said: "I've been absolutely delighted with the support we've had, certainly in numbers, at Manchester and at Wembley.
"I think that will continue again in Cardiff.
"I was told this is somewhere in the region of the biggest attendance of an Olympic football match there's ever been.
"That sends a message out straight away.
"We have to put a performance on that makes the crowds want to come time and time again if we can."
A draw on Wednesday will be enough for a quarter-final berth but Pearce described the match as "sudden death".
He also played down the shock exit of Spain tonight.
"What I would say is I've not seen anything to suggest that any team that beats Brazil will not win the final," he said.
"We won't look anything further than the next game.
"I don't think we can afford to do that. I don't think we've been consistently good enough to look beyond the next game."
That next game will see Giggs come up against Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, who was found guilt of racially abusing his Manchester United team-mate, Patrice Evra, last season.
Giggs insisted he would shake Suarez's hand, adding: "That's gone now."
UAE manager Mahdi Ali admitted his team missed their chance of a major scalp tonight after recovering from a poor start.
"We had a chance to lead the game but you know that in football, always when you miss chances, you concede some goals."
