Toshack's men Basque in victory
Well that was an eye-opener wasn't it. And I don't just mean the bedazzling away shirts that John Toshack's men wore that had me reaching for my television's contrast control.
For the first half hour it was more a case of Norwich canary yellow than Brazilian flair, as a new look Wales side struggled to contain the flow of attacks down the Welsh flanks from a technically superior Basque side.
No surprise really, given the fact that Toshack was forced into deploying two out-of-position midfielders - Simon Davies and Joe Ledley - as wing backs.
When I saw Davies taking up a right-sided defensive position I had nighhtmarish flashbacks from times he's lined-up there for Wales before: An almighty pummeling from the Italians, as the Azzuri dismantled Mark Hughes side 4-0 at the San Siro during qualifying for Euro 2004 and the gutless World Cup capitulation to England at Old Trafford.
The ferocious way the assortment of local La Liga players that lined-up for the Basques attacked, I feared another heavy defeat was on the cards, but through last ditch defending and poor finishing Wales weathered the storm and slowly came into their own.
What pleased me was the fearless tenacity of the younger players and the link-up play between Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy up front.
Much has been made of 'Toshack's babes' - the raft of youngsters that he has fast-tracked into the senior squad. In this game they certainly disappoint. At the back the impressive Lewin Nyatanga was calm and assured and linked up well with Joe Ledley - the versatile Cardiff player who has so far this season played central midfield, left midfield and left back for his club.
But it was up front that Wales shone. Bellamy and Giggs, Wales' two genuine world class players teased, taunted and toyed with the Basque defence who found both a handful. It's stating the obvious to say that if Wales harbour any ambitions to achieve anything they need these two talismanic figues fit and ready for the arduous campaign ahead.
Blackburn's Bellamy was passion and endeavour personified from the outset, hosting his own private titanic Lancashire tussle with Bolton's wily defensive lynchpin Ivan Campo. It was an absorbing duel between frightening pace and experienced guile. Campo though, was luckly to stay on the pitch when he wrestled Bellamy to the ground when the quicksilver striker was through on goal.
But that was Bellamy, causing trouble in all the right ways. His wholehearted commitment to the cause a salutory lesson to players like Jason Koumas, about how you harness your talent in all the right ways.
On a steep educational curve was little Robert Earnshaw, continuing his rehabilitation from fallen Premiership idol to international striker. It was disappointing that the good positions he found himself in didn't result in his troubling the back of the net. A full season at Norwich and a hatful of goals will do his confidence the world of good, because Wales is crying out for the nimble and dadly Earnie of yore, a player whose Welsh international scoring record was sublime.
Without the bulky figure of John Hartson, the attacking future for Wales revolves less around aerial bombardment and more around a slick pass and move game, and for moments on Sunday evening we were wide-eyed as we saw glimpses of what Wales could achieve.
The move for Giggs' weaving, winding, wonder goal came from good off-the-ball movement from Bellamy and the hugely promising Bristol City youngster David Cotterill. This lightning quick duo caused confusion in the Basque defence allowing Giggs the time and space to slip through the befuddled defensive cordon and slide the ball into the net.
Okay so it wasn't a competitive match. So the Basques had only assembled on the day of the match. However, these were experienced La Liga players turning out for a team who had only lost once in 14 internationals.
As a sign of things to come, the doom and gloom that many have predicted may soon be swept away by a tidal wave of optimism.
It's early days yet, but let's rejoice in the new, the bright and the bold.
And I don't just mean those garish away shirts.