Agence France-Presse
Lille, July 2: Wales and unsung hero Hal Robson-Kanu completed a stunning fightback to beat Belgium 3-1 in the quarterfinal of the Euro 2016 here, Friday to create history by entering the semifinals of a major tournament for the first time.
In the semifinals however, they will have to take on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal without two of their main architects of victory in the Belgium game – Ben Davies and Aaron Ramsey. Both were shown yellow cards, which was their second booking of the tournament and which ruled them out of the semifinal.
The victory in Wales’ first ever participation in a European Championships sets up a mouth-watering duel between their talisman Gareth Bale and his Real Madrid teammate Ronaldo, a clash that the whole world will watch with bated breath. Wales, however, have looked a very good team in France save for the game against England which they lost in their group encounter.
Coe Coleman’s men surpassed the Wales greats of 1958, whose quarterfinal showing at that year’s World Cup in Sweden had been the country’s greatest previous achievement in football.
Belgium went ahead in the 13th minute when Radja Nainggolan met Hazard’s lay-off with a blistering 30-yard shot that whistled into the top-left corner.
Wales’ indiscipline at the back was costing them as Davies, James Chester and Chris Gunter all picked up bookings. But their reaction to falling behind was exemplary and after Neil Taylor had been denied by Thibaut Courtois under the Belgian bar, skipper Ashley Williams met Ramsey’s right-wing corner with a thumping downward header to equalise in the 31st minute.
The Swansea City centre-back, criticised for some shaky group-stage displays, was a picture of joy, racing down the touchline to embrace Coleman and the Wales coaches and substitutes.
Wilmots strengthened his midfield at half time, sending on Marouane Fellaini for Carrasco, and his side made a flying start to the second period, with Lukaku, De Bruyne and Hazard all narrowly missing the target in the first 10 minutes.
But it was Wales who struck with a goal that lit up the tournament. Ramsey’s lofted cross from the right found Robson-Kanu, who took Meunier, Fellaini and Jason Denayer out of the game with a sublime Cruyff turn before planting a shot past Courtois.
Fellaini headed wide and Williams was fortunate to avoid conceding a penalty for catching Nainggolan, before Sam Vokes delivered the coup de grace with a stunning header from Gunter’s cross in the 86th minute.
Wales ready for Portugal challenge
Reuters
Lille, July 2: Ecstatic Wales coach Chris Coleman praised his ‘soldiers’ after a shock 3-1 win over Belgium at Euro 2016 took the country to their first major tournament semifinal, and said they could match anyone if they were not afraid to fail.
“I know my players, my team are good enough to perform against anybody. We defended like soldiers, our performance was fantastic,” Coleman said after the game against Belgium. “The whole experience is unchartered.”
The stunning victory against a side ranked second in the world was the greatest result in Welsh soccer history and will embolden the players when they meet Portugal next Wednesday to fight for a place in the final. “I think you dream about nights like this, and you never know whether you’ll be lucky enough to live them,” a beaming Coleman pointed out.
He also asserted that he had been quietly confident Wales could spring an upset and they deserved the win. “I said before we kicked the ball today (Friday), we are not here to enjoy it, we are here to compete. The big challenge is not the opposition, it is ourselves. It’s not worrying about giving our best and failing,” added the Welsh coach.
“We were underdogs to even qualify but knew the quality in our group,” said man of the match Hal Robson-Kanu. “The performance is a credit to everyone. We kept to our game plan. We’ve got world-class players – we can be as solid as a rock defensively. With those two combined we stand a good chance against anyone.”
The Wales fans, who had flocked across the English Channel or made their way from other points in France, egged their team on from the start with a mighty choral display.
Although this was almost a home game for the Belgians, whose border is five miles from Stadium Pierre-Mauroy here, the only voices to be heard were Welsh, from ‘Land of my Fathers’ to ‘Men of Harlech’ and, their inevitable anthem of Euro 2016, ‘Please Don’t Send Me home’.
On a sour note for Wales, though, they will be without inspirational midfielder Aaron Ramsey in their semifinal in Lyon after he picked up a booking that has ruled him out of the match. “I’m gutted for Aaron. He’s been one of the best players of the tournament,” Coleman stated.
Players, media want Wilmots to go after loss
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots asked for time to take a holiday and think about his future after watching his talent-packed team crash out of Euro 2016 here Friday, outplayed 1-3 by a dogged Welsh outfit.
“I’ll take a bit of a holiday,” Wlmots said when asked about his future as coach. “I won’t make a decision when the adrenaline’s pumping. I need some time to think.”
But reaction both in the dressing room and on the back pages of a Belgian press which had built up hopes of a ‘golden generation’ capturing the country’s first major trophy in France left it unclear how much time he will get for reflection.
“It’s a disgrace that all this talent has been left to fend for itself,” thundered ‘Het Laatste Nieuws’ after defeat here saw Belgium bow out at the same quarterfinal stage as they were ejected from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. “After this shameful exit, Wilmots cannot go on as coach.”
Players too, notably Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, have appeared less than convinced by the coach’s abilities. Not for the first time this tournament, Courtois suggested that tactical failings had undone a team that boasts the likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne and Dries Mertens.
Wilmots however, refused to be flustered in post-match interviews, blaming injuries and suspensions that deprived him of the experienced heart of his defence and left him reliant on very young and untried reserves.
“The strategy was good…I didn’t stop shouting at my players to move forward,” he said of Belgium’s strange surrender after they took the lead in a coruscating first 20 minutes. “We have a problem of communication. I am not a magician.”
Responding to his goalkeeper’s bitter disappointment and Courtois’ criticism of tactics in the tournament, Wilmots said: “I can understand Thibaut’s disappointment. He dreamed of becoming European champion and he no longer has that dream.”