Reuters
Bordeaux, June 30: Wales are happy to cast themselves as underdogs in their Euro 2016 quarterfinal against Belgium Friday but such modesty belies their proven ability to bite hard.
The Belgians, who finally came together as a team to demolish Hungary 4-0 in their last-16 match, will start as favourites.
Both sides, though, are fully aware that Wales have proved their mettle against Belgium, beating them 1-0 in Cardiff and drawing in Brussels in the tournament’s qualifying stage. Belgium, playing before what will be virtually a home crowd in the northern French town of Lille, are under huge pressure for their much-vaunted golden generation to fulfil their promise and finally challenge for a major trophy.
Wales could also claim to have developed a golden generation, spearheaded by Gareth Bale, even if they have fewer illustrious players than the side ranked No.2 in the world.
“We’re good normally in that situation when we’re right up against it,” Wales defender Chris Gunter said Thursday. “Belgium will be the fancied team and they are right on their own doorstep but it’s something we can use as an advantage.”
All eyes will be on the form of Bale and Eden Hazard. Bale, the world’s most expensive player, has scored three goals and fired in the cross that led to Northern Ireland’s own goal in Wales’s 1-0 last-16 victory. His ability to seize the moment, not least at free-kicks, could be pivotal.
Hazard came to life against Hungary – as did the whole team after a stuttering start to the campaign. He set up the second goal for Michy Batshuayi and scored with a dashing solo effort two minutes later to crush Hungary’s hopes in what he said was his best-ever game for his country.
The Belgium captain has missed two days of training with a thigh injury, but should he be declared fit to play, he will be returning to the city where he made a name for himself.
“Wales are a very strong side, and not just with Gareth Bale; they have other good players too,” cautioned Belgian coach Marc Wilmots.
Hazard said the Belgians would need to be wary of Wales. “They are a tricky side to play against. They have a very compact unit and they have a great player up front (Bale).”
‘Bale better than Hazard’
Lille: Belgium defender Jordan Lukaku rated Wales’ star Gareth Bale as ‘slightly higher’ than his national football team captain Eden Hazard.
Speaking ahead of Friday’s European Championship quarterfinal clash, the defender unsurprisingly picked out Bale and Aaron Ramsey as the two danger men in the opposing ranks. “Bale is for me perhaps slightly higher than Hazard. He’s been playing longer at that (international) level. At key moments at the club level, Bale is the man and he stands there, while Hazard is still not consistent,” Lukaku was quoted as saying by a football-specific website Thursday.
