Wales dare to dream after turnaround victory

Wales 3 Belgium 1. A week has passed since Britain voted for Brexit but it does not look as though the news has yet reached France.

While the worryingly Disunited Kingdom struggles on back home, Wales and their legion of fans have no intention of leaving this particular European union.

And they are making history in the process. This victory over a vastly talented Belgium side, second in the world and tipped by many as potential tournament winners, might just be the best international performance by a Welsh side in history.

It was not just about Gareth Bale or Aaron Ramsey, either. This 3-1 win was the result of the sort of team performance which will be envied by nations the world over. Not least Portugal, who await in the semi-final, but are yet to win a match in 90 minutes during this tournament.

They will have noted the quality of all three goals here, which overturned an early 1-0 deficit, and marked out Wales as a team capable of actually winning a competition.

Manager Chris Coleman’s message was clear in the immediate aftermath. “Just dream,” he said.

“Don’t be afraid to have dreams. Four years ago I was as far away from this as you can imagine.

“If you work hard enough and you’re not afraid to dream or fail. It’s sweet and I think we deserve it.”

Wales had arrived in Lille as big underdogs but Belgium have not always dazzled here in France. Coleman’s side were buoyed by the fact that Belgium’s miserable performance against Italy in the group stage had come against a team playing the same 3-5-2 formation they do.

It is a system which is supposed to provide central defensive solidarity and a packed midfield, which would be key against the brilliance of the Belgium triumvirate — Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne, and Yannick Carrasco — which supported lone frontman Romelu Lukaku.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Belgium were in the midst of a genuine defensive crisis. With Thomas Vermaelen banned and Jan Vertonghen injured, Marc Wilmots was without two defenders with a combined total of 139 international caps between them.

But it was the Welsh backline who were called upon in the seventh minute as Belgium almost turned their bright start into a very early goal. However, three goal-line clearances in a row, the last of which diverted Hazard’s effort over the bar, kept the scores level.

But it was not all Belgium and Hal Robson-Kanu, preferred to Sam Vokes in attack, really should have done better with a free header from Neil Taylor’s cross two minutes. It was the sort of chance Vokes trades on, but Robson-Kanu’s header drifted safely over.

So it made Nainggolan’s stunning 13th-minute opener even harder to stomach for Wales, who really should have prevented his 30-yard strike, which he fired home unchallenged.

There was little danger when Hazard rolled the ball to the mohicaned holding midfielder but, when not one red-shirted player closed him down, he allowed the ball to roll across him and arrowed a fine strike into the top corner.

The goal did not dampen Wales’ spirit and they almost equalised in the 26th minute when Bale and Ramsey combined down the right to tee up Taylor. Thibaut Courtois managed to club his effort ball clear.

Four minutes later, though, he was picking the equaliser out of his net as Ashley Williams crashed a firm header, from Ramsey’s corner, into the bottom corner.

Aware of the Welsh momentum, Wilmots made a half-time change, with Carrasco replaced by Marouane Fellaini, who was given the unenviable task of man-marking Bale and his ponytail.

Within 11 minutes it was a different Wales player giving him the runaround as Robson-Kanu provided a moment of magic fit to win a match of such huge importance.

Again it was Ramsey who made it, bursting down the right and crossing for the forward. Belgium seemed to have it under control with Robson-Kanu’s back to goal. That was until his Cruyff turn sent both Fellaini and Thomas Meunier in the wrong direction, leaving him to slot a confident finish beyond Courtois.

Robson-Kanu is now officially a free agent having come to the end of his contract at Reading. It was the sort of goal which will ensure he eats well for the duration of his next contract, wherever it may be.

Nainggolan had a decent shout for a penalty turned down when Williams appeared to make contact with him in the box but referee Damir Skomina was having none of it.

And then, to compound the misery, substitute Vokes produced a picture-book header from Chris Gunter’s cross to make it 3-1 five minutes from time and firmly cement his nation’s place in the Euro 2016 semi-final.

Crosses in the box might have cost Britain’s place in the EU but this one kept Wales well and truly on the continent.

But, when asked whether Wales are starting to consider themselves as potential winners, captain Williams said: “We are not looking that far yet. We have another big game next and we will enjoy it.”

Wales:

Hennessey, Chester, Ashley Williams, Davies, Taylor, Allen, Ledley (King 77), Ramsey (Collins 90), Gunter, Robson-Kanu (Vokes 80), Bale.

Belgium:

Courtois, Meunier, Alderweireld, Denayer, Jordan Lukaku (Mertens 75), Nainggolan, Witsel, Carrasco (Fellaini 46), De Bruyne, Hazard, Romelu Lukaku (Batshuayi 83).

Referee:

Damir Skomina (Slovenia).