Wales have created history after they prevailed 3-1 winners against one of the tournament favourites, Belgium. Wales have reached the Semi-Finals of Euro 2016, their first major tournament in 58 years. It is the first time in their history that they have reached the Semi-Finals of a tournament.
Belgium took the lead after just 13 minutes thanks to a thunderbolt of a strike from Chelsea target Radja Nainggolan which left many fearing the worst. But Wales battled back and got their reward in the 30th minute from an Ashley Williams downward header. Wales looked the better team in a first half littered with chances, but both sides went in level at the break.
Wales started the second half just as they had ended the first, in search of a 2nd goal. The Wales fans went completely mental after Hal Robson-Kanu, who was just released from Reading took out 3 men with a single exquisite turn and coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner after 55 minutes.
From there on in Belgium dominated the ball and turned on the pressure, but didn’t really create anything dangerous. They were punished for this after 85 minutes when Chris Gunter put in a peach of a cross beautifully met by the head of Sam Vokes to claim what must be the greatest win in Welsh Football history.
Wales boss Chris Coleman has described the win as Wales’ biggest match since their 1958 World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Brazil, their only previous match in the knockout stages of a major tournament.
“Heart, desire, determination, organisation – there is a plan that has been put in place and it shows what you can achieve – you start thinking – is our name on it?” Said former Wales striker Dean Saunders
Aaron Ramsey was Wales’ creative heart of the performance – setting up two of the three goals – and it is crushing that both the Arsenal midfielder and Ben Davies will miss the semi-final after picking up a second tournament booking.
“We defended like soldiers. All I can do is reiterate to the players never to forget what it took to get here. I know my team is good enough to perform against anybody.” Wales boss Chris Coleman on the historic win.
This result goes to show that Wales are not just a one man team; they don’t just rely on Bale for everything, and the result against Belgium shows it, it was a superb team effort.
