European Championship
WalesWales3BelgiumBelgium1

Wales 3-1 Belgium

By Dafydd PritchardBBC Wales Sport at Stade Pierre Mauroy

Wales recorded the greatest night in their football history as they came from a goal down to beat Belgium at Euro 2016 and reach the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time.

Radja Nainggolan put Belgium ahead in Lille with a thunderous 25-yard strike but Wales captain Ashley Williams headed in from a corner to equalise in a breathless first half littered with chances at both ends.

Welsh celebrations reached stratospheric levels when Hal Robson-Kanu, a striker without a club, gave them the lead with a divine turn and finish.

After withstanding late Belgium pressure, Wales sealed victory through a header from substitute Sam Vokes that set up a semi-final against Portugal and a mouth-watering duel between Real Madrid team-mates Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Wales manager Chris Coleman had described the last-eight tie as Wales' biggest match since their 1958 World Cup quarter-final defeat by Brazil, their only previous appearance in the knockout stages of a major tournament.

His players rose to the occasion wonderfully, recovering from a difficult start to claim what must rank as the greatest win in Welsh football history.

Wales team celebrate their win at full-time
The Welsh players celebrate their win at full-time in front of their passionate fans

Ultimate team display creates history

Absent from major tournaments for 58 years, Wales have not only ended a barren half a century but propelled Welsh football into unchartered territory.

Previous Welsh sides have claimed iconic results, such as a 2-1 win over Hungary at the 1958 World Cup, a 1991 victory against then world champions Germany and a qualifying triumph against Italy in 2002.

However, those were in isolation and failed to propel Wales on to greater achievements.

Former Wales striker Dean Saunders said: "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?"

Bale has been a key figure in Wales' success at Euro 2016, scoring three times in the group stages, but this victory highlighted the team spirit that Coleman and his side have spoken of throughout their time together in France.

The Real Madrid forward worked industriously throughout, but his efforts were eclipsed by others such as Williams, who scored despite a shoulder injury which made him a doubt for the game.

Aaron Ramsey was Wales' creative heart - setting up two of the three goals - and it is a crushing blow that both the Arsenal midfielder and Ben Davies will miss the semi-final after picking up a second tournament booking.

And then there was the display from Robson-Kanu, a player who has been inspired by Wales' historic run in this tournament.

Hal Robson Kanu
Hal Robson-Kanu turned superbly to score a second goal of the tournament

Robson-Kanu's moment of genius

Belgium would have seen Bale as the obvious threat going into this game, but it was a free agent released by Reading who gave his side a foothold on 55 minutes.

Coleman's men had to weather several periods of heavy Belgian pressure, but they took the lead in spectacular fashion against a side ranked second in the world, playing only 10 miles from the Belgian border.

A neat move saw Ramsey pass to Robson-Kanu, who bamboozled the defenders surrounding him with a graceful turn which allowed him the space to calmly finish.

There was a symbolism to the goal as Robson-Kanu - released by a Championship side - swept his shot past Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Former Wales forward John Hartson said: "If I was a chairman of a Premier League club I would be making Hal Robson-Kanu my next signing. What a goal. He sent Thomas Meunier for a cup of tea and a piece of toast with that turn."

This was a goal which embodied Wales' odds-defying run at Euro 2016, after languishing as low as 117th in the world rankings in 2011.

Ashley Williams
Ashley Williams celebrates his equaliser after starting the game with a shoulder injury

Next up - Bale v Ronaldo

Coleman stressed before the match that Wales were not content with reaching the quarter-finals, convinced there was more to come from this team.

He has his wish, a semi-final against a Portugal side who have yet to win a game in 90 minutes at Euro 2016.

The match in Lyon on Wednesday pits Bale against Ronaldo, talismen for their country and team-mates for Real Madrid whose occasionally fractious relationship has been the subject of much attention in Spain.

For Wales, however, they will have to play for a place in the final without Arsenal midfielder Ramsey and Tottenham defender Davies, whose bookings against Belgium mean they will be suspended.

Saunders added: "Everything Chris Coleman is doing at the moment is working, we've got every chance of going through and winning it."

Man of the match - Hal Robson-Kanu

Hal Robson-Kanu
Hal Robson-Kanu ran Belgium's centre-backs ragged with a tireless display, capped with a world-class goal as he turned and finished brilliantly

Manager reaction

Wales manager Chris Coleman: "I said before we kicked the ball today, we are not here to enjoy it, we are here to compete.

"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 are good enough to perform against anybody."

On Ramsey and Davies missing the semi-final, he added: "I'm gutted for Aaron. He's been one of the best players of the tournament."

Belgium boss Marc Wilmots on his future: "I said I'd make my decision after the European Championship. I won't make one straight after the game. There's a lot of adrenaline going. We'll have to see."

Stats you need to know

  • Wales have become the first team to reach the semi-final on their European Championship debut since Sweden in 1992.
  • The Dragons have scored 10 goals at Euro 2016, only once has a British team scored more at a major tournament (England, 11 in World Cup 1966).
  • Sam Vokes scored his first goal in 12 games for Wales, since netting against Iceland in March 2014.
  • Both Eden Hazard and Aaron Ramsey have four assists at Euro 2016, the joint most by a player in a single tournament since 1980.

Line-ups

Wales

Formation 3-5-1-1

  • 1Hennessey
  • 5ChesterBooked at 16mins
  • 6Williams
  • 4DaviesBooked at 5mins
  • 2GunterBooked at 24mins
  • 7Allen
  • 16LedleySubstituted forKingat 78'minutes
  • 10RamseyBooked at 75minsSubstituted forCollinsat 90'minutes
  • 3Taylor
  • 11Bale
  • 9Robson-KanuSubstituted forVokesat 80'minutes

Substitutes

  • 8King
  • 12Fon Williams
  • 13Williams
  • 14Edwards
  • 15Richards
  • 17Cotterill
  • 18Vokes
  • 19Collins
  • 20Williams
  • 21Ward
  • 22Vaughan
  • 23Church

Belgium

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Courtois
  • 16Meunier
  • 2AlderweireldBooked at 85mins
  • 15Denayer
  • 21J LukakuSubstituted forMertensat 75'minutes
  • 4Nainggolan
  • 6Witsel
  • 11CarrascoSubstituted forFellainiat 45'minutesBooked at 59mins
  • 7De Bruyne
  • 10E Hazard
  • 9LukakuSubstituted forBatshuayiat 83'minutes

Substitutes

  • 8Fellaini
  • 12Mignolet
  • 13Gillet
  • 14Mertens
  • 17Origi
  • 18Kabasele
  • 19Dembélé
  • 20Benteke
  • 22Batshuayi
  • 23Ciman
Referee:
Damir Skomina
Attendance:
45,936

Match Stats

Home TeamWalesAway TeamBelgium
Possession
Home46%
Away54%
Shots
Home15
Away14
Shots on Target
Home7
Away5
Corners
Home7
Away8
Fouls
Home12
Away8

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Wales 3, Belgium 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Wales 3, Belgium 1.

  3. Post update

    Thomas Meunier (Belgium) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Neil Taylor (Wales).

  5. Post update

    Attempt missed. Eden Hazard (Belgium) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Thomas Meunier.

  6. Post update

    Eden Hazard (Belgium) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Joe Allen (Wales).

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, Wales. James Collins replaces Aaron Ramsey.

  9. Post update

    Hand ball by Aaron Ramsey (Wales).

  10. Post update

    Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Neil Taylor.

  11. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dries Mertens.

  12. Post update

    Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Sam Vokes.

  13. Post update

    Corner, Belgium. Conceded by James Chester.

  14. Goal!

    Goal! Wales 3, Belgium 1. Sam Vokes (Wales) header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Chris Gunter with a cross.

  15. Booking

    Toby Alderweireld (Belgium) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Toby Alderweireld (Belgium).

  17. Post update

    Aaron Ramsey (Wales) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Post update

    Corner, Belgium. Conceded by Ben Davies.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Belgium. Michy Batshuayi replaces Romelu Lukaku.

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Wales. Sam Vokes replaces Hal Robson-Kanu.

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Friday 1st July 2016

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Czech Rep107121914522
2Iceland106221761120
3Turkey10532149518
4Netherlands104151714313
5Kazakhstan10127718-115
6Latvia10055619-135

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Belgium107212451923
2Wales10631114721
3Bos-Herze105231712517
4Israel104151614213
5Cyprus104061617-112
6Andorra100010436-320

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Spain109012332027
2Slovakia10712178922
3Ukraine106131441019
4Belarus10325814-611
5Luxembourg10118627-214
6North Macedonia10118618-124

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Germany107122491522
2Poland1063133102321
3Republic of Ireland105321971218
4Scotland1043322121015
5Georgia103071016-69
6Gibraltar100010256-540

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1England1010003132830
2Switzerland107032481621
3Slovenia105141811716
4Estonia1031649-510
5Lithuania10316718-1110
6San Marino10019136-351

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Northern Ireland10631168821
2Romania10550112920
3Hungary10442119216
4Finland10334910-112
5Faroe Islands10208617-116
6Greece10136714-76

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Austria109102251728
2Football Union of Russia106222151620
3Sweden10532159618
4Montenegro103251013-311
5Liechtenstein10127226-245
6Moldova10028416-122

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Italy10730167924
2Croatia106312051520
3Norway106131310319
4Bulgaria10325912-311
5Azerbaijan10136718-116
6Malta10028316-132

I

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Portugal8701115621
2Albania8422105514
3Denmark833285312
4Serbia8215813-54
5Armenia8026514-92
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