Here’s what happened on Friday on Matchday 18 of UEFA Euro 2016 in France, in case you missed it…
THE RESULT
• Match report: Wales 3, Belgium 1 in Lille || Match stats
THE MAIN STORY
Wales more than just Bale: Criticisms that Wales is a one-man team—that man being Gareth Bale, the most expensive player in the world—were surely put to rest after the Welsh slew the dragon that is Belgium, the No. 2 ranked team in the world. While Bale certainly played a role in this historic win, he was merely a supporting cast member on this night. The true stars were Aaron Ramsey, magnificent in driving the Welsh attack from midfield, the three goal scorers (Ashley Williams, Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Vokes) and defender James Chester, who marshalled a back line that thwarted Belgium’s potent offence.
This was a victory for the collective; for teams that are much more than the sum of their parts. No doubt, Belgium, on paper, is the better side. This Belgian outfit was the most expensively assembled team at this tournament based on club transfer values. The problem with that, though, is that games are won in the pitch, and not in the boardroom. Belgium, for all of its star power, is not a proper team, but rather a collection on individual players. Gifted and skilled players, to be sure. But they are 11 bodies running around the field individually, not as a collective unit.
Wales, on the other hand, subscribes to the team philosophy and is not just a gang of individual players, unlike their more famous British counterparts from England. Wales plays with a sense of fearlessness, and is not afraid to lose—again, unlike England. This ethos instilled by manager Chris Coleman has served them well, and it saw them defeat and dominate a more skilled opponent in Lille.
Radja Nainggolan’s goal of the tournament candidate after 13 minutes capped off a sublime opening stretch for Belgium, and you just had the feeling that Wales was on the rack and that the floodgates were open. Instead, Wales fought back and equalized 18 minutes through Williams. Game on.
With the game tied 1-1 at half, Belgian manager Marc Wilmots took off Yannick Carrasco at the start of the second half and replaced him Marouane Fellaini in a move designed to shore up his midfield. It proved to be a gross miscalculation. Wales took advantage, upping the tempo of the game and running right at their opponents, and took advantage of Belgium’s naive defending in adding two more goals.
This was a costly win for Wales, as both left fullback Ben Davies and Ramsey picked up their second yellow cards, and will be suspended for the semifinals against Portugal. But the Welsh have shown their mental strength and character at this tournament. Portugal is just one more test.
MORE ON EURO 2016: Sportsnet has you covered with in-depth coverage of Euro 2016 in France, which runs from June 10 to July 10.
• Match schedule || Group standings || Live scoreboard || Latest news
• Profiles: All 24 teams || History of Euro || Top 10 moments in Euro history
• Feature stories || Soccer Central podcast || Team roster lists ||
GOAL OF THE DAY
In the 13th minute, Belgium’s Radja Nainggolan cracked a shot from 30 yards out that nestled inside the top left corner. A bullet strike, and a goal of the tournament candidate.
SAVE OF THE DAY
In the 26th minute, Aaron Ramsey scampered towards the byline before cutting a pass back in the middle for Neil Taylor, who saw his point-blank shot blocked by Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois.
BEST MOMENT OF THE DAY
That turn by Wales’ Hal Robson-Kanu inside the box to beat three Belgian defenders and create some space for himself before firing home.
THE GAME WITHIN THE GAME
TWEET OF THE DAY
SIX PACK OF STATS
• Belgium’s Eden Hazard is the first player to record four assists in a European Championship tournament since Ljubinko Drulovic did it for Yugoslavia at Euro 2000.
• Wales’ Aaron Ramsey is the first British player to assist on two or more goals in a game at the European Championship since David Beckham did it vs. Portugal at Euro 2000.
• Wales has scored 10 goals at Euro 2016—only twice has a British team scored more at a major tournament (England at the 1966 World Cup and Euro 2004).
• By reaching the semifinals, Wales has equaled the best performance of a British team at a European Championship tournament (England in 1968 and 1996).
• Wales is the first team to reach the semifinals in their European Championship debut since Sweden at Euro 1992.
• Belgium’s Jordan and Romelu Lukaku are the third set of brothers to be on the pitch at the same time t Euro 2016— Granit and Taulant Xhaka (Switzerland and Albania) and Jonny and Corry Evans (Northern Ireland).
Stats courtesy of Opta
BURNING QUESTION
3 STARS
1) Aaron Ramsey, Wales: Brilliant in midfield. Set up two goals, and created a number of other scoring chances for Wales.
2) Ashley Williams, Wales: Scored the equalizing goal, and was solid in defence.
3) Gareth Bale, Wales: He didn’t score, but the Real Madrid star worked very hard in a more defensive role, win the ball back several times and making a number of tackles.
TOURNAMENT SO FAR
•Matchday 1 recap: Magnificent Payet rescues France || Typical Giroud performance
•Matchday 2 recap: England gets what it deserves || Bale already proving his worth for Wales
•Matchday 3 recap: Modric pure magic for Croatia || Germany’s Goetze not a false 9
•Matchday 4 recap: Spain’s resolve sees them through || Italy’s experience the difference
•Matchday 5 recap: Portugal blows it || The hoopla over Kiraly’s pants
•Matchday 6 recap: It can be a cruel game at times || What was Deschamps thinking?
•Matchday 7 recap: English relief after beating Wales || You gotta love Northern Ireland
•Matchday 8 recap: Spain sends a message
•Matchday 9 recap: Ronaldo cuts a distraught figure
•Matchday 10 recap: Albania has held its own || In defence of Ronaldo
•Matchday 11 recap: Slim margins could doom England || What is England? Does Hodgson know?
•Matchday 12 recap: Croatia turns tournament on its head ||
•Matchday 13 recap: Ronaldo is just trolling us || England should fear Iceland
•Matchday 14 recap: A day to completely forget in France || Shaqiri’s strike can’t save the day
•Matchday 15 recap: Irish adversity best thing for France
•Matchday 16 recap: Buffon’s ‘Zoff moment’ for Italy || So, what’s next for Italy?
•Matchday 17 recap: Not pretty, but Portugal grinds it out
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