Lille:
On Friday, Wales came back from one goal down to complete a brilliant 3-1 win
against Belgium to book their spot in the semi-finals of Euro Cup 2016.
Belgium
coach Marc Wilmots made three changes, two of which were enforced, for Friday’s
Euro 2016 quarter-final against Gareth Bale’s Wales at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in
Lille.
The duo
of 21-year old Jason Denayer and Jordan Lukaku — brother of striker Romelu — will come into the Belgium
back four, while Wales manager Chris Coleman made one change to the team that
beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in the last 16, with Hal Robson-Kanu coming into the
team up front alongside Bale and Sam Vokes dropping out.
What
makes the Wales story so uplifting is that they are so very obviously much more
than the sum of their individual parts, even allowing for the brilliance of
Gareth Bale. They improve not just in each other’s company but also under the
coaching of an off-field team headed by Chris Coleman.
That was evident for an equalizer
which, amid a blur of bodies in the penalty area, was actually brilliantly
worked. A straight line of Welsh players had sufficiently distracted the
Belgium defenders to create the space from which Williams so emphatically
scored. It was a goal that sparked delirium but was the direct result of
quietly meticulous preparation. It also underlined Coleman’s pre-match
observation about Williams being the truest of leaders in how he delivers when
it is most needed.
The
next semi-final is today which will take place between Germany and Italy. Wales
will face Portugal in the semi-finals on July 6.
This
is the 15th edition of the tournament. The last edition in 2012 was
won by Spain, who could only make it to Top 16 this year.
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