Dark horse squad Wales is set to meet tournament favorites Belgium in the quarterfinals of the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Their match is scheduled on July 1, Friday at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq.
Wales is a surprise quarterfinalist in this summer's Euros as it had been more than a half century since the Dragons participated in a big international tournament. They have had superstar club players before, such as Ryan Giggs, Ian Rush and Mark Hughes, but the country now has Gareth Bale, football history's most expensive player so far, and Wales is looking stronger than ever with the Real Madrid winger.
Head coach Chris Coleman's boys nipped Northern Ireland, 1-0, in their round-of-16 match last Saturday at the Parc des Princes in Paris to secure their place in the last eight, as per The Guardian.
An own goal by defender Gareth McAuley at the 75th minute provided Wales the win in the defensive-minded match.
During the match, Wales had again displayed the factors that made them advance this deep in the tournament, which are a solid team defense and striking on the break with Bale and Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey leading the charge. Such combination is expected to once again emerge in this match versus the world no. 2 Belgians.
Meanwhile, Belgium advanced in the quarters with a 4-0 rout of Hungary at the Stadium Municipal in Toulouse on Sunday, Goal reported.
Chelsea winger Eden Hazard was sensational during the match, scoring a goal and assisting on one in a span of a minute to lead head coach Marc Wilmots' side to the crushing win.
Defender Toby Alderweireld netted the opener while Atletico Madrid forward Yannick Carrasco completed the team's four-goal haul in stoppage time to seal the victory.
Belgium is favored to win this match against Wales, although the pressure is high for Wilmots' young core of Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku.
De Rode Duivels had shown time and again during this tournament that they are struggling to score against teams with strong defenses and have had difficulty defending superior attackers as well. Their opening group stage loss to Italy exposed those weaknesses and they are facing a stingier defense and a tougher attacking crew with Bale and Ramsey in Wales so an upset is not far behind.
If the Belgians can score early and compel Coleman's men to come forward for a retaliation, opening their defense, then Hazard and company can capitalize.
The predicted result is a 3-1 victory for Belgium.
Wales starting lineup (3-5-1-1 formation): Hennessey; Chester, Williams, Davies; Gunter, Allen, Ledley, Ramsey, Taylor; Bale; Vokes
Belgium starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Courtois; Meunier, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Nainggolan, Witsel; Mertens, De Bruyne, Hazard; Lukaku