The second quarter-final of UEFA Euro 2016 sees Wales take on Belgium, in what promises to be an exciting, open and free-flowing encounter of football at the Stade Pierre- Mauroy in Lille. Wales and Belgium were in the same qualifying group and the 2 matches between them saw Wales win one and the other ended in a tie.
Both Wales and Belgium have performed well to reach this far but expectations from both teams are very different. While Wales’ fans are enjoying a dream run in Euro 2016, and a place in the quarters is more than a satisfactory result for them, Belgium will be expecting their golden generation to win some silverware.
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Having fizzled out in the quarters against eventual runners-up Argentina in the 2014 world cup, fans of the Red Devils will demand a much better performance from their team tonight. Let’s take a look at 5 players who will influence the result of tonight’s encounter.
#1 Gareth Bale
The Real Madrid ace has been symbolic of everything good about Wales thus far. Bale has had the single largest contribution behind Wales making it to the quarter-final. Having scored 3 goals in 4 matches, Bale has ensured that the likes of Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Vokes, quite average players at best, do not come under too much pressure up front.
While the Welsh do have some decent players in terms of world class game-changers, Bale is isolated. In the modern game, it is virtually impossible for a player to carry a team on his own, and yet the 26-year-old seems to defy logic in this regard. The epitome of the modern day footballer who is an athlete first and foremost, Bale relies on sheer pace and strength to get by opponents.
His uncomplicated dribbling and intuitive passing coupled with a ferocious shot have propelled Wales into the quarters after they topped their group despite losing to England. Welsh fans will be hopeful of another masterful performance from their number 11 tonight.
#2 Aaron Ramsey
The only other Welsh player apart from Bale who can hold his own against the worlds best is midfielder Aaron Ramsey. The Arsenal starlet has lent crucial support to Bale in the attacking third and has been involved in most of Wales’ attacking forays.
A mercurial talent, Ramsey is a confidence player. On his day, if a few early passes and shots find their respective targets, one can expect Ramsey to be in fine fettle for the rest of the match.
However, there have been games in which he has looked totally lost and devoid of inspiration. Welsh fans will be fretting over how Ramsey starts tonight’s crucial encounter. Having scored a goal and assisted two thus far in Euro 2016, Ramsey will be hoping to provide the support for Bale to unlock Belgium’s weakened defence for tonight’s encounter.
With both Thomas Vermaelen and Jan Vertonghen out for the Belgians, Ramsey will be relishing the prospect of coming up against a relatively inexperienced Belgian defence with his majestic close control and quick passing abilities.
#3 Eden Hazard
Belgium’s emphatic round of 16 victory over a resilient and hardworking Hungary firmly established them as one of the favourites and the team to watch in the knockout stages of the competition. However, the match also marked Eden Hazard’s true arrival on the international stage. His performance on the night led many pundits to wax eloquent about him, and for many, it was the one of the best individual performance on the international stage in many years.
Hazard’s massive talent has never been a source of much doubt. A wily winger who possesses incredible pace and can turn on a sixpence. The Belgian while turning out for Chelsea has left many full-backs of the Premier League terrorised. However, the Belgium captain never really grabbed the limelight on the international stage until Hungary happened.
The mercurial winger was at his mesmerising best, floating past opponents at will, playing incisive through balls, and shooting with deadly accuracy. The Hungarian defence looked completely lost and clueless against him and were thankful when he was subbed off to a standing ovation in the dying embers of the game.
Belgium will be hoping for a similar showing from their captain tonight, while Wales would be hoping that they can subdue the threat of the 25-year-old.
#4 Kevin De Bruyne
Shouldering the creative responsibility for the Red Devils along with Eden Hazard, Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne is also having a stellar Euro 2016. After being one of the most disappointing players on the pitch in their opening match against Italy, De Bruyne was roundly criticised for what many felt was a heartless display.
De Bruyne came back emphatically, especially benefitting from a change in position. Initially deployed as a winger in their opening match, he has been playing in the number 10 role behind Lukaku, as an attacking midfielder in all subsequent games. The change saw a sharp upturn in his fortunes, and he has provided 3 assists in 3 games since then.
Being his team’s set-piece specialist, he is especially good at whipping in corners and free kicks onto the heads of Belgium’s towering centre backs, and Toby Alderweireld reaped the benefits of the same against Hungary. Wales will have to keep him on a tight leash to be able to win tonight’s encounter.
#5 Toby Alderweireld
Although Alderweireld would not be in minds of most of the readers when they compile their own lists of this sort, but the Tottenham Hotspur man will play a crucial role in tonight’s encounter. With Thomas Vermaelen and Jan Vertonghen missing through injury and suspension respectively, the onus is on Alderweireld to lead a very inexperienced back-line against the threat posed by Gareth Bale and company.
A modern day centre-back, Alderweireld combines all aspects of defending with an ability to play out of defence. An imperious header of the ball, Alderweireld gave Belgium a crucial and nerve-soothing lead against Hungary in their round of 16 encounter. The 27-year-old has looked very comfortable in the centre-back position thus far, but it remains to be seen how he deals with the pressure of the absence of senior defenders around him.
Alderweireld will have to ensure the rest of the Belgian defence are well equipped to quell the threat of Bale. As a leader, he must ensure the likes of Ciman and Jordan Lukaku do not switch off on the flanks, a place where Wales pose the greatest threat.
