Wales and Belgium set to meet again
BELGIUM BOSS MARC Wilmots will not attempt to man-mark Gareth Bale out of the game when his side face Wales in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.
The Real Madrid forward has netted three times at the finals in France – making him his country’s top scorer at major tournaments – and it was his cross that forced Gareth McAuley’s own goal in the last-16 victory over Northern Ireland.
Bale also scored the only goal of the game when these sides met in qualifying last June, with Wales following up a 0-0 away draw with a 1-0 victory in Cardiff that helped propel them into the finals.
Wales, who have kept two consecutive clean sheets for the first time in their tournament history, last reached this stage of a major competition at the World Cup in 1958, where they were beaten by Brazil.
Belgium, meanwhile, made the last eight at the World Cup two years ago and are now chasing their first semi-final place since the tournament in Mexico in 1986.
After falling to a 2-0 opening defeat to Italy, Wilmots’ side have recaptured some of their best form, scoring eight times without conceding in their last three matches – thanks largely to the impact of captain Eden Hazard, who will be returning to the city where he made his professional debut.
Thomas Vermaelen is suspended for the clash at Stade Pierre-Mauroy – a ground located just 10 kilometres west of Belgium, and which will host its final match at Euro 2016 on Friday.
Hazard is battling a thigh problem but Wilmots expects him to be fully fit, while Coleman hopes to have captain Ashley Williams available despite a shoulder injury.
Category: Football
