Make no mistake. This is one of the biggest games in the history of Belgian or Welsh football.
The scene is set at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, as the Dragons take on the Red Devils with a meeting against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the semi-finals at stake.
Should they stay or should they go?
No, not a take on Brexit, but a genuine question surrounding the tactics Chris Coleman’s side should adopt. Soak up pressure and counter, or go toe-to-toe with a side with plenty of guns and muscle?
Wales’ sole undoing at Euro 2016 came against England – the Welsh showed their rivals far too much respect when upon reflection, an attack-minded approach had the potential to work wonders.
The 3-5-2 was transformed to a 5-4-1, and star man Gareth Bale failed to make the slightest indentation on the match after putting his side ahead in the first half.
The answer – a 3-4-3 in attack with the always-roaming Aaron Ramsey working in tandem with Bale, and striker Sam Vokes occupying a central defender or two. In transition, however, this band of hard-working, selfless underdogs must simply put men behind the ball without sacrificing a forward threat which occurred in the group stage match against England.
Wales must join in on the year of the upset https://t.co/XoiLVPfLYp
From @Outside90 pic.twitter.com/Bw69q6fuZC
— Football Collective (@fbcollectivecom) June 29, 2016
Gareth Bale talks the talk, can he walk the walk?
The Real Madrid superstar has been a busy bee both on and off the pitch this tournament, and has been happy to heap the pressure on his shoulders and off his team-mates with consistent comments in the media.
Bale said earlier this week that Wales could have a psychological advantage over Belgium after beating them in qualifying.
“We’re like their bogey team, aren’t we?” he said. “Hopefully that edge gets into their heads, you never know.
“We will definitely draw on those qualifiers, it gives us more knowledge on them.”
The form on display from the 26-year-old has been excellent to date, and the burning question remains as to whether he can lift his team to the semi final at the expense of an exciting Belgium outfit.
Can Belgium’s star man fulfil his massive potential (again)?
In Belgium’s 4-0 romp over Hungary, Eden Hazard finally hit the heights expected of the 2014-15 PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
While much has been made of the ‘Golden Generation’, more weight sits on Hazard’s shoulders than anyone else in the squad. If he is able to find space to run at the Welsh defence, a repeat of his man-of-the-match performance is in store.
And despite all of the (extremely refreshing) Welsh bravado, there will be clear plans in place to double-up and ultimately, neutralise the Chelsea winger. Chris Gunter will be given the unenviable task of trying to pin the 25-year-old back in his own half, but one suspects that his, and the entirety of the Wales defence will have their hands full with the likes of the aforementioned Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. Unenviable, indeed.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
