MARTIN KEOWN’S BIG MATCH ANALYSIS

EDEN HAZARD virtually had a season off in 2015-16, and Belgium appear to be reaping the benefits. He was fantastic against Hungary — the way he runs at defenders with such pace and poise is scintillating to watch. He looks like he has rekindled his 2014-15 Player of the Year form overnight, and when he’s playing like this really only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale are ahead of him. His confidence must be sky-high and I can see him doing some serious damage in this game — but Kevin De Bruyne’s move to the centre has been equally important to Belgium’s resurgence. With the Manchester City man running free and pulling the strings, they have a lot more quality while in possession. Marouane Fellaini was playing there at the start of the tournament, with De Bruyne out on the wing, but this switch has conicided with Belgium’s upturn. It’s not how you start a tournament, but how you finish — and Marc Wilmots’ side have recovered well since being battered by Italy in their opener. Their system looked old fashioned in that game and they will have to make sure the same flaws are not exposed by Wales — another side who play three at the back. Bale is obviously vital to Wales’s chances tonight, and one area where he could be particularly dangerous is just in front of Belgium’s back four. Their central midfielders — Axel Witsel and Radja Nainggolan — don’t offer much structure. Instead of sitting deep to protect the back four, they go flying off in isolation to chase after the ball. This leaves the centre backs exposed, and with experienced pair Thomas Vermaelen and Jan Vertonghen absent, Bale could run riot against a makeshift partnership.

PREDICTION: Belgium 2-1