Coleman tells fans: Just keep dreaming
CHRIS COLEMAN told Wales fans to keep dreaming last night after his side produced a stunning display to beat Belgium 3-1 and set up a semi-final clash against Portugal.
Wales have Euro glory in their sights and will go into Wednesday’s game in Lyon buoyed by a magnificent fightback after going behind to a side ranked second in the world.
Goals from Ashley Williams, a superb solo effort by Hal Robson Kanu, and a Sam Vokes header, ensured Radja Nainggolan’s early rocket was wiped out in spectacular style, with Wales deserving progression to the last four.
Ecstatic manager Coleman said: ‘It’s brilliant. My message back home is to dream. Don’t be afraid to have dreams. Four years ago I was as far away from this as you can imagine. It’s sweet and I think we deserve it.
‘Once we got through the group stage we knew we would have a chance. But we also knew that we had to bring our A game and our players certainly did that tonight. It was an incredible performance. I think we surprised Belgium.’
The only sour notes were bookings for Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies, who are both now suspended for the semi-final, which will present a mouth-watering contest between Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.
‘I’m gutted for Aaron,’ said Coleman. ‘He’s been outstanding for us. He’s been one of the best players of the tournament and he’s obviously gutted.
‘But we knew we needed to do what needed to be done. We knew we might have to take one for the team. And they’ve done that.
‘It’s a bit tough at this level when there’s so much on the games.
‘Two yellows in five games can be a bit tight. Rambo and Ben are big losses for us. They have done everything their country has asked of them. We wouldn’t be siting here without them. But the rules are the rules.’
As for the prospect of going on to win the tournament, Coleman may have urged Welsh fans to dream but he also hasn’t got this far without a healthy dose of realism.
‘I still don’t think about winning the tournament,’ he said.
‘The first challenge for us was to get out of the group, then beat Northern Ireland, then beat Belgium. Now the next one for us is Portugal. I promise you that my players and staff won’t be thinking about winning this tournament just now. ‘They will be thinking purely about Portugal.’ Captain Williams, whose goal restored parity for the Welsh before half-time, said: ‘I’m pleased to score. I don’t get many! But I’m more pleased that we got through. It’s hard to take in at the minute. I think we responded well. ‘We were ever so pleased to get here and then get out of the group. We’re not looking as far as winning the tournament yet. We’ve got a difficult game to come.’ Robson-Kanu, who is currently without a club, scored the goal of the night in the 55th minute with the game tied at 1-1.
Executing a Cruyff turn which took three defenders out of the game, he then slotted the ball coolly past Thibaut Courtois in the Belgian goal.
‘It is fantastic,’ said Robson Kanu. ‘We did well to get back into the game.
‘We knew if we kept playing like we did in the first half we would get our just rewards. It’s hard to describe.
‘We’ve worked so hard for this over the last eight years. Long may it continue.
‘We played Belgium a few times in the past few years and we know how to play against them. We kept to our game plan. We’ve got worldclass players, we can be as solid as a rock defensively. With those two combined we stand a good chance.’
Wales initially appeared shaky from kick-off but, after conceding the lead for the first time in France, they grew into the game and took advantage of Belgium’s defensive ill-discipline to full effect before recording the most memorable victory in their history.
Williams scored only his second international goal, six years after his last, with a header from Ramsey’s corner, before Robson Kanu found the net with his spellbinding finish.
It was Robson-Kanu’s second goal at this tournament but only his fourth in 34 caps.
Burnley striker Vokes came off the bench to confirm victory late on, planting a glancing forehead on to Chris Gunter’s cross for his first Wales goal in a competitive game since August 2008.
Crestfallen Belgium boss Marc Wilmots was reticent to talk about his future.
‘I said I’d make my decision after the European Championship,’ he said. ‘I won’t make one right after the game. There’s a lot of adrenaline. We’ll have to see.
‘We had a young average age in our team. I think the players have potential. I’m not going to kill them.
‘We were unfortunate to have two players injured in defence, when we already had injury problems there.
‘We were listed among the teams who could have gone all the way. Of course the players have a bad taste in their mouths. We made too many mistakes. Wales are a good side. Well done to them.’