Quarterfinal 2 - Belgium v. Wales
posted by The Blue Devil @ 2:15 PM
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Friday, July 01, 2016
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Contributors
Previous Posts
- Quarter final 1 - Poland v. Portugal
- France 2016 Predictions Game - Round of 16 Update
- Round of 16 - England vs. Iceland!!
- Round of 16 - Spain v. Italy
- Round of 16 Belgium vs Hungary
- Round of 16 - Germany v. Slovakia
- Round of 16 - France v. Republic of Ireland
- France 2016 Predictions Game - Group Stage Update #3
- Day 13 - Group E Wraps Up!
- Day 13 - Group F Wraps Up!
140 Comments:
Unlike Iceland, Wales actually have some talented Premier League footballers, so it will be tougher for Belgium than it would be if they were playing Iceland.
It's basically a home match for Belgium as it's being played in Lille , which is just across the border from Belgium. It's raining cats and dogs, conditions in which both sets of players should be familiar.
Welcome, MUR - it's great to have you on board for this afternoon's match.
The teams now entering the arena:
Wales: Hennessey, Chester, Ashley Williams, Davies, Taylor, Allen, Ledley, Ramsey, Gunter, Robson-Kanu, Bale.
Subs: Fon Williams, King, George Williams, Edwards, Richards, Cotterill, Vokes, Collins, Jonathan Williams, Vaughan, Church, Ward.
Belgium: Courtois, Meunier, Alderweireld, Denayer, Jordan Lukaku, Nainggolan, Witsel, Carrasco, De Bruyne, Hazard, Romelu Lukaku.
Subs: Mignolet, Fellaini, Mertens, Origi, Kabasele, Dembele, Benteke, Batshuayi, Ciman, Gillet.
Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)
Anthems now....
Wales and Belgium were in the same qualifying group and Wales kept a clean sheet in both matches. If they can do the same then they could be in for an unlikely semifinal match vs Portugal.
Cheers, Bob. I'm glad to finally be on vacation and be able to do what I should be, which is blogging on the Euros.
Wales need to keep their shape tonight if their 3-5-2 formation is to prevail against Belgium, who lost 2-0 against Italy, the only other team in the competition to use wing backs.
Neil Taylor and Chris Gunter are the Welsh wide men tasked with the dual responsibility of helping out a back three of Ben Davies, Ashley Williams and James Chester, while providing support in attack for when Wales are in possession.
In truth, if you had to miss out on a major tournament through summer work, this is the one to miss. It's been a stinker.
Other than the two Reading players , all the Welsh starters play in the Prem or for Real. A significant difference from the number of Icelanders playing in the top flight of a major European league.,
I have watched on watch espn, but for the most part it has been a stinker even though there has been some improvement in the knockout matches.
They're off from Lille.
And we're away with Wales wearing their traditional red and white and the Belgians wearing their eccentric quail egg blue away kit.
First cross aimed at Lukaku - just over his head.
First chance for Ginger Winger to stretch his legs - the Belgians look up for it already.
There are so many Premiership stars in the Belgian side, they almost seem English. More than 600 Premiership starts for the starting XI.
I think the jersey is in tribute to the cycling team. It is an odd strip though
Carrasco has impressed off the bench for Belgium - he could have a lot of joy on either side.
Agreed. If you add in the Welsh players than well over 100 combined starts between both teams.
The Chunk's younger brother is making his tournament debut at left back. The Welsh should test him early doors.
Davies picks up an early yellow that rules him out of a semi and he has to watch himself for the rest of the match.
An early booking for Ben Davies for what seemed a minor foul on the ginger winger. He's suspended if Wales make the semis.
Desperate defending from Wales now and some great work by Hennessy. How are the Belgians not 1-0 up.
OH!!!! How did Belgium not score? Greta close range from Hennesssey form Hazard off a run and pass from the Chunk then off the line by Chester from the Ginger winger.The Chunk shoots wide from the corner.
Will Belgium do to Wales what they did to the Magyars?
Robson-Kanu could have done better with that header. They won't get many chances.
Hal Robson-Kanu with a rare chance for the Welsh as he heads wide form a cross with a free header.
OH!!!! Monkey with a speedy run on the break and shoots into the side netting with just Courtois to beat
Wales counter again through Bale who shoots from an acute angle into the side netting. Belgians will have to track him better. He's capable of a moment against the run of play as we saw against England.
Oh - what a strike! Nainggolan with one out of the top drawer.
1-0!
GOAL !!!! PORCUPINE BOY GIVES BELGIUM THE LEAD WITH A LONG RANGE ROCKET IN THE UPPER 90. IT ALL STARTED WITH THE WELSH CHEAPLY CONCEDING POSSESSION AND SEVERAL PASSES LATER A GOAL.
It looks like a long night for the Welsh.
Nainggolan, the Roma man, now has two goals.
Another yellow card coming now - for Chester for a chippy tug back on The Chunk. Welsh are finding Belgians too hot to handle.
James Chester is booked for a foul on the Chunk. This ref is booking players for every foul committed. Two fouls and two bookings.
I think we're looking at Brexit the Trilogy
Looks like it.
And another yellow card for Chris Gunter - it's hard to see Wales finishing with 11 men now.
Chris Gunter is in the book for a foul from behind on the Ginger Winger
I'm tired to seeing these players appealing for cards. Welsh trying to get Hazard booked now.
A tad naughty by Joe Allen on Hazard, who overreacts
Oh - Courtois saves brilliantly from Taylor there when it seemed like they were bound to score.
OH!!!! The first chance of the match for the Welsh and a great save by Courtois from Neil Taylor off a great pass from Ramsey
I don't like how Belgium are dropping off now - go for more goals!
Agreed. FIFA needs to make the players appealing for cards a priority issue to address.
AT l;east it will give Wales a chance to get back into the match
Hal Robson -Kanu wins a corner as he gets past the Younger Chunk
Monkey Boy wins another corner off the short corner from Ramsey
GOAL! Ashley Williams equalizes from a corner!
1-1!
WAY HAY!!!! ASHLEY WILLIAMS TIES IT UP AS HE HEADS IN A CORNER
Free header there for Williams.
Now suddenly Belgium have decided to play again - they had gone to sleep for about fifteen minute there.
Call me Nostradavidus. I said that Wales should advantage of the Chunk's younger bruv. Robson_kanu got past him and won the corner. Also, when you said Belgium were dropping off , I said that it would give Wales a chance to get back into this match. I was correct on both counts.
Hennessey tips away a cross from Carrasco
The Wales counter off the Belgian as Monkey Boy gets past Jason Daneyer and his shot is easily saved by Courtois.
Jordan Lukaku has been getting a roasting down that left side.
Hal Robson-Kanu asks the ref why there's no booking for four Belgian fouls and two for three Welsh fouls. He has a point as the refs need to be consistent.
Agreed. He's been roasted more this half than Dean Martin was his entire career.
Nanngolan heads out a cross from Neil Taylor for a Welsh corner.
The Chunk's little brother is all at sea.
James Chester heads wide from the corner as he got behind the Chunk's younger bruv.
Boom boom, mate!
The Ginger Winger wins a corner off a Welsh give away. The corner is headed away then a first time ball from the Ginger Winger is headed straight to Hennessey by Toby
Cheers, mate. Sounds like tuna. They roast tuna?
Ramsey has a go and it's deflected off Lukaku's back.
Ramsey has a long range effort deflected for a corner off of Denayer.
And another free header for Ashley Williams - didn't they learn from the first one?
OH!!!! Another free header off a Welsh corner and Ashley Williams heads well over.
Ginger Winger hoiks a long field effort out of the park.
The Ginger Winger with a long range effort that makes it halfway back to the Etihad.
For being a team of super stars, the Belgians can look like real amateurs at times.
Ramsey picks out Robson-Kanu for a last minute header on goal. They've finished stronger as the half-time whistle goes.
OH!!!! A header from Hal Robson-Kanu is straight to Courtois and it's 1-1 at the half as the welsh have made it tougher than the Belgians expected.
OH Boy! The Belgians must be desperate if they're looking to Hair Boy for Inspiration.
The second half is underway
I know how frustrating it can be to have Bear in the Red Devils side at club level. It could be equally frustrating to watch him for the Red Devils at the international level.
That is desperate.
Naughty by Joe Allen on Hazard, but not a card this time
Oh - how did The Chunk miss that one? Free header only yards out - open goal.
OH!!!! Hair Bear plays Munier down the right and his cross is headed wide by the Chunk, who had a free header.
The Ginger Winger cuts in and a long range effort is not too far over.
Joe Allen is begging for one.
Hazard cuts in and his shot goes well wide.
Oh - Hazard whistles one just by the post. The Belgians seem up for it again - maybe they had some waffles at half time?
I think Hair Bear came on for Axel Witsel, who played more like Axel Rose.
Ashley Williams heads out for a Belgian corner.
BOOM BOOM ! They sure were waffling around in the first half. Perhaps they interpreted the rainy weather as a reason to put in a wishy washy performance.
GOAL! Great turn and shot by Robson-Kanu!!!
Wales are 2-1 up!
What a story developing here now...how will Belgium respond.
Great match now!
Robson-Kanu on two goals now, alongside Bale with 3.
Hair Bear and Nainggolan make a Monkey Boy sandwich and Hair Bear gets the yellow.
Ramsey to take another corner now....
Oh - Courtois flapped at that one and Ashley Williams nearly poked home.
Belgium's superstars look short of ideas now.
Vincent Kompany doesn't look too happy about proceedings.
Free kick for Belgium now - Williams hacking Nainggolan
Ginger Winger lining up the free kick....
A tame effort deflected off the wall and into the keeper.
Bale picks up another corner for Wales off Hair Bear.
Another decent chance for Wales - Williams volleys over.
Woeful there from the Ginger Winger.
Oh - Ginger Winger gets behind but his cross is cut out by Chester.
Stalwart defending by Wales here. A real Championship effort.
Down to about twenty minutes for Belgium to dig this one out.
It would only take one moment of inspiration and brilliance. Belgium have that in spades. But they look devoid of ideas.
Oh - how did Hair Bear miss that header!
Hello mate!!! Sorry for my absence. Someone from school called. I saw the goal from Hal Robson-Kanu and Hair Bear head just wide. Is another upset in the making?
Ramsey would be out of the semi now after that yellow card.
Martens comes on for the fullback Lukaku - so Wilmots is going for it now.
I seemed harsh and Ramsey is out for the semis if Wales advance.
Ben Davies just cuts out Hazard's cross. Corner.
Jordan Lukau had a nightmare that seemed like something from the Outer Limits or Tales From the Crypt
A poor corner from the Ginger Winger us cleared and a headed pass from Hair Bear just eludes Mertens
Joe Ledley is off now; Andy King from Leicester on now.
Joe Ledley , who ran himself ragged, is replaced by Andy King.
The Chunk turns near the box and is brought down but nothing is called.
Should have been second yellow card for Davies there.
Marc Wilmots will surely walk the plank if the Welsh hold on. The winning goal against the so called superstars will have been scored by someone considered not good enough to play for Reading. Now that's a real Embarrassment.
Goalscorer Robson-Kanu comes off - Sam Vokes on.
Bob will be pleased as Robson-Kanu , who gets a deserved ovation, is replaced by former Leeds player, Sam Vokes,.
One more roll of the dice from Wilmots now. Batshuayi, who scored late on against Hungary to come on.
Sam was never with us long enough for me to care.
At least the Belgians will have a short ride home of they do their version of Brexit where Wilmots will sure emulate David Cameron and Woy.
Naingollan is brought down in the box now - nothing doing from the ref.
The final roll of the dice for Wilmots as Batshuyai, the new Chelsea signing , is on for the Chunk, a former Chelsea player
Wales are really riding their luck now - could have given up a couple of penalties.
Ref is waving on everything now.
The Welsh easily clear the corner from the Ginger Winger, whose deliveries have been worse than those from the USPS.
GOAL! Sam Vokes kills off the Belgian dreams!!!
1-3 Wales!
Problems with the telecast. The Sattellite went out , so time to watch on espn3.
Great goal there - lovely chip in from Gunter and Sam Vokes couldn't have met that header more sweetly. He showed Lukaku and Fellaini how to finish off a headed chance.
These matches are killing our points in the France 2016 Predictions game. No one picked either Portugal or Wales - and one of them will be in the Final!
Nearly into stoppage time now.
WOW! Wales lead 3-1. Surely that's the end for Marc Wilmots, whose side will exit the tournament in disgrace
Well, I somewhat predicted this result with my thread intro. The Belgians have the Premiership stars but they caved in here.
Taxi for Wilmots!
Wales v. Iceland final?
It's been a pleasure chatting with you, mate - I'm off to help Kate with some chores.
I have not been able to watch the last ten minutes on the telly or online. Now it's back on and now about to bugger off then on then off.
Cheers mate. it was a great chatting on yet another upset this tournament.
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