Wales Vs. Belgium Euro 2016 Live: Wales Reaches Semifinals On 3-1 Win

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Jul 1, 2016

Final, 3-1 Wales: The referee blows the final whistle. Wales has advanced to the Euro 2016 semifinals.

This moment in time belongs to Wales, which upset Belgium in Lille, just six miles from its border with France. Robson-Kanu scored the game-winner with a move that could become Euro 2016’s defining moment. Vokes’ late goal then set the party in motion, as Wales celebrates its finest hour in soccer.

Belgium’s highly rated attacking players only could breach Wales’ rearguard once, and its own defense failed to prevent Wales from charging back into the game and into the last four. Belgium must live with the disappointment of this missed opportunity, perhaps forever.

Wales will face Portugal on Wednesday in the semifinals. Can you say Bale vs. (Cristiano) Ronaldo?

That’s all for now, and thanks for joining us. Let’s discuss this one on Twitter @NESNsoccer and Facebook. Be sure to keep an eye out for some news, fan reactions, analysis and opinion coming up on NESN.com/soccer.

90th minute, 3-1 Wales: Defender James Collins replaces Ramsey, as Wales looks to lock up the game in the final minutes.

89th minute, 3-1 Wales: Belgium is pressing for deficit-cutting goal, but Wales has all 10 outfield players in the box. Nothing shall pass.

86th minute, 3-1 Wales: Vokes seals the victory and Belgium’s exit.

The Wales substitute headed Gunter’s cross past Courtois from close range. Vokes outjumped Alderweireld, but Denayer should have prevented the ball from reaching them.

85th minute, 2-1 Wales: Toby Alderweireld receives a yellow card.

83rd minute, 2-1 Wales: Michy Batshuayi replaces Lukaku in Belgium’s final substitution.

80th minute, 2-1 Wales: Robson-Kanu exits to a thunderous ovation from Wales’ fans. Sam Vokes replaces him up front.

79th minute, 2-1 Wales: Witsel misses the target with a long-range shot.

78th minute, 2-1: Andy King replaces Ledley, as Wales changes things in the midfield with its first substitution.

77th minute, 2-1 Wales: Wistel misses Fellaini’s knock-down at the far post by mere inches. Fellaini is causing Wales problems at the back.

75th minute, 2-1 Wales: Dries Mertens replaces Jordan Lukaku, as Belgium makes its second substitution.

75th minute, 2-1 Wales: The referee shows Ramsey a yellow card. The influential Wales midfielder will miss the semifinals.

74th minute, 2-1 Wales: Fellaini out-jumps Chester but can’t head Meunier’s cross on goal.

71st minute, 2-1 Wales: Chester slides de Bruyne’s cross clear of danger after Belgium cut open Wales’ defense with a slick passing move.

66th minute, 2-1 Wales: Williams side-winds a shot over Belgium’s goal. Wales is searching for that third goal, which undoubtedly would end Belgium’s Euro 2016 run.

64th minute, 2-1 Wales: De Bruyne hits a tame free kick on Wales’ goal. Hennesey stops it easily.

Belgium most hope that’s its low point in this semifinal.

61st minute, 2-1 Wales: Belgium has another nervous moment at the back, as Courtois fails to handle Ramsey’s cross. Williams tries to poke it home, but Courtois saves it.

59th minute, 2-1 Wales: The referee shows Fellaini a yellow card for a foul, which Nainggolan might have committed.

Fellaini will be suspended for the semifinal if Belgium overturns the lead Wales currently enjoys.

55th minute, 2-1 Wales: Robson-Kanu has put Wales in front.

The Wales striker received a pass from Ramsey inside the Belgium penalty area and twisted himself free of three defenders before beating Courtois from close range.

Ramsey joins Hazard atop the assists chart at Euro 2016.

https://twitter.com/STATS_Football/status/748973176072331264

50th minute, 1-1: Hazard dribbles down the left side, cuts inside and drives a low shot toward the far post. It misses, and Wales breathes a sigh of relief.

48th minute, 1-1: Romelu Lukaku heads Meunier’s cross wide of Wales’ goal. It was harder to miss from that spot than it was to score.

46th minute, 1-1: The second half of Wales-Belgium is under way.

Belgium made a halftime substitution, bringing Marouane Fellaini into the fray. Carrasco exits.

Halftime, 1-1: That’s the end of the first half. The game’s tied at one goal apiece.

Wales and Belgium haven’t disappointed any neutrals who expected a spectacle. The first half was fast, competitive and dramatic, as the teams traded punches and goals throughout.

Nainggolan scored one of Euro 2016’s best goals, but Belgium couldn’t hold its advantage. Williams’ header was an ordinary skill, but his and his team’s reaction showed how special every moment of the tournament is to them.

Perhaps we, and Belgium, should have expected Wales to level the score by halftime. After all, that’s what the Dragons have done throughout their journey in France.

After tying the game, Wales had the better of the ensuing exchanges. The second half promises to deliver more.

45th minute, 1-1: Hal Robson-Kanu heads Ramsey’s cross on goal, but Courtois catches it at the back post.

43rd minute, 1-1: Williams heads a corner kick high and wide, but Belgium left him unmarked in the penalty area again.

40th minute, 1-1: Wales has been on the front foot since Williams scored. The spirited group is oozing with self-belief and endeavor. Belgium is trying to regain its standing in the contest, as halftime approaches.

34th minute, 1-1: And Wales threatens at the other end. Bale charges down the right and shoots on goal, but Courtois makes a composed diving save.

33rd minute, 1-1: Belgium remains dangerous, as Hennesey tips Carrasco’s cross clear of danger.

30th minute, 1-1: Williams ties the game for Wales.

https://twitter.com/CauldronICYMI/status/748964828991983616

Belgium failed to mark Williams on Aaron Ramsey’s corner kick. How? Why? Regardless of the answer, it’s a terrible mistake.

Williams has never scored a bigger goal for his country, nor has Ramsey set up a more monumental strike at this tournament.


https://twitter.com/STATS_Football/status/748962694758330372

26th minute, 1-0 Belgium: Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois makes an excellent save on Joe Ledley’s shot. Wales can’t believe it hasn’t tied the game on that effort.

24th minute, 1-0 Belgium: Wales left midfielder Chris Gunter receives a yellow card for dragging down de Bruyne.

16th minute, 1-0 Belgium: Wales defender James Chester receives a yellow card for a foul on Romelu Lukaku.

13th minute, 1-0 Belgium: Radja Nainggolan scores the opener, and it’s a stunner.

Wales allowed Nainggolan too much time and space to pick out the corner, and the Belgium midfielder’s good enough to hit that spot.

It’s Nainggolan’s second goal of Euro 2016.

Hazard assisted on Nainggolan’s goal.

Ninth minute, 0-0: Bale fires a powerful shot into the side netting in Wales’ first attempt at goal.

Seventh minute, 0-0: Wales makes a trio of saves and blocks, preventing what seemed like an inevitable Belgium goal from coming.

Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennesey stopped Yannick Carrasco’s effort at the back post. The rebound fell to Thomas Meunier, but Wales center back Neil Taylor blocked the Belgium fullback’s shot. Hazard gathered that rebound, but his shot deflected over the crossbar.

Fifth minute, 0-0: The referee cautions Wales left back Ben Davies for a foul on Kevin de Bruyne. Davies will miss the semifinal if Wales advances.

Second minute, 0-0: The rain and the recently re-laid grass surface will affect how the game unfolds. The ball will move quickly on the slick surface, and some players might struggle with their footing.

Kickoff: The Wales-Belgium Euro 2016 quarterfinal is under way.

Expect some goals in this one.

Pregame: Players to watch? If you only can focus on two, set your eyes on Bale and Hazard.

Denayer and Lukaku step into Belgium’s defense in the absences of Vermaelen and Vertonghen.

Lukaku is Romelu Lukaku’s younger brother, and they join Euro 2016’s parade of siblings.

Belgium’s lineup is dangerously young for a team looking to claim continental honors.

Here are the starting lineups:

Wales

Belgium

1:45 p.m. ET: Belgium isn’t required to travel far to demonstrate its considerable progress to the soccer world.

Belgium plays Wales on Friday at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, France, in the quarterfinals of the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Lille sits just six miles from the France-Belgium border, and the Red Devils can match substance with their high-profile billing by booking a place in the semifinals.

While Belgium must shoulder the weight of expectation, Wales is living its own Euro 2016 dream. Wales hasn’t participated in a major tournament since the 1958 FIFA World Cup, but this current group of Dragons have equaled that year’s quarterfinal finish and become national heroes in their own right. Still, the spirited Wales team wants more from Euro 2016.

Wales and Belgium were in the same Euro 2016 qualifying group. Wales held Belgium to a goal-less draw in Brussels on Nov. 16, 2014, and won 1-0 on June 12, 2015. Belgium is favored over Wales in Friday’s game, but recent history will fill the Welsh with confidence.

Belgium’s strength is in the attacking areas, and its defense will face more scrutiny in the absence of two starters. Jan Vertonghen will miss the rest of the tournament after he tore ankle ligaments this week during practice. Thomas Vermaelen is suspended for the quarterfinal.

Two of Laurent Ciman, Jason Denayer or Jordan Lukaku likely will start in defense for Belgium.

Thankfully for Belgium, winger Eden Hazard has declared himself healthy, having shaken off a thigh problem. Hazard became a professional with French club Lille, and he’s undoubtedly eager to impress in his homecoming.

Wales captain Ashley Williams suffered a shoulder injury in the Round of 16 win over Northern Ireland but has recovered in time to face Belgium.

Wales-Belgium kicks off at 3 p.m. ET. Join us right here for all the action from Lille.

Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images

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