Wales face Belgium in Lille on Friday, knowing full well of the history they shall make should the Red Dragons qualify to the semis at the Euro 2016…no pressure!
Wales manager Chris Coleman says his players “know what’s at stake” as the country prepares for its biggest football match in almost 60 years.
The Dragons have not reached a major finals since they were beaten by Brazil in the last eight of the 1958 World Cup.
Ranked 26th in the world, Wales face a side 24 places above them. However, they beat and drew with Belgium in qualifying for Euro 2016 and have already progressed further than England, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The Dragons have been given a huge boost ahead of the game, as skipper Ashley Williams looks to have recovered from the shoulder injury he picked up in the last sixteen win over Northern Ireland and is set to play in the last eight showdown.
Belgium are facing a mini crisis at the back as they will have to line up without both Thomas Vermaelen and Jan Vertonghen.
Vermaelen is serving a one-game suspension, while Vertonghen is suffered a knee injury in training this week and will also miss out.
Eden Hazard had been struggling with a thigh injury but was back in training on Thursday and is expected to be fit.
Last 5 meetings
- Wales 1-0 Belgium (Euro 2016 qualifying, 2015)
- Belgium 0-0 Wales (Euro 2016 qualifying, 2014)
- Belgium 1-1 Wales (World Cup qualifying, 2013)
- Wales 0-2 Belgium (World Cup qualifying, 2012)
- Belgium 3-2 Wales (World Cup qualifying, 1997)
Recent form
Wales – last 5 games
- Wales 1-0 Northern Ireland (Euro 2016)
- Russia 0-3 Wales (Euro 2016)
- England 2-1 Wales (Euro 2016)
- Wales 2-1 Slovakia (Euro 2016)
- Sweden 3-0 Wales (Friendly)
Belgium – last 5 games
- Hungary 0-4 Belgium (Euro 2016)
- Sweden 0-1 Belgium (Euro 2016)
- Belgium 3-0 Republic of Ireland (Euro 2016)
- Belgium 0-2 Italy (Euro 2016)
- Belgium 3-2 Norway (Friendly)