England 2-1 Wales: Martin Keown's big match ratings - Wayne Rooney leads the way as he pulls the strings in Lens

Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy were Roy Hodgson's super subs as their second-half goals rescued a 2-1 win for England over Wales at Euro 2016.
With England trailing at half-time to Gareth Bale's outrageous free-kick, the two strikers were introduced at the break and made the difference.
Vardy soon levelled the game up before Sturridge struck in added time to win the game.

ENGLAND
JOE HART: Joe will be disappointed with his error for Bale’s goal. He’s a top keeper and after the Welshman scored with a very similar effort against Slovakia, he should have seen this coming. 5
KYLE WALKER: One of England’s best players, along with Rooney. He really carried the fight for us with his superb drive and energy down the right. I’ve not seen a better right back at this competition. 8
CHRIS SMALLING: He is really growing into his role as a senior England player and his understanding with Cahill is improving. Neither centre half had a great deal to do, but they dealt with what came along. 7
GARY CAHILL: I can't fault either of the centre halves and Cahill looked very composed. They came out on top in their battles with Robson-Kanu and also nipped Wales’s counter-attacking in the bud. 7
DANNY ROSE: Rose was solid defensively and I love his tenacity and positive mentality. Needs to work on his quality in the final third, though, and could perhaps get forward even more.7


ERIC DIER: Has become important to England’s solidity. Does an excellent job in front of the back four and used his pace to good effect. Would like to see him show more creativity with his passing. 7
DELE ALLI: Great energy and was willing to break. With him alongside Rooney and Dier, we have a bit of everything in midfield. It was reassuring to see him running back to tackle Bale, too. 7.5
WAYNE ROONEY (captain): Was excellent pulling the strings and I think we take him for granted. The way he punched the ball from sideline to sideline reminded me of Paul Scholes, and it was punishing for Wales. 8.5
ADAM LALLANA: Showed good creativity and linked well. Did unseen work in winning the ball back, but it was the right call to take him off. May come under pressure for his place from Vardy or Rashford. 7.5
DANIEL STURRIDGE (on for Kane at HT): Took a while to get into the game, firing a few efforts off target, but never lacks confidence. Superb footwork for the goal — no way he should have been able to score from where he started. 7.5
JAMIE VARDY (on for Sterling at HT): His hot streak in front of goal — and his fairy-tale season — continues. Showed excellent predatory instinct in the box. Gives Roy a headache whether to start him against Slovakia. 7

STARTERS
HARRY KANE (off for Sturridge at half-time): 5.5
RAHEEM STERLING (off for Vardy at half-time): 5
SUBSTITUTE: MARCUS RASHFORD (for Lallana 73): 7
ROY HODGSON: Roy could see his players had lost their way in the first half and I was impressed with his decisiveness to change things at half-time. Gave his team belief. 7.5

WALES
WAYNE HENNESSEY: He had a painkilling injection in his back before the game and did well to put in a solid performance. Made a good save from Rooney and didn’t really have a chance with either goal. 7
CHRIS GUNTER: Will be disappointed he was outmuscled by Sturridge for the winner when he could have saved his side. Remains an important player and got forward well to support attacks. 6
JAMES CHESTER: Solid performance. Kept his discipline and pinched the ball off England’s forwards a few times, though he struggled to bring the ball out of defence in the way he did against Slovakia. 7

ASHLEY WILLIAMS (captain): He will wonder if he could have prevented his header falling to Vardy for equaliser but I’m not sure there was a lot he could have done. Made a couple of really good challenges. 7.5
BEN DAVIES: Tough afternoon with most of England’s attack coming down his side, but he kept his shape well. Lucky to get away with two handball appeals around the box. 6
NEIL TAYLOR: Had a chasing by Walker and suffered for having no protection in front of him. Once Walker realised he was quicker, he kept darting to the byline and outpaced Taylor time after time. 5.5
JOE LEDLEY: It was remarkable he made it on to the pitch at all after his broken leg, let alone the starting XI. Struggled with the pace of the game but could not have done much more for Wales. 6
JOE ALLEN: One of Wales’s better ball-players but they couldn’t get the ball to him as much as they would have liked. Outnumbered in midfield with Sterling and Lallana moving inside. 6.5
AARON RAMSEY: Typified Wales’s gallant effort. He was everywhere, making a real nuisance of himself by closing down England’s midfielders and defenders. Good on the ball — where he has improved a lot. 7.5

HAL ROBSON-KANU: Battled manfully against Cahill and Smalling and chased a lot of loose balls. Bought free-kicks to relieve pressure and won a couple of balls he had no right to. 6.5
GARETH BALE: I don’t know what he was doing shooting from there! It should have been saved but take nothing away from his free-kick. It took a tag-team operation by England to stifle his threat. 7.5


SUBSTITUTES:
DAVID EDWARDS 6
JONNY WILLIAMS 6
CHRIS COLEMAN: He didn’t have a lot of say in his team’s goal, but he makes Bale and Ramsey feel 10 feet tall. He will be gutted they couldn’t see the job through, though. 6
REFEREE - FELIX BRYCH: Did well to spot that Williams's header meant Vardy wasn't offside. Let the game flow – it’s always a good sign when you don’t notice the referee! 8


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Find out if the team is on top form or playing badly based on their recent last 5 matches results.
The latest results is listed on the left. For example, WWDLL means their last match is a win.

Spain Matches Win Draw Lose
Overall 1 1 0 0
Home 1 1 0 0
Away 0 0 0 0
Turkey Matches Win Draw Lose
Overall 1 0 0 1
Home 1 0 0 1
Away 0 0 0 0
Head to Head Summary

[ Home Overall Away ]

You are now viewing the overall H2H results of Spain and Turkey. You may also check the H2H stats based on Spain home ground. Alternatively, you can see the results based on Turkey home ground.

Team Played Win Draw Lose Score Goals Scored Goals Allowed
Spain 7 4 2 1 11:5 1.57 0.71
Turkey 7 1 2 4 5:11 0.71 1.57
Past H2H Results and Match Fixtures

This section contains a breakdown of their results in the past seasons.

Click on the plus sign (+) to view the goalscorers, yellow and red cards for the matches.

Date Competition Home Score Away HT
17/06/2016 European Championship 2016 France Spain
20:00 Turkey O
01/04/2009 WC Qualification Europe 2010 South Africa Turkey
1 - 2
Spain
1-0
O
+
28/03/2009 WC Qualification Europe 2010 South Africa Spain
1 - 0
Turkey
0-0
O
+
31/05/1967 EC Qualification 1968 Italy [N] Spain
2 - 0
Turkey
0-0
O
+
01/02/1967 EC Qualification 1968 Italy Turkey
0 - 0
Spain
0-0
O
+
17/03/1954 WC Qualification Europe 1954 Switzerland Turkey
2 - 2
Spain O
+
14/03/1954 WC Qualification Europe 1954 Switzerland Turkey
1 - 0
Spain O
+
06/01/1954 WC Qualification Europe 1954 Switzerland Spain
4 - 1
Turkey


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#EURO TEAM NEWS

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque may decide to change things in his forward line after Alvaro Morata missed several chances against the Czech Republic.

Aritz Aduriz, who impressed off the bench, could come in and midfielder Thiago Alcantara is also pushing for a start.

Turkey coach Fatih Terim had two absentees in training this week.

Midfielder Mehmet Topal has an injury to his right leg and defender Gokhan Gonul has a stomach problem.

MATCH PREVIEW

The overwhelming feeling emanating from the Spain camp after their win over an obdurate Czech Republic side was one of sheer relief. Despite their recent success, it was the first time they had won the opening game of a European Championships or World Cup since Euro 2008. Getting three points on the board was vital for the squad's confidence.

However, it was a far from polished performance and did little to dispel pre-tournament fears that they lack the firepower to see teams off.

Turkey face an uphill battle to end a 62-year wait for a victory over Spain, especially given how disappointing they were in their opening defeat against Croatia. Coach Fatih Terim said that his team had "dropped physically" and they will need a significantly better display if they are to avoid going defeat.

They have come in for heavy criticism back home, with star man and captain Arda Turan singled out. The Barcelona player was hauled off after 65 minutes after an ineffectual display and subsequently went on Turkish television to apologise and ask for "forgiveness".

I believe the spanish team have a game to handle but with the quest for victory, i hope they come out victorious, holding out to the fact that the team is well built.
I don't think they will be the kind of team to sit back and not take the initiative, they will be after possession, they have bold players, they have brave players. They'll give a good account of themselves in the face of whatever team is thrown at them.

We are well aware that Spain like to have the ball and boast some of the best passes in the world. Terim's men must be ready to run their legs off to exploit any counterattacks and must be clinical with the chances they create if they still want to be in contention.

Italy v Sweden, Euro 2016 LIVE: All the action from Toulouse as Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks to down Antonio Conte's men
Italy face Sweden in their Group E clash in Toulouse on Friday afternoon
Italy: Buffon, Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli, Candreva, Giaccherini, De Rossi, Parolo, Florenzi, Eder, Pelle
Sweden: Isaksson, Lindelof, Johansson, Granqvist, Olsson, Larsson, Ekdal, Kallstrom, Forsberg, Guidetti, Ibrahimovic

Can Zlatan reach a milestone?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is looking to become the first man to score at four European Championships when he plays this afternoon.
Can he reach that historic achievement with a goal against the Italians?
Sweden will certainly be hoping so, especially given their hugely disappointing display against the Republic of Ireland. The presence of John Guidetti may help Ibrahimovic to improve from that performance.

Can Zlatan reach a milestone?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is looking to become the first man to score at four European Championships when he plays this afternoon.
Can he reach that historic achievement with a goal against the Italians?
Sweden will certainly be hoping so, especially given their hugely disappointing display against the Republic of Ireland. The presence of John Guidetti may help Ibrahimovic to improve from that performance.

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Euro 2016 matches are being increasingly decided by those coming off the bench... it's not how you start, it's how you finish

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The language of football is changing; no longer can the word ‘finisher’ be used to talk exclusively about a striker. It has a crucial new meaning.
Is the team that ends a game — ‘the finishers’ — now more important than the team that starts? A significant theme is developing at Euro 2016 and that is matches being profoundly influenced by those coming off the bench.
Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge turned England’s clash with Wales upside down but the same was true with Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba when France squeezed past Albania, Hal Robson-Kanu in Wales’s success against Slovakia and Niall McGinn against Ukraine in Northern Ireland’s greatest night at a tournament since 1982.


No longer is this game just about the 11 men who start. This is a 14-man contest, one in which everyone who sits on the bench must be sharp, wise and alert to come on and make the decisive contribution when called upon.
This statistics emphasise the point. Thirty-four goals had been scored in this tournament by the end of play on Thursday night but 10 of them did not arrive until at least the 87th minute. With more space and players tiring, it is in the final moments when the substitutes can wreak havoc.

Gerard Houllier used to preach that message when he was my manager at Liverpool. When he used to tell players they were going to be substitute, he would make a point of saying: ‘You have got 30 seconds to be disappointed, then you must be ready.’
He hated the idea that some individuals would sulk if they were not in the starting XI and would be furious if that led to a loss of focus. Houllier was adamant that substitutes would, more often than not, win you a game.

It also used to enrage Houllier if he saw any player on the bench not celebrating when Liverpool scored. He promoted the value of everyone being in it together and that came to my mind when I saw all of England’s players sprinting down the line to engulf Sturridge.
Even Harry Kane got involved. He could have easily stayed behind, having endured the disappointment of being taken off, but he was in the thick of it and that points to an outstanding team spirit.
When substitutes have the impact of Vardy and Sturridge, is a manager a tactical genius or did he get the team wrong from the start? The second part of that question was asked about Roy Hodgson in Lens but I couldn’t say he picked the wrong side.
Look at it another way: if Raheem Sterling and Joe Hart do what they are supposed to in the opening 45 minutes — convert a straightforward chance and keep out a shot in the middle of goal — England go into the interval leading 1-0 and no questions are asked about the selection.

Ireland v Belgium, Euro 2016 LIVE

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WWW.PALMCHATNOW.COMWelcome to Saturday at Euro 2016!

Bonjour et bienvenue...
It is the day nine of Euro 2016 and, once again, we've a triple-header of matches stacked up for you this afternoon and into the evening.
Later on, Group F takes centre stage as Hungary face Iceland and Portugal play Austria.
But first, an absolutely crucial match in Group E as the Republic Of Ireland take on Belgium in Bordeaux with both sides hoping for their first win of the tournament.
Kick-off is at 2pm and we have all the build-up and team news to come for you.

Roy Hodgson is ready to take a huge Euro 2016 gamble by resting captain Wayne Rooney for Monday night’s clash against Slovakia.
The England manager is contemplating making six changes to the team that started Thursday’s win over Wales for the final Group B clash. Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Dele Alli, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose are all set to be left out despite England having to win to guarantee finishing top of the group.
But Rooney is the biggest casualty as Hodgson looks to refresh his team ahead of the knockout stages. Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy, who both scored after coming off the bench against Wales, are poised to take the two attacking positions up for grabs.


Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson are set to start their first game of the Euros, replacing Alli and Rooney, while Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand are expected to start as Hodgson rotates his full-backs.
It is a huge gamble by Hodgson as wins for Slovakia and Wales (against Russia) will leave England qualifying in third place and facing a tougher last-16 opponent.

Time for Daniel Sturridge to deliver on the biggest stage for England with striker set to start against Slovakia in Group B clash


England's most talented centre forward will be in Roy Hodgson’s starting line-up in Saint-Etienne and that should really be a cause for great comfort. But with Daniel Sturridge things are never that straightforward.
Sturridge is the player that nobody really feels they know and as such Monday’s Group B meeting against Slovakia may go some way to tipping the argument regarding his merits one way or the other.
The Liverpool centre forward is in the team partly because of others’ failings, most notably Tottenham’s Harry Kane. He is also playing because of the way he created and scored the winning goal against Wales last Thursday. That passage of play summed up perfectly the attributes of a footballer of rare gifts.

What we cannot be sure we will get, however, is a 90-minute performance of note from the 26-year-old. Nobody has been sure of that for a while. Not Hodgson, not Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and not his predecessor at Anfield Brendan Rodgers. Maybe not even Sturridge himself.
Since he finally returned from injury in the latter half of last season, Sturridge has presented flashes of his capabilities and some of them have been quite memorable. His goal in the Europa League final against Sevilla in Basel was a beauty and went some way to edging him in to Hodgson’s final 23-man squad.


‘You set a bar, a level and if you don’t reach that bar straightaway people start to question, “what’s going on here?”
‘Players go through ups and downs in their careers… it’s inevitable.
‘It’s about bouncing back from adversities and believing in yourself, and keeping believing in yourself.’
Some footballers can use slights and criticism to drive them on through their career, to help during big games. Hodgson’s No 2 with England, former Manchester United full back Gary Neville, was one such player.
This does not seem to be the case with Sturridge. It would appear that he needs to feel fully at peace to perform at his best.
A natural goalscorer, Sturridge, who started his career at Manchester City, can be an effective substitute. He can adapt to the rhythm of a game quickly. He doesn’t need time.
His challenge is to prove he is better than the role of a substitute. Those among the Liverpool support who criticise him would do well to remember the part he played in partnership with Luis Suarez the season Rodgers almost led the club to the Premier League title in 2014.

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MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Northern Ireland have won only twice in 14 meetings with Germany (D4, L8).
Those two wins came in qualifying for the 1984 European Championship. That is the only time that a team has beaten Germany/West Germany both home and away in a qualifying campaign.
Current Northern Ireland assistant boss Jimmy Nicholl played in both of those fixtures.
Northern Ireland's 1-0 away win in November 1983 remains their last victory against Germany. Norman Whiteside scored the winning goal that day.
This is their first meeting at a major tournament since the 1958 World Cup. They drew 2-2 in that encounter in Malmo as both teams progressed to the quarter-finals.
Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland have lost only one of their last 14 internationals (W7, D6).
They have not conceded more than one goal in their last 15 internationals, since they lost 2-0 in qualifying to Romania in November 2014.
Seven of Northern Ireland's last 10 goals in competitive games have come from set-pieces (four from corners, three from indirect free-kicks).
Northern Ireland went from two shots (zero on target) in their Euro 2016 opener against Poland to 13 shots (seven on target) in their second outing against Ukraine.
Germany

The last time Germany failed to make it out of the group stages of a major tournament was at Euro 2004. Since then, they've made the last four at every single major competition.
Germany have won 12 of their last 15 games at major tournaments, drawing two and losing one - that was a 2-1 defeat to Italy in the Euro 2012 semi-finals.
Thomas Muller hasn't scored or assisted a single goal in seven games at the Euros. He's had just one shot on target in 180 minutes so far at Euro 2016.
Muller has scored 10 goals and provided six assists in 13 World Cup games.

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USA 0-4 Argentina: Lionel Messi sets new national goalscoring record as Tata Martino's side reach Copa America final


A pitch-invader sprinted onto the surface and headed straight for Lionel Messi. Reaching the Argentine star, who became his country's all-time top scorer here, he hit the deck and bowed down several times at his feet. He was the only man who got close to Messi all night, and he spoke for the stadium.
The No 10's gravity-defying free-kick sent Argentina flying into the Copa America Centenario final, and Messi set up goals for Ezequiel Lavezzi and Gonzalo Higuain as well, pulling the strings as he closes in on the title which will make his legend undeniable.
The USA were forced into several changes by suspensions to key players Jermaine Jones, Bobby Wood and Alejandro Bedoya, who had started every game thus far, but it wasn't the reason they were taken to pieces by Argentina. No - that was the distance in quality between the teams.


Jurgen Klinsmann's team didn't have a shot all night, on or off target. It was more of a chasm than a gap.
From start to finish this was Messi's game. In the fourth minute he played a superb chipped pass into the box which confused the USA backline and left goalkeeper Brad Guzan without a clue what to do.
Lavezzi ghosted in and, in an ocean of space, headed the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The NRG stadium exploded. Argentina fans celebrating wildly, US supporters awed by Messi's pass.
Almost everything positive came through the Barcelona No 10. In the eighth minute he fired over, then eight minutes later sailed past three players before Guzan fielded his strike from the edge of the box.
The next time Messi ran at the United States' defence, it ended up in a goal. Chris Wondolowski took him out on the edge of the box and picked up a yellow card for his trouble. Which was only just beginning.
Messi placed the ball and stared at Guzan's goal. The space was to the left, the stopper almost inviting him to put it on that side. But never one to shirk a challenge, Messi launched a simply unstoppable free-kick into the top right corner.
It was one of the very best goals of his career, a fitting way to surge past Gabriel Batistuta as the country's leading goal scorer. Batigol has 54, which Messi equalled in the previous round against Venezuela.

USA 0-4 Argentina: Lionel Messi sets new national goalscoring record as Tata Martino's side reach Copa America final


A pitch-invader sprinted onto the surface and headed straight for Lionel Messi. Reaching the Argentine star, who became his country's all-time top scorer here, he hit the deck and bowed down several times at his feet. He was the only man who got close to Messi all night, and he spoke for the stadium.
The No 10's gravity-defying free-kick sent Argentina flying into the Copa America Centenario final, and Messi set up goals for Ezequiel Lavezzi and Gonzalo Higuain as well, pulling the strings as he closes in on the title which will make his legend undeniable.
The USA were forced into several changes by suspensions to key players Jermaine Jones, Bobby Wood and Alejandro Bedoya, who had started every game thus far, but it wasn't the reason they were taken to pieces by Argentina. No - that was the distance in quality between the teams.


Jurgen Klinsmann's team didn't have a shot all night, on or off target. It was more of a chasm than a gap.
From start to finish this was Messi's game. In the fourth minute he played a superb chipped pass into the box which confused the USA backline and left goalkeeper Brad Guzan without a clue what to do.
Lavezzi ghosted in and, in an ocean of space, headed the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The NRG stadium exploded. Argentina fans celebrating wildly, US supporters awed by Messi's pass.
Almost everything positive came through the Barcelona No 10. In the eighth minute he fired over, then eight minutes later sailed past three players before Guzan fielded his strike from the edge of the box.
The next time Messi ran at the United States' defence, it ended up in a goal. Chris Wondolowski took him out on the edge of the box and picked up a yellow card for his trouble. Which was only just beginning.
Messi placed the ball and stared at Guzan's goal. The space was to the left, the stopper almost inviting him to put it on that side. But never one to shirk a challenge, Messi launched a simply unstoppable free-kick into the top right corner.
It was one of the very best goals of his career, a fitting way to surge past Gabriel Batistuta as the country's leading goal scorer. Batigol has 54, which Messi equalled in the previous round against Venezuela.

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Wales ready for the 'game of their lives' as they look to create history against Belgium

As Wales players tried to avoid causing too many divots during their walkabout on the patchwork pitch at Lille's Stade Pierre-Mauroy, a few placed video-calls to loved ones.
Neil Taylor pulled faces at his young children, Ashley Williams circled the camera on his phone to show those on the other end the venue that will this evening stage the most significant game in Wales' history.
Before heading back down the tunnel, the whole squad united in a huge arc to get a photograph stored as memento. But this was not a grand farewell to France, no last act of tourists about to head home.
Chris Coleman's side have already surpassed expectations yet there remains a hard resolve to extend this journey, to create more moments worthy of capturing through a lens.
It was slightly different the last time Wales reached a quarter-final on their only other appearance at a major tournament. Monochrome pictures show their game against Brazil from the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, decided by a 17-year-old Pele.
Wales were shorn of John Charles for the encounter after the great player sustained injury in the previous round against Hungary through targeted tactics. Coleman touched upon that, revealing Cliff Jones, the wing wizard of that era, had visited the squad before the Euros to share his memories.

'We were talking about the experiences they had,' said Coleman. 'When those players arrived back in Swansea off the train and they were asked if they'd been on holiday because nobody knew about the World Cup.
'Obviously it is a lot different nowadays, but I am quite sure it meant the same to them as us. I don't need to ham this game up, we know what's at stake. It's a positive pressure we've earned. We've experienced the other pressure, which is tougher.'
Just as 58 years ago, health diagnoses have underpinned the build-up. For Wales, Ashley Williams declared himself fit after a sustaining a shoulder injury against Northern Ireland, but Belgium were dealt a blow with Jan Vertonghen twisting his ankle with the last touch of training on Thursday morning.

'I blew the whistle to stop the session and he went down as he controlled the ball,' said manager Marc Wilmots on the injury which a scan later confirmed will lay up Vertonghen for six to eight weeks. 'He has torn ligaments. It is a sporting tragedy. Fate decided that a movement he has done 10,000 times means he is out for the remainder of the tournament.'
There was an echo of Glenn McGrath's untimely injury from the 2005 Ashes in the circumstances and Wales will hope the impact is as meaningful. Wilmots has to call upon left-back Jordan Lukaku, the 21-year-old who has just four caps to his name, with Jason Denayer, also 21 and with seven caps, already in for the suspended Thomas Vermaelen at centre-back.
Vertonghen and Vermaelen have 138 caps between them and you can imagine Gareth Bale savouring the opportunity to test the inexperienced international defence in their place.


Bale has already revelled in calling Wales Belgium's 'bogey team' based on three unbeaten matches in a row and victory from the last encounter a year ago. Wilmots refuted that narrative. 'They are by no means a bête noir,' he said. 'They are a tricky side, they scrap and have two or three players who can go anywhere and that's dangerous.'
A sound summation, but there was a misstep when Wilmots claimed James Collins — without any minutes in France — had operated as a libero in Wales' last game, presumably getting confused with Williams.
Coleman was also up for some tactical talk, perhaps irked that his side have been characterised predominantly as resolute. 'They're deemed an offensive team but if you look at the facts, they've scored eight goals,' he said. 'We're deemed a defensive team and we've scored seven. Five of their goals have come from counter-attacks, two from set plays, and one from open play.

'They'll play the way they play: imagination, pace and power. But we'll play the way we play. When it is time to defend we'll do it for our lives, and when it is time to attack we will attack with our lives. If we do that Belgium will know they will be in for a hell of a game.'
Eden Hazard has shaken off a thigh complaint to feature and conceded his side will have their work cut out. 'We didn't create too many chances against Wales in recent times,' he said. 'They have a large defensive block, five at the back, and it is difficult to displace. And they have a superstar up front.'
As he did in Cardiff last June, Bale is capable of deciding this game. That would mean a semi-final date in Lyon on Wednesday and more messages home. Coleman has been speaking to his mum and sisters back in Swansea.


'They'll play the way they play: imagination, pace and power. But we'll play the way we play. When it is time to defend we'll do it for our lives, and when it is time to attack we will attack with our lives. If we do that Belgium will know they will be in for a hell of a game.'
Eden Hazard has shaken off a thigh complaint to feature and conceded his side will have their work cut out. 'We didn't create too many chances against Wales in recent times,' he said. 'They have a large defensive block, five at the back, and it is difficult to displace. And they have a superstar up front.'
As he did in Cardiff last June, Bale is capable of deciding this game. That would mean a semi-final date in Lyon on Wednesday and more messages home. Coleman has been speaking to his mum and sisters back in Swansea.


'They'll play the way they play: imagination, pace and power. But we'll play the way we play. When it is time to defend we'll do it for our lives, and when it is time to attack we will attack with our lives. If we do that Belgium will know they will be in for a hell of a game.'
Eden Hazard has shaken off a thigh complaint to feature and conceded his side will have their work cut out. 'We didn't create too many chances against Wales in recent times,' he said. 'They have a large defensive block, five at the back, and it is difficult to displace. And they have a superstar up front.'
As he did in Cardiff last June, Bale is capable of deciding this game. That would mean a semi-final date in Lyon on Wednesday and more messages home. Coleman has been speaking to his mum and sisters back in Swansea.

Wales are preparing for the biggest game in their history when they play Portugal in Lyon on Wednesday for a place in the final of Euro 2016.

Chris Coleman's side have already enjoyed a memorable run to reach their first semi-final at their only major tournament since 1958.

England are the only British team to have reached the final of a World Cup or European Championship, 50 years ago.

"We'll be the underdogs, but we believe in each other," said manager Coleman.

Jonathan Ford, chairman of the Football Association of Wales, told BBC Sport: "It is history in the making, it's a dream come true.

"These players will run through brick walls for us. This has been a fantastic demonstration of team spirit, team morale, teamwork.

"Sport and culture are the two things that really help us define Wales and the Welsh people."

More than half of Wales' population of three million are expected to watch their country take on regular European semi-finalists Portugal - eclipsing the national television record for a sporting event, which was only set on Friday for their 3-1 quarter-final victory over Belgium.

The Prince of Wales sent the team a "huge good luck" message, saying: "I'm sure they have got a very good chance of beating Portugal. Everyone here will be keeping their fingers crossed."

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Cristiano Ronaldo was in tears after premature Euro 2016 final exit but talisman returned as 'Ron Manager' to inspire Portugal to glory from touchline

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Cristiano Ronaldo was in tears after premature Euro 2016 final exit but talisman returned as 'Ron Manager' to inspire Portugal to glory from touchline

Will Ronaldo become Portugal next coach?

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