Qualifying for Euro 2016, was a big enough deal for the people of Wales, but their underdog run couldn’t have been dreamt up by even the maddest of Welshmen.
Whilst Wales were in some regards expected to have a decent tournament, the likes of Bale and Ramsay the standouts in a team composed of players from the top two leagues in England, the run they went on was beyond the realm of expectation.
With a group featuring Russia, Slovakia and neighbours England, it could have been worse.
Things got off to a great start for the Welsh campaign.
They saw off Slovakia 2-1, a Bale free-kick 9 minutes in putting Welsh hearts into motion before Robson-Kanu’s scuffed shot trickled past the keeper to win the game for Wales 9 minutes from time.
England next, and in a tense match, a 92nd-minute winner from Sturridge denied Wales the chance to all but secure qualification.
But when it mattered most, the Welsh delivered.
A 3-0 demolition of Russia, saw Wales top the group, passing England as they drew to Slovakia.
Finishing above England was a big enough victory for most Welsh fans, but the side were hungry for more.
Thanks to being 1st seed, they got a favourable draw against Northern Ireland.
It was a great chance to progress, but at the same time, their opponents would also be fancying their chances.
There’s only one word for the match itself, is drab…
In a game barely worth reporting on, A Mc Auley own goal was the only thing separating the two sides, in an affair that featured just 4 shots on target in total.
But the quality of the game didn’t matter. Wales made it through, and with Belgium waiting, Welsh fans again could be forgiven for thinking “it could be worse”.
Wales’ Biggest Game In 58 Years
With England humiliated by Iceland, the Welsh had plenty reason to be gleeful, but Belgium were a real force and had been establishing themselves as a top national side over the past 6 years.
When match day came, Belgium had to be strong favourites.
Wales were under serious pressure from the off, 3 blocks in a row that saw the Welsh keeper and defenders throwing themselves at the ball had Wales incredibly lucky to just concede a corner.
But the Welsh luck could only last so long.
Anybody who was watching the Serie A around the time would know never to give Radja Nainggolan time to shoot from distance. But with 13 minutes gone, Wales did exactly that.
Hazard rolled the ball back to the midfielder, and he didn’t even need a touch.
Setting himself around the ball, the gentle movement was the perfect amount of momentum to let loose an absolute rocket. It was unstoppable, roaring into the net and with how the game had gone so far, looking like the first of many.
But Wales had an army of supporters in France. A fanbase so passionate they still sang their hearts out when it looked tough.
Determined not to let the fans down, Wales grew into the game, creating chances and testing the keeper.
It wasn’t long before they restored parity.
It was a typical corner. Aaron Ramsay whips the ball in, Center-back Ashley Williams nods it into the corner.
It was 1-1, and while Belgium were definitely a better side, the Welsh had momentum, and when this Welsh side had momentum, they embodied the Red Dragon itself.
The game was back and forth for the rest of the half and continued that way when the match resumed.
A goal was coming, but for who… Chris Kamara?
The Greatest Goal In Welsh History
The man up top for Wales, Hal Robson-Kanu, had made a great account of himself so far, scoring in their first game and showing he was more than good enough to keep his place.
But Robson Kanu was teamless. Championship side Reading had let his contract run out and he was now a free agent, making his performances for Wales all the more incredible.
55 minutes in, Kanu would see his name reverberate around all of Europe…
A long ball to Ramsay saw the Welsh in a dangerous position. However, with only Robson Kanu and 3 defenders in the box, there wasn’t much on.
Ramsay played a perfect chip to the main man, but with 3 defenders around him, Kanu’s only option was to touch it down with his back to goal.
He couldn’t spin and shoot and there was little to pass to. Looking at first, almost uncomfortable on the ball, Kanu defied the expectation of every single football fan watching.
The Cruyff turn had gone out of style in recent years, but boy would it see a resurgence after this.
With a man holding him back, and 2 others on either side, the free agent feigned to pass, swivelling as he flicked the ball behind him with his instep. In one touch he’d beaten 3 men, and had nobody but the goalkeeper to beat.
He slots home, and what a finish it was too.
It seemed unlikely, but Kanu had somehow scored a goal to rival Shaqiri’s Bicycle kick the previous round and, never in football history, will we see a better Cruyff turn.
All of that, from a man without a club. His agent was probably blinded by £’s.
The goal was so good that it received a Puskas nomination. It’s the kind of goal that just doesn’t happen anymore, to see it as it happened was nothing short of jaw-dropping.
It was right out of a video game.
I remember just shouting like Rio Ferdinand does when he sees Messi do something amazing. It’s no surprise when the regular season started, he had his pick of suitors.
Wales still had so much to do though.
Vokes Stokes As Belgium Pokes
Throwing their bodies on the line, Welsh defenders did everything to stop the resulting Belgian onslaught.
With balls pinged into the giant Marouane Fellaini, had it not been for some heroic defensive headers and interceptions, the man-mountain with the bleach-blonde afro could have had a hat-trick.
It’s a massive testament to just how well they defended that Belgium’s chances were entirely restricted to hopeful balls into Fellaini.
This side had Eden Hazard at his peak, Carrasco, Axel Witsel, Nainggolan, Lukaku, De Bruyne, and their only hope was Fellaini’s aerial presence.
They kept them out for another 30 minutes, before finally Wales had another chance, this time to kill the game.
It was almost deja vu. Ramsay has the ball on the wing, with only one man to aim for.
This time instead of a chipped ball to feet, he plays a delightful floated cross that is met superbly by Vokes.
Leaping like a salmon, and flicking the ball to the far corner past Courtois.
The ‘Red Army’ in the crowd were driven to pure pandemonium as they had surely secured a Semi-final for the first time in their history, having bested their biggest achievement so far. Their 1958 World Cup Quarter-final run.
Wales would go on to lose to Portugal in the Semi-final, as Nani and Ronaldo condemned them to a 2-0 defeat.
But for the Belgium match alone, the story of how Wales made it to a semi-final will go down in international football folklore for years to come.
