" WERE NOT AFRAID OF THEM "

Euro 2016: Wales not afraid of Belgium - Chris Coleman


Thurs 4th June 2015

Euro 2016 qualifier: Wales v Belgium
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Friday, 12 June Kick-off:

Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and the BBC Sport website


Manager Chris Coleman says Wales have nothing to fear in their Euro 2016 qualifier against Belgium in Cardiff on 12 June, despite their opponents now being ranked second in the world.
Belgium have moved to their highest ever position in the Fifa rankings and top Euro 2016 qualifying Group B, with Wales second on goal difference only.


Wales, unbeaten after three wins and two draws, are aiming to reach a first major tournament finals since 1958.
"We're not afraid," said Coleman.
"If you're going to do anything in football, if you're going to win a league or qualify in international football, you know you're going to be in a group where there are at least two extremely talented teams.
"Belgium are magnificent and there comes a time when you need to stand up to that challenge.
"We're against a top, top team, ranked second in the world, and they're there on merit. [But] there's no fear in our camp."
Belgium
Belgium were ranked in 71st place in 2007

"We've just got to go out and perform and concentrate on the performance, I keep saying it.
"We've got to go and produce the type of performances that have made the Welsh public proud of their national football team again. We've got to keep continuing that."

The Belgians possess a talented squad and have experienced an upturn in fortunes recently, getting to the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

But Wales, who have dropped down a place to 22nd in the latest Fifa rankings, can go top of Group B if they beat Marc Wilmots' side at Cardiff City Stadium.


Coleman says the nation is right to be excited after Wales' best start to a campaign since 2003.
"We're not going to say to the Welsh public, 'Keep calm'. They've got every right to get excited," he added.
"We just need to live up to the expectation. We have so far and that's why everyone is getting so excited.
"If we win the game, it doesn't mean we're guaranteed to qualify and, equally, if we don't get the three points, it doesn't mean we won't.
"It's another huge game. It's bigger than the last one and, every time we get a big result, the next one is even bigger."

I like Coleman after Gary Speed Wales took time to rebuild but in fairness to Coleman he gets the best out of Bale and Ramsey he had some experienced pros in the side as well as bringing future players to the team.

On paper Belgium should win however with the heart, passion and togetherness Coleman has brought to the team, squad,coaching, management and fans no matter what the result is everyone will still be pulling together.

I would love cardiff to be same one day.

Wales fans chanted Coleman out after a few poor results and a bad campaign for the world cup. It shows he needed time and to be given a chance. So why can't people do the same with Slade? There's no excuses now.

Wales fans chanted Coleman out after a few poor results and a bad campaign for the world cup. It shows he needed time and to be given a chance. So why can't people do the same with Slade? There's no excuses now.

Coleman is judged over a game every few months. Personally I still think he will mess it up. Got lucky a few times already thanks to Bale.

Slade we have seen consistantly not have a clue and look totally out of his depth. Cheap car salesman, he doesn't train them, random team selection and awful football consistantly.

I'm still no fan of Coleman and like a few have stated on here, my own feelings have been that our success is a result of what Speed put in place after his own shaky start. That said, if you criticise when the performances are under par then you should praise when things are going right, so if Coleman is a catalyst in further galvanising Speeds framework then I'm right behind him although still unconvinced as to his authenticity. And as posters have stated, I do feel managers need to be given time to build. I'll get behind RS for this reason but I do feel that he is still trying to punch above his weight with a recently PL relegated Championship club with 'apparent' ambition to get back up.

If we beat Belgium I will worship him as the new messiah

If we beat Belgium I will ask Owain to delete or edit my anti-Coleman posts so that I can refer back to them in I-Told-You-He-Was-Good smug threads. Is this OK Owain? Usual rates?

If we beat Belgium I will ask Owain to delete or edit my anti-Coleman posts so that I can refer back to them in I-Told-You-He-Was-Good smug threads. Is this OK Owain? Usual rates?

Fifa rankings baffle me. How are they 2nd in the World? They hardly pulled up trees in the last World Cup.

Fifa rankings baffle me. How are they 2nd in the World? They hardly pulled up trees in the last World Cup.

I agree - a mystery. But I guess that the FIFA rankings algorhithim is as corrupt as they are.

Fifa rankings baffle me. How are they 2nd in the World? They hardly pulled up trees in the last World Cup.

Neil, I agree bloody hell, We both agree

Wales fans chanted Coleman out after a few poor results and a bad campaign for the world cup. It shows he needed time and to be given a chance. So why can't people do the same with Slade? There's no excuses now.

Coleman is judged over a game every few months. Personally I still think he will mess it up. Got lucky a few times already thanks to Bale.

Slade we have seen consistantly not have a clue and look totally out of his depth. Cheap car salesman, he doesn't train them, random team selection and awful football consistantly.

I'm sorry, but that is absolutely nonsensical. You obviously have no sense of how Wales operate nowadays.

Fifa rankings baffle me. How are they 2nd in the World? They hardly pulled up trees in the last World Cup.

They're as high as they are because of consistency. They haven't really beaten any top sides, but they win most games.

I hope the players don't look at the rankings but concentrate on the result last time we played them a 0-0 draw at their place so same again please or maybe one step better C'MON WALES

Fifa rankings baffle me. How are they 2nd in the World? They hardly pulled up trees in the last World Cup.

Neil, I agree bloody hell, We both agree

You agree with me Annis which you would most of the time if you had sense.

Fifa rankings baffle me. How are they 2nd in the World? They hardly pulled up trees in the last World Cup.

Neil, I agree bloody hell, We both agree

It's ok lads, well knock them down a few places when we stuff them on Friday!

Fifa rankings baffle me. How are they 2nd in the World? They hardly pulled up trees in the last World Cup.

My thoughts exactly. There's no doubting the class of their individual players but as a team they've far from reached their potential. I would actually be disappointed if we didn't get at least a draw. I really think in terms of team cohesion, we are in a better place than them.