Belgium
Mon Jun 08, 2015 5:30 am
Belgium beat France for the first time since 2002
Belgium lived up to their billing as second only to world champions Germany in the FIFA rankings with a 4-3 friendly win over France at the Stade de France in Paris.
The last two meetings of the neighbours ended in goalless draws, with Belgium last beating France in May 2002, when Marc Wilmots scored in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win against the then world champions.
But there was no shortage of goals on Sunday night as Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini gave Wilmots' side a 2-0 half-time lead, before second-half strikes from Radja Nainggolan and Eden Hazard appeared to put the result beyond doubt.
Marouane Fellaini scored two in Belgium's 4-3 win
Dynamo Moscow's Mathieu Valbuena scored for the home side from the penalty spot on 53 minutes, just before Chelsea's Hazard slotted home from a penalty moments later.
At 4-1 up and with only minutes remaining, the visitors looked to be in complete control but Nabil Fekir scored his first international goal in the dying minutes when he fired past Thibaut Courtois and Dimitri Payet added an injury-time third for the battling French.
Dimitri Payet: Scored an injury-time consolation goal for France
However it was too little too late as Belgium held on for a rare away victory against their neighbours.
Belgium can now look forward to their crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Wales in Cardiff on Friday - which is live on Sky Sports - in confident mood.
Belgium and Wales are level on 11 points from five matches and tied for top spot in Group B, with Israel two points further back.
The top two teams qualify. Wales have failed to qualify for a major international tournament since the 1958 World Cup ahead of the match at Cardiff City Stadium.
Live on Sky Sports
vs
Wales v Belgium
June 12, 2015 7:00pm
Get a Sky Sports PassUpgrade to Sky Sports
Belgium 17/20
Draw 12/5
Wales 10/3
Belgium lived up to their billing as second only to world champions Germany in the FIFA rankings with a 4-3 friendly win over France at the Stade de France in Paris.
The last two meetings of the neighbours ended in goalless draws, with Belgium last beating France in May 2002, when Marc Wilmots scored in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win against the then world champions.
But there was no shortage of goals on Sunday night as Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini gave Wilmots' side a 2-0 half-time lead, before second-half strikes from Radja Nainggolan and Eden Hazard appeared to put the result beyond doubt.
Marouane Fellaini scored two in Belgium's 4-3 win
Dynamo Moscow's Mathieu Valbuena scored for the home side from the penalty spot on 53 minutes, just before Chelsea's Hazard slotted home from a penalty moments later.
At 4-1 up and with only minutes remaining, the visitors looked to be in complete control but Nabil Fekir scored his first international goal in the dying minutes when he fired past Thibaut Courtois and Dimitri Payet added an injury-time third for the battling French.
Dimitri Payet: Scored an injury-time consolation goal for France
However it was too little too late as Belgium held on for a rare away victory against their neighbours.
Belgium can now look forward to their crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Wales in Cardiff on Friday - which is live on Sky Sports - in confident mood.
Belgium and Wales are level on 11 points from five matches and tied for top spot in Group B, with Israel two points further back.
The top two teams qualify. Wales have failed to qualify for a major international tournament since the 1958 World Cup ahead of the match at Cardiff City Stadium.
Live on Sky Sports
vs
Wales v Belgium
June 12, 2015 7:00pm
Get a Sky Sports PassUpgrade to Sky Sports
Belgium 17/20
Draw 12/5
Wales 10/3
Re: Belgium
Mon Jun 08, 2015 5:32 am
With us at 10/3 going to have a few quid on that 
Re: Belgium
Mon Jun 08, 2015 10:57 pm
Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey says Wales need a result when they face Belgium in the country's 'biggest game' since 2002
Wales face Belgium on Friday in Euro 2016 qualifier in Cardiff
Chris Coleman's team are joint top of Group B with 11 points
'We don't fear' side ranked No2 in the world, insists Aaron Ramsey
By NICK MASHITER, PRESS ASSOCIATION
PUBLISHED: 23:32, 8 June 2015 | UPDATED: 23:32, 8 June 2015
Aaron Ramsey has labelled Wales' clash with Belgium their biggest game in over a decade as they look to take a giant step to Euro 2016.
The teams face off at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday locked at the top of Group B on 11 points.
They drew 0-0 in Brussels in November as Wales bid to qualify for the European Championship for the first time in their history.
And Arsenal midfielder Ramsey believes it is the country's biggest match for years, since beating Italy 2-1 in 2002 during their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign when they finished runners up behind the Azzurri.
He said: 'I wasn't involved then but it's the biggest game Wales have been involved in since then.
'It's probably the biggest game we've played in playing for Wales with this group of players. We are both top of the league at the moment and there's a lot on this game.
'We have started off fantastically and hopefully we can get a result there to put us in a really good position.
'We don't fear them, I don't fear any team I go up against. It's about concentrating on my own personal performance and the team's performance and seeing where that takes us.
'If this group are all switched on together we'll give anyone a game. We're at that stage in our development where we can take on teams like this.'
Gareth Bale is set for a national return after a difficult second season with Real Madrid where he has been singled out for their failings in La Liga and the Champions League.
But Ramsey is eager to link up with the former Tottenham star again.
'Our understanding is really good, he is a top quality player and it's always nice to play with those sort of players,' said the 24-year-old.
'The group we have at the moment is probably the best group we have had.
'I think everybody in the whole team has had to raise their game and bring that togetherness to make us more of a stronger unit.
'That's what this team has been built on. You can see everyone is out there fighting for each other and working their socks off and we have a lot of quality as well when we go forward so we're dangerous.'
Ramsey linked up with the squad having helped Arsenal defend the FA Cup with a 4-0 final win over Aston Villa last month.
The midfielder reckons the Gunners have answered their critics after they also finished third in the Barclays Premier League.
He said: 'I think it was important for us to go on and win that. Having won back to back FA Cups it's not an easy thing to do.
'We have done really well to achieve that and hopefully that puts us into a good place for next season.
'As long as we can keep everyone fit, we'll have a great opportunity.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z3cVwlSq9s
Wales face Belgium on Friday in Euro 2016 qualifier in Cardiff
Chris Coleman's team are joint top of Group B with 11 points
'We don't fear' side ranked No2 in the world, insists Aaron Ramsey
By NICK MASHITER, PRESS ASSOCIATION
PUBLISHED: 23:32, 8 June 2015 | UPDATED: 23:32, 8 June 2015
Aaron Ramsey has labelled Wales' clash with Belgium their biggest game in over a decade as they look to take a giant step to Euro 2016.
The teams face off at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday locked at the top of Group B on 11 points.
They drew 0-0 in Brussels in November as Wales bid to qualify for the European Championship for the first time in their history.
And Arsenal midfielder Ramsey believes it is the country's biggest match for years, since beating Italy 2-1 in 2002 during their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign when they finished runners up behind the Azzurri.
He said: 'I wasn't involved then but it's the biggest game Wales have been involved in since then.
'It's probably the biggest game we've played in playing for Wales with this group of players. We are both top of the league at the moment and there's a lot on this game.
'We have started off fantastically and hopefully we can get a result there to put us in a really good position.
'We don't fear them, I don't fear any team I go up against. It's about concentrating on my own personal performance and the team's performance and seeing where that takes us.
'If this group are all switched on together we'll give anyone a game. We're at that stage in our development where we can take on teams like this.'
Gareth Bale is set for a national return after a difficult second season with Real Madrid where he has been singled out for their failings in La Liga and the Champions League.
But Ramsey is eager to link up with the former Tottenham star again.
'Our understanding is really good, he is a top quality player and it's always nice to play with those sort of players,' said the 24-year-old.
'The group we have at the moment is probably the best group we have had.
'I think everybody in the whole team has had to raise their game and bring that togetherness to make us more of a stronger unit.
'That's what this team has been built on. You can see everyone is out there fighting for each other and working their socks off and we have a lot of quality as well when we go forward so we're dangerous.'
Ramsey linked up with the squad having helped Arsenal defend the FA Cup with a 4-0 final win over Aston Villa last month.
The midfielder reckons the Gunners have answered their critics after they also finished third in the Barclays Premier League.
He said: 'I think it was important for us to go on and win that. Having won back to back FA Cups it's not an easy thing to do.
'We have done really well to achieve that and hopefully that puts us into a good place for next season.
'As long as we can keep everyone fit, we'll have a great opportunity.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z3cVwlSq9s