' MATCH THREAD ' WALES V BELGIUM ' MATCH THREAD '

WALES V BELGIUM
European Championship Qualifiers
Friday 12th June 2015 7.45pm.
Cardiff City Stadium

" PRESS CONFERENCE "
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=159126

A total sell out



Wales (4-2-3-1): Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, Williams, Taylor; Ledley, Allen; Robson-Kanu, Ramsey, Bale; Vokes.

Belgium (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Lombaerts, Vertonghen; Nainggolan, Witsel; Chadli, De Bruyne, Hazard; Benteke. Referee: Felix Brych (Ger).

Kick-off: 7.45pm. TV: Sky Sports 5.

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots confirms Man Utd's Marouane Fellaini is OUT of Friday's Euro 2016 qualifier against Wales with a groin injury.

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Latest News

Chris Coleman sends a message to Wales fans ahead of the crunch match against Belgium. See his message: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=159061

The FAW have announced that Zombie Nation will be played before the game.
Watch wales fans singing against Belgium in November:



Possible Lineups

Wales

1 Hennessey
19 Collins
6 Williams A
5 Davies
2 Gunter
7 Allen
16 Ledley
3 Taylor
11 Bale
10 Ramsey
9 Robson-Kanu

Belgium

1 Courtois
2 Alderweireld
18 Denayer
3 Lombaerts
5 Vertonghen
6 Witsel
4 Nainggolan
8 Fellaini
14 Mertens
9 Benteke
10 Hazard E

Preview

The top two in Group B meet at Cardiff City Stadium for a 19.45 kick-off on Friday night, the game shown live on Sky Sports 5. Wales performed with credit to earn a point following a 0-0 draw in Brussels last November, but will be taking nothing for granted having lost their previous two home qualifiers against Belgium. Their last match resulted in a 0-3 victory away to Israel with a goal from Aaron Ramsey adding to a brace by Gareth Bale, who is set to earn his 50th Cap for Wales in this match.

Belgium remain favourites to qualify as group winners having secured a narrow 0-1 win over Israel last time out thanks to an early goal from Marouane Fellaini. Marc Wilmots' side have recently moved up to number 2 in the FIFA World Rankings, but are yet to come to the boil in qualifying and will need to avoid complacency against the Welsh.

At the halfway stage in the qualification process, Chris Coleman’s side are yet to taste defeat and have given themselves a great chance to progress to the finals, though Belgium are also yet to lose a game despite a couple of laboured performances.

Form - Previous group games

Wales

Sat 28 Mar: Israel 0-3 Wales
Sun 16 Nov: Belgium 0-0 Wales
Mon 13 Oct: Wales 2-1 Cyprus
Fri 10 Oct: Wales 0-0 Bos-Herce
Tue 9 Sep: Andorra 1-2 Wales

Belgium

Tue 31 Mar: Israel 0-1 Belgium
Sat 28 Mar: Belgium 5-0 Cyprus
Sun 16 Nov: Belgium 0-0 Wales
Mon 13 Oct: Bos-Herce 1-1 Belgium
Fri 10 Oct: Belgium 6-0 Andorra

Previous Highlights



Table as it stands

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Match Odds

Wales 18/5
Draw 12/5
Belgium 4/5

Guess the score

Post your predictions below

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1 v 1
head

3 v 2
heart

Quite possibly the biggest game played at the CCS since it was opened. Trying not to think of this game for just one minute, has become almost impossible for me. If we beat Belgium, the stadium is going to need a new roof....it will get blown off when that final whistle goes. COME ON WALES make history

2-1 - dewch mlan Cymru!!!!!!

1-1

2-1 Wales

Looking forward to this, going to head to Cardiff early Friday morning.

3-2 Wales - Scorers: Wales: Robson-Kanu, Bale, Williams
Belgium: Hazard, Mertens

Come on Wales!!!

Quite possibly the biggest game played at the CCS since it was opened. Trying not to think of this game for just one minute, has become almost impossible for me. If we beat Belgium, the stadium is going to need a new roof....it will get blown off when that final whistle goes. COME ON WALES make history

It doesn't have a roof mate.

Fellaini a major doubt after injuring groin in training

Anyone know if this is only on Sky Sports?

Marouane Fellaini a major doubt for Friday night


Wednesday 10th June

By Chris Wathan

Manchester United star Marouane Fellaini is a major doubt for Begium ahead of Wales’ key Euro 2016 clash with the world's second-highest ranked side on Friday night

Old Trafford midfielder Fellaini scored twice as the Red Devils warmed up for Friday’s Cardiff City Stadium showdown with a 4-2 win over France at the Stade de France.

And he was expected to be a key man in a strong Belgium side to take on Chris Coleman’s unbeaten Wales side when the two Group B rivals meet on Friday.

But now it appears the 27-year-old could give coach Marc Wilmots a headache after breaking down with the muscle problem in Brussels less than 24 hours before the side ranked second in the world by Fifa travel to Cardiff to continue their preparations.


VIEW GALLERY
Pictures: The incredible wealth of Belgian talent

Manchester United star Marouane Fellaini is a major doubt for Begium ahead of Wales’ key Euro 2016 clash with the world's second-highest ranked side on Friday night

Old Trafford midfielder Fellaini scored twice as the Red Devils warmed up for Friday’s Cardiff City Stadium showdown with a 4-2 win over France at the Stade de France.

And he was expected to be a key man in a strong Belgium side to take on Chris Coleman’s unbeaten Wales side when the two Group B rivals meet on Friday.

But now it appears the 27-year-old could give coach Marc Wilmots a headache after breaking down with the muscle problem in Brussels less than 24 hours before the side ranked second in the world by Fifa travel to Cardiff to continue their preparations.


Related: Everything you need to know about Wales' special plans on Friday night

Related: Watch the Belgians play crossbar challenge


Wilmots has a wealth of talent to him available in the Belgian squad
Belgium fly into Cardiff on Thursday and will train at Cardiff City Stadium while staying in a Cardiff Bay hotel. Wilmots had expected to name a similar side that faced France with only Kevin de Bruyne set to come in after the Wolfsburg midfielder, recently named Bundesliga player of the year, shook off an ankle injury to be in contention to replace Napoli’s Dries Mertens.

Tottenham’s Mousa Dembelle could be a contender to replace 63-cap former Everton man Fellaini but it is a blow for Wilmots who is already without the experience and leadership of skipper Vincent Kompany as the Manchester City defender serves a suspension picked up following a red card against Israel.

Man City rookie Jason Denayler is expected to keep his place in a shuffled defence, Jan Vertonghen moving to centre-back while Chelsea’s PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard will captain the side.

Roberts wary of Belgium threat
Wales assistant boss Osian Roberts is preparing his team for an extremely big challenge when they face Belgium on Friday at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday.

Roberts was part of the Wales delegation who watched Belgium beat France 4-3 at Stade de France last weekend, in a match controlled by the visiting team.

Only two late France goals made the result respectable for the hosts as Belgium, who lead Group B on goal difference at the halfway stage of the campaign, sent out a warning to second-placed Wales ahead of their crunch European Qualifier.

"When they went forward they were quite awesome and we saw a side that are in a rich vein of form," Roberts said.

"For 60-70 minutes, until substitutions were made, they were comfortable and it could have been six or seven.

"We're under no illusions how difficult it's going to be and what they've got, and no one's got as much height or power as Belgium.

"I don't think there's any club or national team that has a centre-back marking on the edge of the box on defensive corners, like Belgium do, so that shows what they've got in terms of aerial threat."

Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini scored twice to make it eight goals in his last 13 games for club and country, while Radja Nainggolan and Eden Hazard, who will again lead Belgium in Cardiff with Vincent Kompany suspended, were also on target.

But Belgium failed to break down the Welsh defence during last November's goalless draw in Brussels and Roberts says a lot of work and planning has gone into their defensive organisation.

"We take great credit for the way we've defended," Roberts added. "We've not conceded a goal from open play yet and that's given us a foundation to enter the second half of the campaign. Every time we've played them we've played the same way and it's worked.

"They did concede three in Paris so there's a question mark against them, and we're aware of what we can do when we've got the ball.

"We didn't quite capitalise in the awa

1_0 Ramsey C mon Wales with my little pick and shovel I*ll be there

L

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots confirms Man Utd's Marouane Fellaini is OUT of Friday's Euro 2016 qualifier against Wales with a groin injury.

Looking forward to the game.

Wales 2 Belgium 0

Any suggestions on where here is the best pub to go to before the match?

Only been to your ground on official palace away days and with my ex and the kids been over to see wales so pre match beer was a no go.

Any advise greatly appreciated.

Looking forward to the game.

Wales 2 Belgium 0

Any suggestions on where here is the best pub to go to before the match?

Only been to your ground on official palace away days and with my ex and the kids been over to see wales so pre match beer was a no go.

Any advise greatly appreciated.

Anywhere in Canton as all pubs are open

Looking forward to the game.

Wales 2 Belgium 0

Any suggestions on where here is the best pub to go to before the match?

Only been to your ground on official palace away days and with my ex and the kids been over to see wales so pre match beer was a no go.

Any advise greatly appreciated.

Anywhere in Canton as all pubs are open

Cheers mate.

Together stronger my arse.

Barely any talk on the jack forum on the game.

Gunter: "The whole country is behind us"



Reading FC

Thurs 11th June 2015


Royals full-back Chris Gunter could be a part of something very special on Friday night as Wales host Belgium for a crucial Euro 2016 qualifier in Cardiff.

Speaking to our official matchday programme late last season, our right-back talked openly about a blistering start to the Welsh qualifying campaign so far, the challenge of Belgium that lies in wait, and Chris Coleman's side's chances of making history.

“From now on, the next game will be the biggest," he told 'The Royal' after their vital win in Israel. "After the Belgium game in June, it’ll be the games in September and they’ll just keep getting bigger as it gets closer. But I don’t think there will have been as big a build-up for this Belgium game coming up for years and years.

“The winner of that game could potentially start to think about the prospect of qualification for the European Championships."

So far Wales have picked-up 11 points from their opening five qualifying matches and are locking horns with Belgium at the summit of Group B, separated only by goal difference.

“Right now we feel we can go into any game and play well. We’ve only conceded two goals, both from set plays, in the five games we’ve played so far. So we’ll be going into every game we have left, looking to win. And the Belgium game being at home, we know we’ll have the whole country behind us. It’s going to be a fantastic night.

“For so many years, we’ve said ‘If we were to start a group well…’ If the ball gets rolling, we’re tough to stop, and that’s the way it has proved so far. With every game that goes by the momentum builds. I don’t know how it builds, as players you just get the feeling, there’s something there.

“Even after the second game of the group when we drew with Bosnia in front of a sell-out, we then backed that result up with a win - and when we went away to Belgium we had 3,000 fans in the stadium but we had another 2,000 who had travelled without tickets. Its things like that that give you the feeling that something special could happen."

If Chris Coleman’s side can achieve victory against Marc Wilmots' men tomorrow, then they’ll find themselves three points clear and in pole position for the run-in with a nation-wide belief that they can realise the dream that is the country's first major finals appearance since 1958.

“The talk was about Cardiff and Swansea playing Premier League football, but now if you go back to Wales everyone’s talking about the national team. It’s so good to be involved in it. But as good as it is to be top at this half way stage, we need to make sure we don’t get even remotely carried away.

“As good as it is right now - and you have to enjoy nights like the one in Israel - we still have to focus on the huge amount of work that still has to be done.”

Gunter has played in every minute of the Welsh qualifying matches so far, and another member of the Royals squad, Hal Robson-Kanu, has also played an important part in Wales' campaign so far. Academy graduate midfielder Jake Taylor is also on standby for the game, which kicks off at the Cardiff City Stadium on 7.45pm on Friday.

Together stronger my arse.

Barely any talk on the jack forum on the game.

And that means nothing, the vast majority of people who go to watch Cardiff/Swansea/Wales don't post on message boards. There will be thousands of jacks at the game, and if you don't like that fact, then don't go.

Wales boss Chris Coleman is not fearful of Belgium

CHRIS COLEMAN has warned Belgium to expect a ferocious battle against fearless Wales in Cardiff tonight.

By ANDREW GWILYM

Fri, Jun 12, 2015



The Dragons face off against the star-studded Red Devils in their sold-out Euro 2016 qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium dreaming of reaching a first major finals since 1958.

The two sides are tied on 11 points at the top of Group B and the winner will move a massive step closer to a place at next summer’s finals in France.

The task facing Coleman’s resurgent side is considerable. Even without the suspended Vincent Kompany and the injured Marouane Fellaini, the visitors can call on Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Christian Benteke.

But with a partisan 33,000 crowd cheering them on, Coleman has vowed Wales will be bold and unleash the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey on Marc Wilmots’ men.

Coleman said: “We are running out in our capital city, there’s a full crowd, and you’re playing against a good team like Belgium. You have to look forward to that.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. Do we respect Belgium? No problem. But we believe in ourselves.


“You don’t fear the opposition, you believe in your own ability, you believe in your team-mates and you believe in what the task is and get on with the job.”

As usual, much of those Welsh expectations will fall on the shoulders of Bale, as the Real Madrid superstar wins his 50th cap at the age of just 25.

After a difficult season in Spain, the world’s most expensive player will receive nothing but adulation in the city of his birth.

Coleman is weighing up whether to field the £86million man up front to try to capitalise on Kompany’s absence, but wherever he plays the Wales boss knows he has an ace up his sleeve to match anything in Belgium’s talented line-up.

“Eden Hazard is recognised as one of the best players and rightly so, but then you’ve got one in your camp. It’s good, it’s interesting,” said Coleman, who celebrated his 45th birthday on Wednesday.


“Gareth embraces games like this. This will be his 50th cap, and it is fitting it’s on an occasion like it is, in a top-of-the-table clash.

“He knows with his capabilities that he can change the game in a second in a good way for us, and he thrives on that.

“He wants to impress his team-mates first and do it for Wales. There will be a lot of support here and that will be his audience that he’s looking to please.

“He’ll be saying, ‘I’m here to do this for the Welsh public and the supporters and my team-mates’.”

“You don’t fear the opposition, you believe in your own ability, you believe in your team-mates and you believe in what the task is and get on with the job
Chris Coleman
If Wales do pull off a famous victory, it will have a knock-on effect for their hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

A win will guarantee the Dragons a place in Pot One for next month’s qualification draw and would move them above Spain, Italy, France and Switzerland in the world rankings.

It would be a remarkable turnaround from the draw for the qualification stages of the 2014 tournament, when Wales were in the bottom pot of seeds, one below the Faroe Islands and alongside the likes of Kazakhstan, Malta and San Marino.

Wales could even move above England in the rankings should they win and England fail to beat Slovenia on Sunday.

“We moved up to our best ranking after beating Israel, this time if we beat Belgium we’ll be in the top pot,” said Coleman.

“In my industry we’re told to play everything down. Never look past the next game, which I don’t.

“But we’re in this situation and it’s a possibility. It’s something to look forward to so why play it down. That will be great if we do it.”

Wales (4-2-3-1): Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, Williams, Taylor; Ledley, Allen; Robson-Kanu, Ramsey, Bale; Vokes.

Belgium (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Lombaerts, Vertonghen; Nainggolan, Witsel; Chadli, De Bruyne, Hazard; Benteke. Referee: Felix Brych (Ger).

Kick-off: 7.45pm. TV: Sky Sports 5.

Together stronger my arse.

Barely any talk on the jack forum on the game.

And that means nothing, the vast majority of people who go to watch Cardiff/Swansea/Wales don't post on message boards. There will be thousands of jacks at the game, and if you don't like that fact, then don't go.

I dont mind the jacks, only when they start calling us scum etc simply for the fact we support cardiff.

I used to go to ninian park but I have never been a part of that sort of thing .I've gone with my father and he isn't into that sort of thing any more. Watch the game then go home. He used to follow cardiff home and away in the 80s though.

So it really doesnt matter to me. Just an observation.

Wales captain Ashley Williams does not believe Belgium will miss midfielder Marouane Fellaini in Friday's crucial Euro 2016 qualifier.

BBC

Manchester United's Fellaini, who scored twice in Belgium's win against France on Sunday, has been ruled out of the Wales clash with a groin injury.

But Williams thinks Marc Wilmots' side have the strength in depth to cope.
"They're going to replace him with another quality player anyway," he said.
"The personnel doesn't really matter too much. They've got strength throughout."
Belgium are top of qualifying Group B on 11 points, ahead of second-placed Wales on goal difference.
While Wales opted against playing a friendly as preparation for Friday's fixture in Cardiff, Belgium warmed up with a commanding 4-3 victory away to France in which they led 4-1 until the last couple of minutes.
Fellaini's two goals capped an excellent individual performance, in which his height and strength wreaked havoc in the French defence.

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