Wales stuns Belgium to reach semifinals of Euro 2016

Wales. In the semifinals of a major tournament.

Let that sink in.

In a European Championships of upsets and fairytale stories and, well, of Iceland, the Welsh provided yet another massive shock, beating Belgium 3-1 in Lille on Friday to set up a semifinal date with Portugal.

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This was no fluke. Belgium’s supposedly superior talent was trumped by an impeccable mix of individual brilliance and unceasing togetherness by Chris Coleman’s Wales.

Some of this we’ve come to expect. The Welsh back three defended with class and determination, while Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale were dangerous on the break.

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But it was Hal Robson-Kanu — recently released by Reading in the second tier of English soccer — who was the hero. After Ashley Williams canceled out Radja Nainggolan’s early screamer, Robson-Kanu surprised fans and Belgian defenders alike with a Cruyff turn for the ages.

Robson-Kanu sent three opponents sprinting to close down Neil Taylor, and then sent Wales into its first major tournament semifinal since ever. Sam Vokes’ late header made sure of it.

Celebrations were wild. Wales players slid on their stomachs across the pitch towards their rapturous fans, than jumped and danced and sung in a tight-knit circle — pictures that will live on in Welsh history forever.

Hours earlier, though, the game had started ominously for the Welsh.

Belgium’s rampaging attacking play carried over from its 4-0 win over Hungary into the early stages of Friday’s quarterfinal. The favorites would’ve gone ahead after seven minutes if not for three successive blocks from a sprawling Wayne Hennessey’s stomach, an elevated Taylor left boot and a flying Joe Allen. The ensuing corner skimmed past a lurking Romelu Lukaku at the far post.

Wales’ early path to goal was through space vacated by Belgium’s fullbacks. When Thomas Meunier scampered forward to combine with Eden Hazard and Yannick Carrasco, Wales was able to win the ball and find Bale down the left. His left-footed snapshot missed at the near post.

It was Belgium’s possession that first brought a reward. Hazard progressed down the left, and was joined by left back Jordan Lukaku and the two central midfielders, Axel Witsel and Nainggolan. The Belgians worked a 4-v-3 to free up Nainggolan for a screamer that might as well have severed two of Hennessey’s fingers on its way into the back of the net.

Nainggolan’s goal turned the game into a contorted reflection of what it was expected to be. Wales probed, holding possession in the middle and final thirds, and Belgium was happy to let it do so.

But Belgium’s adjustment took some of the edge out of the game and allowed the Welsh to stabilize themselves. And the chances started to come.

In the 26th minute, intricate play on the right side of the box released Ramsey towards the Belgian end line. His pullback found Taylor, who had angled in from his left wing back position. Taylor’s right-footed shot was parried away by a scrambling Thibaut Courtois.

Wales got its deserved equalizer in the 30th minute when Robson-Kanu won a corner. Ashley Williams stormed in between Belgium’s inexperienced defensive duo of Jason Denayer and Jordan Lukaku to nod home.

The game reverted back to its anticipated rhythm, with Belgium fashioning half-chances, Bale troubling the Belgians on the break and Williams miscuing another free header off a corner.

After the halftime break, Belgium remained on the front foot. Romelu Lukaku couldn’t quite redirect a 48th-minute Meunier cross towards goal. Two minutes later, Hazard cut inside with conviction and whistled a shot past the far post. Belgian manager Marc Wilmots waved his arms towards his nation’s fans, prompting more noise.

But it was a moment of unexpected Welsh brilliance that changed the game. Aaron Ramsey ran into space from his midfield position, and picked out Robson-Kanu with a cross. Robson-Kanu did the rest.

Ramsey was outstanding all night, except for an unfortunate second-half handball that will see him miss Wednesday’s semifinal through yellow-card suspension.

Belgium’s big second-half moment won’t be talked about, but it perhaps should be. As Romelu Lukaku spun past Ben Davies at the edge of the penalty area, the Welsh defender seemed to clip Lukaku and send him tumbling to the rain-soaked grass. Davies, already on a yellow, would have surely seen red, but the referee declined to even whistle for a foul.

Sam Vokes, who had replaced Robson-Kanu, sealed the famous win with an 85th-minute header that whizzed past Courtois.