Saturday, November 15, 2014

Match Preview: Belgium vs Wales

  • Venue: King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
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  • Date: Sunday, 16 November
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  • Kick-off: 17:00 GMT


  • Wales are looking to continue their solid start to their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign when they travel to face Belgium on Sunday. Wales are currently top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group, with two wins and a draw from their three matches.
  • The trip to Brussels, however, will be their sternest test yet as they take on a Belgian team which reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup. 
    However, Belgium do have a game in hand after their match against Israel was postponed. Chris Coleman's team have won two and drawn one of their three qualifying matches so far, giving them a one point advantage over Israel. 
    Real Madrid star Gareth Bale will be available for selection for Coleman for their Group B encounter after recovering from an injury that had kept him sidelined at the start of the month.
    Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey and Liverpool's Joe Allen are also ready to feature again for Wales after missing their last two qualifying matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus.
    Charlton Athletic striker Simon Church is expected to continue to lead the line for Coleman's side at the Koning Boudewijn Stadion, while Andy King is out of the clash due to suspension.
    Belgium will be without skipper Vincent Kompany for the Group B clash as he has been ruled out with a calf injury.
    Southampton defender Toby Alderweireld is expected to replace Kompany at the back, having played in the role against Iceland in his side's friendly clash in midweek.
    Marc Wilmots could face a selection dilemma with his striker as Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke are both pushing for the start. If both players feature in the starting lineup, it would force Wilmots to change his formation from midweek.
    The two sides met in World Cup qualifying for the 2014 tournament. Belgium won the game in Wales 2-0, with goals from Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen. The match in Belgium ended 1-1, with Aaron Ramsey’s late goal cancelling out Kevin De Bruyne’s opener.
    PAST THREE MEETINGS…
    Belgium 1 (De Bruyne) Wales 1 (Ramsey), World Cup qualifying, October 2013
    Wales 0 Belgium 2 (Kompany, Vertonghen), World Cup qualifying, September 2012
    Belgium 3 (Staelens, Claessens, Wilmots) Wales 2 (Pembridge, Giggs), World Cup qualifying, October 1997




    STATS…
    Belgium have not lost at home to Wales, winning three and drawing two
    Wales have not beaten Belgium since 1993, a 2-0 win in Cardiff
    When Belgium beat Wales 2-0 in 1992, both current bosses were on the bench. Chris Coleman was an unused substitute while Marc Wilmots came on as a late substitute
    Wilmots did not lose a match against Wales as a player, winning three and drawing one
    Belgium’s FIFA World Ranking: 4
    Wales’ FIFA World Ranking: 34