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Agence France-Presse

Ryan Giggs described Wales’ historic 3-1 triumph over Belgium that saw them reach the semi-finals of Euro 2016 as the greatest night in Welsh football history.
Victory in Lille saw Wales into the last four of a major tournament for the first time in their history.
It was a result made all the more impressive by the fact that this was Wales’ first appearance in a leading global event since they were beaten by eventual champions Brazil in the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
Manchester United great Giggs, a former Wales captain, was in no doubt of the significance of his country’s win, which set up a semi-final against Portugal.
“I’m so proud,” said the 42-year-old Giggs.
“It’s quite simply the greatest night in Welsh football history, the best result in Welsh football history but more impressively, it was the best performance.
“To make a team ranked second in the world look so ordinary and in the end win comfortably is very impressive.
Dragon roars: Wales stun Belgium 3-1 to reach Euro 2016 semi-finals
“They were the better team in every area – defensively, offensively, they won every challenge, and they looked comfortable.
“Of course Belgium had their moments, but so did Wales. And three fantastic goals,” he added of well-taken efforts by skipper Ashley Williams, Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Vokes, all of which came after Radja Nainggolan gave Belgium a 13th minute lead.
Wales coach Chris Coleman said the feeling of beating Belgium was “indescribable” as he insisted his team had shown themselves to be capable of beating any opponent.

“We dream about nights like this and we’re never sure whether you’re going to be good enough or lucky enough to be involved in an experience like that,” said an emotional Coleman after the game.
“If you are lucky enough to be involved in it, it’s indescribable really.
“You need a bit of talent of course but you have to work hard and that’s what we’ve done and we find ourselves in an incredible position.”
Portugal reach Euro 2016 semi-finals after beating Poland on penalties - and they still haven’t won a game in normal time
Wales were deserved winners against a supremely talented Belgium side and triumphed despite star man Gareth Bale not having his best game at the tournament.
Coleman added: “It wasn’t as if it was smash, bang, wallop and we just nicked the result, because we didn’t. We took the game to Belgium for long periods.
“We played very well and when we needed to defend we defended like soldiers. I thought our performance was fantastic and I thought we thoroughly deserved it.”

Their reward is a semi-final showdown with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Lyon next week and Coleman urged his side to remember how far they have come in a short space of time.
“The whole experience for us is uncharted territory – 1958 was our last time, a long long time (ago),” said Coleman after seeing Wales become the first British nation to reach the last four at a major tournament since England on home soil at Euro 96.
“All we can do is keep reiterating to the players to never forget what it’s taken for us to be here in this position, never forget what we’ve had to do and what our beliefs and our identity are.
“I’d imagine there are three million people back home going absolutely crazy and they deserve that.
“I said in the campaign when we were on top after five games in qualifying to not expect anything from us, to get carried away.

“I know my team are good enough to perform against anybody – I knew that before tonight.
“The fact we are in the semi-final is absolutely fantastic but we have to approach our next game just by taking care of our own performance.”
However, having finished top of group B ahead of England and then edged out Northern Ireland before beating Belgium, Coleman insisted that any thoughts about winning the tournament itself are banned for now.
“I have never thought about that and I promise you my players and staff won’t be thinking about winning the tournament – we are only thinking about our next challenge which is Portugal.”


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2016 Uefa European Championship (Euro 2016)

Greatest night ever: Former captain Ryan Giggs hails Wales after stunning Belgium at Euro 2016

Wales celebrate with fans after the 3-1 win over Belgium. Photo: EPA

Wales' midfielder Aaron Ramsey (R) celebrates with Wales' coach Chris Coleman and team staff at the end of the Euro 2016 quarter-final football match between Wales and Belgium at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq near Lille, on July 1, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / DENIS CHARLET

epa05402570 Sam Vokes of Wales celebrates scoring the 3-1 lead during the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter final match between Wales and Belgium at Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille Metropole, France, 01 July 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.) EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI EDITORIAL USE ONLY

(LtoR) Belgium's forward Eden Hazard and Wales' midfielder Joe Allen vie for the ball during the Euro 2016 quarter-final football match between Wales and Belgium at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq near Lille, on July 1, 2016. Wales won the match 3-1. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS

Dragon roars: Wales stun Belgium 3-1 to reach Euro 2016 semi-finals

Wales' forward Sam Vokes (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the killer third AFP PHOTO / DENIS CHARLET

epa05402025 Radja Nainggolan (C) of Belgium scores the 1-0 lead during the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter final match between Wales and Belgium at Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille Metropole, France, 01 July 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.) EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH EDITORIAL USE ONLY

TOPSHOT - Wales' forward Hal Robson-Kanu celebrates after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 quarter-final football match between Wales and Belgium at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq near Lille, on July 1, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / DENIS CHARLET

Wales' Sam Vokes, center, heads to score his team's third goal next to Belgium's Toby Alderweireld, during the Euro 2016 quarterfinal soccer match between Wales and Belgium, at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve d’Ascq, near Lille, France, Friday, July 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

TOPSHOT - Wales' defender Ashley Williams celebrates after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 quarter-final football match between Wales and Belgium at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq near Lille, on July 1, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS

After 57 years, Gareth Bale's Wales made to wait a little longer to qualify for major tournament

Gareth Bale reacts to Wales' disallowed goal. Photo: EPA

Gareth Bale vies with Israel's defender Orel Ogani. Photo: AFP

Wales striker Sam Vokes is crowded out by Israel's defenders. Photo: AFP

Sam Church scores for Wales, but it was disallowed. Photo: Reuters 

Agony for Northern Ireland McAuley own goal sends Gareth Bale’s Wales into Euro 2016 last eight

Wales' forward Gareth Bale plays with his daughter Alba Viola following the team's 1-0 win AFP PHOTO / DAMIEN MEYER

epa05390592 Gareth McAuley (white shirt) of Northern Ireland scores an own goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match between Wales and Northern Ireland at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, 25 June 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.) EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Northern Ireland's forward Josh Magennis (R), Northern Ireland's forward Conor Washington (C) and Northern Ireland's defender Craig Cathcart (L) are pictured after a 0-1 defeat following the Euro 2016 round of sixteen football match Wales vs Northern Ireland, on June 25, 2016 at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE LOPEZ

epa05390583 Gareth Bale (L) and Aaron Ramsey of Wales celebrate their 1-0 goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match between Wales and Northern Ireland at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, 25 June 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.) EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON EDITORIAL USE ONLY

epa05390579 Gareth McAuley of Northern Ireland (front) scores an own goal to make the score 1-0 for Wales during UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match between Wales and Northern Ireland at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, 25 June 2016. (RESTRICTIONS APPLY: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Not used for commercial or marketing purposes without prior written approval of UEFA. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications (whether via the Internet or otherwise) shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.) EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Sport

Football

Ashley Williams, Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Vokes scored in Lille as Chris Coleman’s side won 3-1 to set-up a semi-final meeting with Portugal
