LILLE: Gareth Bale’s dream of winning Euro 2016 with Wales remains very much alive after he and his teammates dug deep to send Belgium packing in remarkable fashion in Friday’s quarter-final.
Wales recovered from Radja Nainggolan’s missile-like opener in the 13th minute to win 3-1 in Lille but it was unsung captain Ashley Williams, striker Hal Robson-Kanu and substitute Sam Vokes who got the goals rather than Bale.
A semi-final clash with Portugal sets up an enticing clash between Bale and his Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
As ever the hopes of Wales fans at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy were pinned on Bale shining as he had done earlier in the tournament.
With his parents watching, Bale had an influence on proceedings but such a spectacular victory owed more to a huge collective effort.
Wales did not reach the quarter-finals by being a one-man team, but they could not have made it this far without Bale.
The world’s most expensive player’s three goals in three games helped Chris Coleman’s side through the group stage and it was his cross that forced the own goal by Gareth McAuley that allowed Wales to beat Northern Ireland in the last 16.
