European Qualifiers: Table-topping Wales face tough test in Belgium

Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale will be hoping to make a telling contribution


Wales will want to cement a standing at the top of their European qualifying group, but face a tough test in Belgium on Sunday.

Chris Coleman’s men lead the way in Group B, having taken seven points from a three-match unbeaten start to the campaign.
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Belgium v Wales
November 16, 2014 4:30pm

Belief is now building that Wales can secure a place at a first major finals since the 1976 European Championship.

There is, of course, a long way to go before the celebrations can start, though, with their next outing set to be their toughest.

A trip to Brussels on Sunday will present Coleman with an opportunity to judge just how far his exciting young side have come.

Plenty of positives will have been taken from their last visit to Belgian soil, when then left with a 1-1 draw in 2014 World Cup qualification, but the hosts had already booked their ticket to Brazil by that stage and may have taken their foot off the gas.

There will be no letting up this weekend, with Marc Wilmots’s side having been held by Bosnia-Herzegovina in their last outing to sit third on four points after two games.

Coleman is fully aware of the size of the challenge facing his troops at the King Baudouin Stadium, but also claims to be relishing the pressure and rising expectancy levels.


Wales are starting to believe that qualification is possible


He said: “We know Belgium are the favourites but we put pressure on ourselves to get something there if we're going to do anything in the group. But I think it's a great pressure to have and the type of pressure you want.

"After four or five games in previous campaigns we've been out of the running. Then we come strong at the end of the campaign and everybody says we need to do this at the start of the next one.

"We have this time. We've come out of the blocks, we've got a fighting spirit. We've got quality. We're top of the group and we're going to the team expected to win it."

Sunday’s encounter will pitch two of European football’s leading playmakers into direct competition, with Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ Gareth Bale hoping to outshine Chelsea star Eden Hazard.

Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey, who netted Wales’ goal when the two sides met in October 2013, will also want to hold his own against a star-studded Belgian midfield, while a way past Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois may have to be found if the visitors are to leave with anything to show for their efforts.

Chris Coleman says he's had no discussions with the Football Association of Wales about Ched Evans returning to football.


Team news

Belgium will be without Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany, who has been ruled out with a calf injury, and Southampton’s Toby Alderweireld is likely to partner Nicolas Lombaerts in the back line.

Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini will be competing with Tottenham Hotspur duo Nacer Chadli and Mousa Dembele for a midfield berth, while Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke and Everton frontman Romelu Lukaku will be hoping to land striking spots.

Bale has been cleared to join the Wales squad after a buttock injury forced him to spend time on the sidelines in Spain.

Coleman will also be pleased to have Ramsey and Liverpool schemer Joe Allen at his disposal, with the duo having been forced to sit out qualifying contests against Bosnia and Cyprus