UEFA Euro 2016: SF - Wales Vs Portugal Live Discussion Thread

SEMI FINALS

WALES

Vs

PORTUGAL

Wales will take on Iceland on the 1st Semi final match of Euro 2016 Championship on July 6th, Wednesday. Wales qualified for the quarter final match after defeating Belguim in Quarter finals. On the other hand, Portugal reached Semi final after defeating Poland On Pennalty Shootout ..

After a historic win against Belgium in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals, Wales are now all set to face Portugal in the last four next week.

Goals from Ashley Williams, Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Voakes ensured Chris Coleman's men clinched the greatest win in their footballing history.

A 3-1 win over Marc Wilmots's side took them further than they'd ever been in tournament football before..

Portugal needed penalties to reach the last four and as yet haven't won a match at Euro 2016 in 90 minutes so far.

MATCH PREVIEW : -

This is unchartered territory for Wales, who head to Lyon for the first major semi-final in their history. Portugal, by contrast, boast far greater experience - although little of it is positive. This is the seventh time they have reached this stage at a World Cup or European Championship, but only once before have they advanced to the final - on home soil at Euro 2004.

Portugal have yet to win a game inside 90 minutes at Euro 2016 and have struggled to find attacking fluency. But their greater tournament nous has already seen them edge out Croatia and Poland, and the bookmakers make them favourites to once again play the role of party poopers on Wednesday.

Santos is content to see his side grind out results.

"I'm not worried about being the ugly duckling, I'm interested about getting to the final and winning it," he says.

"Would I like us to be pretty? Yes. But, in between being pretty and being at home, or being ugly and being here, I prefer to be ugly."

in contrast, Wales' impressive displays in France - especially the convincing win against Belgium - have delighted and surprised most neutrals. But the Welsh squad believe there is more to come and they're hoping to follow the recent pattern that has produced shock European Championship winners every 12 years.

"We've obviously exceeded a lot of people's expectations," says forward Gareth Bale.

"But we always believed we could go all the way - you see the fairytale of Greece [in 2004] and Denmark [in 1992] in the past and you think why can't we do it?"

Wales' success has caught some of Bale's team-mates unprepared - midfielder Joe Ledley has had to postpone his wedding on Saturday, while Chris Gunter won't be able to see his brother tie the knot on Thursday.

But there have been no such conflicts for Bale.

"I fully believed that we could do something, that is why I booked my holiday for the 11th [of July, the day after the final] - I am not like the others!" he said.

TEAM NEWS -

Jonny Williams, Andy King or Dave Edwards could replace Ramsey.

James Collins may deputise for Davies or, alternatively, Jazz Richards could start at right wing-back, with Chris Gunter moving inside to play as one of Wales' three centre-backs.

Portugal will monitor defender Pepe, who trained separately on Tuesday because of a thigh problem.

William Carvalho is suspended so Danilo is expected to start as Portugal's holding midfielder.

Left-back Raphael Guerreiro and midfielder Andre Gomes missed the quarter-final against Poland with muscle problems, but both have returned to full training and should be available.

Coach Fernando Santos has also suggested that if he has any doubts over Pepe's fitness the Real Madrid man will not play.

"As for Pepe, you'll probably be tossing and turning in your beds tonight because I'm not going to answer," he said.

"I'll be sleeping quietly because I have other players who can play.

"If Pepe is 100%, I will think about it and he can start the game. If not, no problem. All the players must be 100% fit for such an important game."

MATCH FACTS -

Head-to-head

• The sides have only played three times before - and never in a competitive game.
• Portugal have won two of the three encounters, with Wales' only win coming in 1951.
• The only meeting in the last 65 years was a friendly in June 2000. Luis Figo scored the opening goal as Portugal won 3-0 in Chaves.

• Portugal have contested six semi-finals at World Cups or European Championships - but their only win came on home soil at Euro 2004, when Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in a 2-1 win against the Dutch.
• This is the fifth time Portugal have reached the semi-finals of the European Championship.
• Portugal's last six matches at European Championship finals have ended in draws after 90 minutes - all five at Euro 2016 and their semi-final against Spain at Euro 2012, which they lost on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
• Portugal are unbeaten in their 12 competitive fixtures under Fernando Santos (W8, D4), with all eight of their wins coming by a single-goal margin. The shoot-out win against Poland is counted as a draw.
• Cristiano Ronaldo has scored two goals in 13 knock-out games at major tournaments. He is one shy of equalling Michel Platini's record of nine goals at the finals of the European Championship.
• Nani has been involved in three of Portugal's six goals at Euro 2016 - two goals and one assist.
• Portugal have won three of their four penalty shoot-outs at major tournaments. No team has ever won penalty shoot-outs in back-to-back matches at the European Championship.

• The Welsh have scored 10 goals at Euro 2016. The only British team to score more at a major tournament is England, who netted 11 times at the 1966 World Cup.
• Only France, with 11 goals, have a better attacking record than Wales at Euro 2016.
• Wales are the first team to reach the semi-finals on their European Championship debut since Sweden in 1992 (Czech Republic, finalists in 1996, are recognised by Uefa as the successors to Czechoslovakia).
• This is the first time Wales have reached the semi-final of any Uefa or Fifa tournament - at any level, for men or women.
• Hal Robson-Kanu has scored two goals from three shots on target at Euro 2016. He has scored as many goals in his last four internationals as in his previous 30.
• Aaron Ramsey, who misses this match through suspension, has scored or assisted five of the last eight goals scored by Wales (excludes own goals).
• Gareth Bale has had 14 shots on target at Euro 2016 - more than any other player.

So it's all about Bale vs Ronaldo, right?

Ronaldo just steals a march on his team-mate when it comes down to the stats. He has just completed a sixth straight year with more than 50 clubs goals. Bale has only once even managed half that return; and yet what he does give Wales is perhaps far more important. Whereas with Ronaldo there is always the sense that individual accolades mean as much to him as team triumphs, Bale's utter focus on delivering for the collective good is so much more striking.

Bale has always been about the collective rather than any quest for personal glory throughout the tournament.

Originally posted by: SenpaiNOTICEME

As it's written on their blazon, "best team is team's game" 😃 Wales ALL THE WAY <3 BALE and RAMSEY 😛 😛 Team's game is best <33 Portugal OUT ! --->

Originally posted by: GUNNER.

Ramsey out of this game .. only Bale will be around tonight game.

Originally posted by: SenpaiNOTICEME

Oh hell nooo

Originally posted by: SenpaiNOTICEME

Loved what Bale just responded to the journalist, when he asked if the semi-finals is all about Gareth vs Ronaldo ?
"Not all all ! The semi-finals isn't in between two players, but two nations and two teams, 11 players against 11 players !"
DO YOUR BOO BALE <33 😆