Phil SumblerConnor Roberts played the full game as Wales’ World Cup qualifying campaign got off to a losing start when they lost 3-1 to Belgium in Brussels last night.
The Swans right back won his 23rd cap for his country against a side who currently top the FIFA World rankings, 17 places ahead of Wales.
However, Welsh optimism could have been forgiven considering what is a decent record against the Belgians in recent years which of course includes that famous match in 2016 that took Wales to the semi finals of the European Championships.
Hopes of another shock were high in the early stages and boosted by an early goal from Harry Wilson – a goal that Roberts played his own part in.ย Wilson had fed Bale who played a neat one-two with Roberts before finding Wilson with a perfect pass and the on loan Cardiff player finished it on the first touch.ย ย The goal was as good as anything Wales have scored in the past few years and must have had nerves rocking in the Belgian camp.
๐ง๐ช 0-1 ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ | Why is it that you can only hit โLIKEโ once?!
Itโs not enough! #BELWAL | #TogetherStronger | #WCQ
— Wales ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ (@Cymru) March 24, 2021
It wasn’t to be though and the class of the home nation shone through with goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Thorgan Hazard and Romelu Lukaku were enough to win the game and set themselves on the road to 2022 with maximum points.
A slip from Roberts allowed Belgium to get the second goal but the Swans defender was clear after the game that the pitch was not fitting of such a fixture . โThe pitch was not great, to be honest,โ said Roberts. โIโm not sure why we played on such a bad pitch.โ
Former Swans Joe Rodon and Dan James both also started the fixture whilst Ben Cabango was an unused substitute.ย Joe Allen did start the game but was forced off in the 8th minute with a hamstring injury.
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez:
“We knew it was going to be a tough game and it became even harder in the moment we conceded the first goal.
“I thought Wales adapted to the game better than us and it was made for the perfect away team performance – the conditions, the lack of fans and they showed their quality with a great move.”
Wales caretaker manager Robert Page:
“I thought the goal we scored was fantastic and we got off to the perfect start.
“But if you give quality teams like this half a chance, inevitably the ball ends up in the back of the net.
“We addressed a few things at half-time from a tactical point of view and I thought we were better for it and went toe to toe with the world’s number one team. So there are a lot of positives.”
Wales next match is an international friendly against Mexico at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday before they continue their qualifying campaign against the Czech Republic at the same ground next Tuesday.
