Latest news with #BelgiumNationalTeam
BreakingNews.ie
10 hours ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Wales suffer dramatic World Cup qualifying defeat to Belgium after fightback
Wales suffered a dramatic 4-3 World Cup qualifying defeat to Belgium as their incredible comeback from three goals down eventually proved in vain. Kevin De Bruyne was the Belgium match-winner two minutes from time to deny Wales a precious point in Brussels. Advertisement Belgium had seized complete control inside 27 minutes as Romelu Lukaku, with a controversial penalty, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku silenced the loud 4,500-strong following from Wales. But Harry Wilson gave Wales hope from the spot on the stroke of half-time, and cool finishes from Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson turned the tie on its head. Almost every goal had a laborious VAR check and a late Lukaku effort was chalked off – resulting in both Wales manager Craig Bellamy and his Belgium counterpart Rudi Garcia being booked – but there was no saving the visitors as De Bruyne volleyed home at the far post. Wales had lost top spot in Group J before kick-off courtesy of North Macedonia's win in Kazakhstan. Advertisement Bellamy's unbeaten record would also disappear – exactly a year to the day since Wales had lost for the last time – in his 10th game in charge. It was a duel between familiar foes with this being their 11th meeting in 13 years. Neco Williams was absent after being taken off on a stretcher in Friday's victory over Liechtenstein, and Bellamy made three changes with Chris Mepham, David Brooks and Jordan James recalled. Aston Villa midfielder Tielemans led a Belgian team who featured several faces well known to Premier League fans. Advertisement Bellamy had promised a bold approach and Thomas was positive in the first minute to deliver a cross into the six-yard box that no-one in the middle could get on the end of. But Wales crumbled in the space of 12 minutes after Johnson was adjudged to have handled De Bruyne's powerful shot. It appeared a harsh decision as Johnson's arm was close to his body, but Lukaku rolled the penalty home with ease. Belgium worked an overload down the right four minutes later and Maxim De Cuyper found Tielemans, who stroked the ball high past Karl Darlow in the Wales goal. Advertisement Matz Sels instantly denied David Brooks one-on-one at the other end, and the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper shovelled aside Ben Davies' follow-up effort. But Belgium menaced with every attack and Doku broke clear to set up De Bruyne, who was inches away from adding another. Doku's footwork had dazzled and Wales had no answer when the Manchester City winger cut inside Davies. Darlow got a hand to the low shot, but could not prevent it from crossing the line. De Cuyper and Leandro Trossard were booked for cynical fouls on Johnson as Wales revived, and the visitors were given hope in first-half stoppage time. Advertisement Sels made contact with Mepham's head as he attempted to fist away a Thomas corner and Wilson claimed his 14th international goal from the penalty spot. Dodi Lukebakio missed a sitter within seconds of his half-time arrival and Belgium were punished when Wilson spotted Thomas unmarked on the left. The new Stoke signing kept his composure to fire under Sels for his first Wales goal. Wales wanted more and substitute Mark Harris sent a golden chance wide. Johnson nodded the leveller after Thomas had headed Wilson's cross back across goal, but De Bruyne had the final word to break Welsh hearts.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Tielemans leads Belgium to victory over Wales
Youri Tielemans supplied a goal and an assist as Belgium beat Wales 4-3 in a dramatic World Cup qualifier in Brussels on Aston Villa midfielder was captaining his country for the fifth time and played a vital role in their victory, with club colleague Amadou Onana alongside Belgium already a goal up, Tielemans finished off after neat play down the left-hand side to double lead after just 19 Belgium scoring again, Wales got one back before the break and managed to score twice after the restart to bring the game with just two minutes remaining, it was Tielemans' perfect cross in to the far post that set up the winner for Manchester City legend Kevin de result marks Belgium's first victory in World Cup qualifying following a disappointing draw against North Macedonia in their opening 28, Tielemans has racked up 77 appearances for his country.
Reuters
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Relief for Belgium but questions for the defence after dramatic win over Wales
BRUSSELS, June 10 (Reuters) - There was relief for Belgium after scraping through a dramatic World Cup qualifier against Wales on Monday but plenty for coach Rudi Garcia to ponder after a narrow 4-3 home win. Belgium had been cruising at 3-0 up inside the first half-hour of the Group J match at the King Baudouin Stadium but Wales fought back to 3-3 with 20 minutes left before Kevin De Bruyne grabbed the winner two minutes from time. 'The most important thing is that we won. Psychologically it is tough to give away a three-goal lead, but we showed our mental strength,' said Garcia after Belgium's second game in their qualifying group for the 2026 finals in North America. 'We kept fighting. It is symbolic that Kevin of all people scored the winning goal." De Bruyne had been a key factor throughout, ghosting in at the back post to convert Youri Tielemans' cross for the winner. Tielemans, who was captain for the night, said relief was the primary emotion after the game. "We are happy with the victory, but we know that should not have happened to us," he said of the Welsh comeback. "I have no explanation for how that happened. But the craziest things can happen with the national team. "We felt we could finish the match earlier, but then we dropped off a bit. Then we conceded a goal and their confidence grew. They were simply the better team at that moment. 'We had to defend together as a team, choose the right moment to react and get back into the match but we didn't do that well." Belgium conceded a late equaliser in their group opener against North Macedonia on Friday and the defence will come under more scrutiny after allowing Wales to score three. Belgium travel to Liechtenstein on Sept. 4 for their next qualifier before hosting Kazakhstan three days later.
CNA
14 hours ago
- Sport
- CNA
Relief for Belgium but questions for the defence after dramatic win over Wales
BRUSSELS :There was relief for Belgium after scraping through a dramatic World Cup qualifier against Wales on Monday but plenty for coach Rudi Garcia to ponder after a narrow 4-3 home win. Belgium had been cruising at 3-0 up inside the first half-hour of the Group J match at the King Baudouin Stadium but Wales fought back to 3-3 with 20 minutes left before Kevin De Bruyne grabbed the winner two minutes from time. 'The most important thing is that we won. Psychologically it is tough to give away a three-goal lead, but we showed our mental strength,' said Garcia after Belgium's second game in their qualifying group for the 2026 finals in North America. 'We kept fighting. It is symbolic that Kevin of all people scored the winning goal." De Bruyne had been a key factor throughout, ghosting in at the back post to convert Youri Tielemans' cross for the winner. Tielemans, who was captain for the night, said relief was the primary emotion after the game. "We are happy with the victory, but we know that should not have happened to us," he said of the Welsh comeback. "I have no explanation for how that happened. But the craziest things can happen with the national team. "We felt we could finish the match earlier, but then we dropped off a bit. Then we conceded a goal and their confidence grew. They were simply the better team at that moment. 'We had to defend together as a team, choose the right moment to react and get back into the match but we didn't do that well." Belgium conceded a late equaliser in their group opener against North Macedonia on Friday and the defence will come under more scrutiny after allowing Wales to score three. Belgium travel to Liechtenstein on Sept. 4 for their next qualifier before hosting Kazakhstan three days later.
Malay Mail
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
De Bruyne's late strike lifts Belgium over Wales in 4–3 World Cup qualifier thriller
BRUSSELS, June 10 — Kevin De Bruyne spared Belgium's blushes after blowing a 3-0 lead to beat Wales 4-3 and kickstart the Red Devils' 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Monday. Goals from Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku inside half an hour had given Belgium a dream start. Wales, though, rallied through a Harry Wilson penalty, Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson to stun the side ranked eighth in the world. But De Bruyne rode to his nation's rescue, as he has so often in a stellar career, by steering in Tielemans' perfect cross in the 88th minute. Defeat was Craig Bellamy's first as Wales manager as they fell just short of a national record of 10 matches unbeaten. However, there remains plenty of positives for Wales' hopes of reaching next year's World Cup. They sit second in Group J, one point behind North Macedonia, and three in front of Belgium, who have two games in hand. Only one side will automatically qualify with second earning a place in the play-offs. After a 1-1 draw at North Macedonia on Friday to begin their qualifying campaign, Rudi Garcia recalled three of his Premier League stars in Leandro Trossard, Amadou Onana and Tielemans and Belgium clicked into gear. De Bruyne's shot struck the arm of Johnson inside the area to give Lukaku the chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot for his 89th international goal. Tielemans rounded off a brilliant team move for the home side's second moments later as he turned in Maxime De Cuyper's low cross. A dazzling solo effort from Doku compounded Wales' woes as they seemed set for a second half of damage limitation. However, Harry Wilson's penalty reduced the visitors' deficit in first half stoppage time after Matz Sels was controversially penalised for a clash with Chris Mepham. Bellamy's men were right back in the game when Wilson brilliantly picked out Thomas to slot home Wales' second six minutes into the second period. Johnson's header completed the comeback 21 minutes from time, but the visitors were unable to hold out against Belgium's superior firepower. Lukaku had a second goal controversially ruled out for the ball being out of play in the build-up after a lengthy VAR review. That proved to be a mere reprieve for Wales as moments later Tielemans' cross picked out the unmarked De Bruyne to volley in at the back post. — AFP
