Where are they now? The last Wales side to beat Belgium
Gareth Bale (L) and Hal Robson-Kanu (R) of Wales in training. Wales training session at the Vale Resort ahead of their UEFA Nations League match against Finland. 31st August 2020. Lewis Mitchell/YCPD.
On Wednesday evening, Wales travel to Belgium where they will commence their World Cup qualification campaign.
Clashes against The Red Devils live long in the memory for Welsh supporters. From a Gareth Bale-inspired victory back in 2015 to that euphoric triumph under the floodlights in the following year’s European Championships, clashes between the two have not been forgotten by time.
And it is the latter match which we will be looking at.
Goals from Ashley Williams, Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Vokes sealed a historic 3-1 victory in that summer’s quarter finals.
Below is where the players are now:
Embed from Getty ImagesWayne Hennessey
Nearly five years on, not a whole lot has changed for Wayne Hennessey- well, on the International stage at least.
The 90-capped Welsh International kept goal for Chris Coleman’s side that evening and is still the established first choice between the sticks.
However, since the victory, Hennessey’s influence at club level has dwindled considerably. The 34-year old has not featured for Crystal Palace since the Project Restart last term and is seemingly third-in-command at Selhurst Park behind Vicente Guaita and Jack Butland.
Embed from Getty ImagesJames Chester
James Chester was an ever-present in the tournament, playing all six games of Wales’ remarkable run to the semi finals.
Shortly after the tournament, Chester left West Bromwich Albion for Aston Villa, where he would spend the next four years of his career before moving to Stoke City.
Following his summer move, the Manchester United academy product has made 29 appearances in Staffordshire and has formed part of a Welsh contingent at the club.
However, injuries have hampered Chester’s International career and he has not appeared for Wales since November 2018, sustaining a knee injury in his side’s 2-1 defeat to Denmark.
Embed from Getty ImagesAshley Williams
By all accounts, Ashley Williams had an instrumental impact on his side’s famous triumph.
The veteran defender not only captained Wales to victory but also scored the equalising goal, heading home from an Aaron Ramsey cross.
So it came as little surprise when Everton swooped in after the tournament, ending William’s eight year love affair with Swansea City.
Williams would spend two years on Merseyside before joining Stoke on a season long loan. Following this, Williams saw out his final year at Bristol City before hanging up his boots in September.
Now, the 36-year old is making his first venture into coaching, taking up a role with the Welsh U17 squad.
Embed from Getty ImagesBen Davies
Playing in a back three, Ben Davies thrived as part of an astute Wales backline which nullified some of the continent’s most potent footballers.
Two years prior, Davies had departed boyhood club Swansea for Spurs, and it is in North London where he remains to this day.
This campaign, the left back has played 38 times across all competitions for Jose Mourinho’s side and is an important figure for his country, too.
Embed from Getty ImagesChris Gunter
The reliable Welshman featured in a wing back role against Marc Wilmots’ side and four minutes from time, delivered a sumptuous cross into Sam Vokes to ensure his side reigned victorious.
Gunter’s International presence did not wane afterwards and at the time of writing, the experienced defender is his nation’s all time record appearance maker with 96 caps to his name.
After eight years of service with Championship side Reading, Gunter was released by the Royals in the Summer, linking up with Charlton Athletic as a result.
Widely viewed as a solid acquisition for the Addicks, Gunter has been a virtual ever-present for the Londoners as they look to claw their way back to the second tier at the first time of asking.
Embed from Getty ImagesAaron Ramsey
By all accounts, Aaron Ramsey ran the show that evening.
Utilising his creative craft to optimum, the then-Arsenal midfielder laid on two assists and was the rightful recipient of the Man of the Match award, leaving Belgium’s star-studded midfield chasing shadows.
Ramsey would enjoy a further three years at the Emirates, adding a Community Shield and a second FA Cup under his belt before jetting off to Italy in 2019.
This would see Ramsey join Italian giants Juventus in a career changing move, for whom he helped to a domestic title in his debut season.
Though the ex-Cardiff City man has dealt the wrath of injuries during his time in Turin, his integral importance when fit can not be underplayed.
Embed from Getty ImagesJoe Ledley
For Ledley, it has been a somewhat nomadic career since.
The 34-year old would leave Crystal Palace for Derby County just over a year later, making 30 appearances for the Rams over a two year period.
After close a year out of the game, Charlton was the next destination, though Ledley would only make a sole cameo in the Capital before heading down under with Newcastle Jets.
Ledley parted ways with the Australian side back in November and has recently returned to South Wales with Newport County, making his debut in Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Leyton Orient.
He has not played for the Welsh National team since October 2018.
Embed from Getty ImagesJoe Allen
Affectionately dubbed ‘the Welsh Pirlo’, enigmatic midfielder Joe Allen won the hearts of Wales supporters with a host of impressive performances that summer.
Upon the conclusion of the tournament, Allen left Liverpool for Stoke and he still plays his football at the Bet 365 Stadium at the age of 31.
This term, Allen has racked up 18 appearances and will be desperate to cement a starting berth in the Welsh midfield this summer.
Embed from Getty ImagesNeil Taylor
Neil Taylor revelled in a left wing back role against the Belgians, displaying defensive solidity and a spark going forward to boot.
The following January saw Taylor leave Swansea for Aston Villa, where he would be relegated that summer.
During his first two and a half seasons with the Villians, Taylor was a frequent fixture in the side but upon their promotion to the Premier League in 2019, he has received a distinct lack of action.
For the Wrexham academy product, the current campaign has merely yielded 16 minutes of football. Taylor’s hopes of making the EURO 2020 squad firmly hang in the balance, having not featured for Ryan Giggs in nearly a year.
Embed from Getty ImagesGareth Bale
Even though Bale did not etch his name on the scoresheet, he still managed to craft a spellbinding performance to put Belgium under the cosh all evening.
A bonafide superstar during the peak of his powers at Real Madrid, Bale eventually fell out of favour in the Spanish Capital and made a glorious renaissance with former club Spurs at the beginning of the season.
The move was met with delightful delirium and initially, it took the iconic Welshman a long time to recapture his mojo.
However, Bale’s recent form has rekindled the hope that he could be the man to orchestrate Wales’ fortunes at the upcoming tournament, showing real signs of what he is truly capable of.
Embed from Getty ImagesHal Robson-Kanu
For THAT goal alone, Hal Robson-Kanu’s name will be permanently engraved into Welsh folklore.
Latching onto a pass from Ramsey, Robson-Kanu took the ball under control before sensationally cruyff-turning in the Belgium area and striking home to put Wales ahead, inciting unprecedented bedlam in the process.
Soon after the competition, the forward left Reading to return to the top flight with West Bromwich Albion, making 150 appearances since the switch.
The pinnacle of Robson-Kanu’s tenure in the West Midlands came in the 2019/20 campaign, in which the 31-year old found the back of the net ten times to help the Baggies back to the Premier League.
However, this season has not been anywhere near as fruitful, with Robson-Kanu only mustering 281 minutes of football for the relegation-threatened outfit.
Substitutes
Embed from Getty ImagesAndy King
On the back of a phenomenal title-winning season with Leicester City, Andy King was part of a successive miracle over in France.
Against Belgium, King came on as a late substitute in place of Ledley and would go on to start in his side’s semi final defeat at the hands of Portugal.
Though King has not played for Wales since 2018, and after a series of loan moves away from the East Midlands, penned permanent terms with sister club OH Leuven- coincidentally based in Belgium.
Following the transfer back in December, the midfielder has only played once for Marc Brys’ side.
Embed from Getty ImagesSam Vokes
In the final ten minutes of the famed fixture, Sam Vokes replaced Robson-Kanu and wasted little time in making an impact, grabbing Wales’ third goal in the dying embers.
Vokes is now back in the Championship with Stoke, having upped sticks from Burnley in January 2019.
The ex-Wolves forward is still yet to open his account this term and will need to drastically improve his form if he is to be a part of Wales’ EURO 2020 squad.
Embed from Getty ImagesJames Collins
Seasoned defender James Collins was Coleman’s third and final substitution of the evening, coming on for Ramsey in the final minutes.
Back in October, Collins drew the curtains on an illustrious 19-year playing career, which saw him represent Cardiff City, Aston Villa, and West Ham United.
After departing East London in 2018, Collins underwent a brief spell at Ipswich Town, playing six times in the Championship prior to his release that summer.
