The turning of June into July is not a joyful time for Belgium.
Their Euro 2024 campaign has come to an end with defeat to France at the last-16 stage; three years ago, they managed a day longer before exiting against Italy, albeit in a quarter-final.
In 2016, as with this year, it was on July 1 that they were eliminated, though like 2021 it was a quarter-final. It was a glorious night for Wales, who marked their first appearance at a major finals since 1958 by reaching the last four with a 3-1 win.
Even better from our point of view was that the victory in Lille included the only instance at Euro 2016 of a team having the players numbered 1-11 on the pitch at the same time, though only ever so briefly.
To be fair to Chris Coleman’s side, in the group stage, they either eight or nine of the 1-11 players for their three games and nine for their round-of-16 win.
There was one change for the quarter-final as number 9 Hal Robson-Kanu came in for 18 Sam Vokes.
That proved to be an inspired decision as Robson-Kanu famously sent the firemen to the wrong fire in making it 2-1 after Ashley Williams had equalised Radja Nainggolan’s opener for Belgium.
Then, in the 78th minute, Joe Ledley was replaced by number 8 Andy King in midfield, giving Wales the 1-11 – somewhat ironic that a Ledley-King switch would do that, given that Ledley King wore 26 for the entirety of his Tottenham Hotspur career.
That state of affair was to last just two minutes as Robson-Kanu was called ashore for Vokes – another good decision by Coleman, to be fair, as the sub made it 3-1.
James Collins (19) replaced Aaron Ramsey in injury time to shore up the defence and ensure Wales held on for the win. Going further than ever before and doing so with the right numbers? Lush, that is.
