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From the latest transfer news, quizzes, videos, features and interviews with the biggest names in the game, plus lots more.Signup +Once a week...And its LIVE!Sign up to our FREE live football newsletter, tracking all of the biggest games available to watch on the device of your choice. Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterWales crashed out of their World Cup qualifier last month against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it has not been all that painful for the Dragons over the past decade.They made it to World Cup 2022 in Qatar, and got into the knockouts in Euro 2020, but their best-ever major tournament finish came just under 10 years ago, at Euro 2016 in France.Remarkably, considering they entered the tournament as rank outsiders, they managed to book their place in the final four with an unlikely win over Belgium, who were near the summit of the FIFA rankings at the time. You may like Wales World Cup 2026 squad: Craig Bellamy's latest selection ahead of the March international break Watch Wales vs Bosnia-Herzegovina: FREE stream and TV info 'Belgium could have won the World Cup with me' Radja Nainggolan explains key factor in the infamous Wales lossBelgium took the lead early in the first half through Radja Nainggolan, before their opponents equalised on the half-hour mark via Ashley Williams.It was all square at half-time and, miraculously, it was the Dragons who were able to assert themselves on the game, first through Hal Robson-Kanu, before solidifying the victory courtesy of Sam Vokes. Hal Robson-Kanu Wales reached the EURO 2016 semi-finals after beating Belgium 3-1!#OTD | @Cymru | @RobsonKanu pic.twitter.com/Xj7xmCyyeeJuly 1, 2020It was a strong Wales side, featuring the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, but it was no match for some of the names Belgium boasted.This was still the early days of the Red Devils supposed golden generation, with glitzy names like Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois all starting that day.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.It was that star power, however, that may have been Belgiums undoing, according to goalscorer Nainggolan.I still dont know how we ended up losing that match, the midfielder tells FourFourTwo now, looking back on the episode with dismay.All I can tell you is that, probably, we werent a particularly tight-knit team. What to read next Craig Bellamy hasnt been afraid to go against who the fans or media think should be in the team. Hes working on the short-term and long-term success of Wales Ryan Giggs on what Bellamy brings to the Wales job World Cup 2026 Playoffs: The complete guide When Ronaldo went off, we thought, Weve lost our best player, whats going to happen now? But at the same time it also gave us strength Nani on Portugals historic Euro 2016 win That disconnect, the former Roma man feels, was borne out of the way certain players were treated, with the suggestion being that the high-profile names were afforded more attention.Maybe the coach [Marc Wilmots] should have developed more cohesion between the players, Nainggolan continued.It felt as though he was somehow obliged to give superstar status to Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, which created an imbalance in how the squad members were treated.Bale is a name that looks comfortable among that trio, yet there was never a sense that his status caused friction in the Wales camp perhaps there was a lesson there for Belgium that day.TOPICSEuropean ChampionshipIsaac Stacey StrongeSocial Links NavigationFreelance WriterIsaac Stacey Stronge is a freelance football writer working for FourFourTwo, Manchester United and Football League World. He has been a season ticket holder at Stockport County throughout the Hatters meteoric rise from the National League North to League One and is a die-hard Paddy Madden fan.
