‘Not sure the old ticker can take it’ – Wales thriller reaction

Wales very nearly completed a comeback of the ages before ultimately falling to a 4-3 loss to Belgium.

Craig Bellamy’s side trailed 3-0 in Brussels before goals from Harry Wilson, Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson saw them level proceedings in the World Cup qualifying fixture, only for Kevin De Bruyne to net a late winner to break the visitors’ hearts.

Bellamy said he was “beyond proud” of his players for their efforts against Rudi Garcia’s side.

“If you’re going to lose a game, it’s not the worst way to lose it,” former Wales striker Helen Ward told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

“There was so much excitement, drama and character shown from [Craig Bellamy’s] team.”

Ex-Wales forward Sam Vokes – who netted in a 3-1 victory over Belgium at Euro 2016 – commented: “It was a roller coaster of emotions.

“As Welsh fans that we are, I was very proud watching us coming back.”

Danny Gabbidon – who won 49 Wales caps between 2002 and 2014 – told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport: “Wow. What a game of football. Unbelievable.

“I’ve got to say, if this is the way Wales will play moving forward, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to watch because I’m not sure if the old ticker is going to be able to take it.”

Fulham’s Wilson started the comeback with a penalty just before the break in Brussels, his sixth goal in eight appearances under Bellamy.

And ex-Wales frontman Rob Earnshaw believes the 28-year-old is among a clutch of players who have fully stepped up to the plate under the new regime.

“The likes of Harry Wilson, he’s probably the stand out where I’ve seen him grow into a real man, in a sense, into a real top football player,” Earnshaw told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

“Adding goals and assists, he got a goal last night. He’s thriving.

“But then I look around and I see the likes of Sorba Thomas, he got an assist the other night [against Liechtenstein] and a goal [against Belgium].

“David Brooks, he’s had his troubles over the last few years but he loves playing for Wales, you can see the energy.

“There’s a real sense that anybody in the team has got a chance and players are thriving – I love to see it.”

Having relied heavily on the astonishing talent of talisman Gareth Bale in the past, Vokes believes Wales have, over time, managed to build a group littered with experience.

“What we do have in the group, players like [Ethan] Ampadu and Wilson that have played a lot of games and they’ve got that experience,” he added.

“We do have a group that have kind of grown up together.”

At 3-0 down after just 27 minutes following goals from Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku, all hope had appeared lost for Wales.

But Earnshaw believes Bellamy’s Wales can take a huge amount from the defeat in Brussels given their remarkable fightback.

“We know Belgium are good and Wales were given no chance, especially being 3-0 down,” he explained.

“But what I did love was that, I think what this new Wales has really given us is that we could be 3-0 down, but it’s not over.

“It’s a lot to take, but I’ve been in dressing rooms where sometimes you lose a game but you learn so much and you feel more confident.”

Ward added: “The spirit of that team, they’re never out of it and they kept going. Even at 3-3 they didn’t try and settle for that.”

Wales have never come from 3-0 down to win or draw a match, but Roberts could not hide his pride at the way Bellamy’s side fought back to challenge for a share of the spoils at King Baudouin Stadium.

“We were punished for a poor 20 minutes in the first half and we had a mountain to climb after that, but fair play to the players, they climbed it,” he said.

Wales sit second – a point behind Group J leaders North Macedonia – at the midway stage of the qualifying campaign.

Belgium have two games in hand over both the top two, and Roberts believes the matches with North Macedonia and Belgium at Cardiff City Stadium later this year will be “crucial”.

And even with four matches still to play for Wales, Gabbidon feels the race for top spot will go down to the wire.

“North Macedonia have started well, I think we’ve seen some flaws in this Belgium team and Wales have had a decent start,” he said.

“I think it’s going to be a really interesting group, I think it’s going to go right to the death to see who qualifies.”

Ward added: “It’s wide open. With home games to come against the top teams it’s good for Wales, we know how good they are at the Cardiff City Stadium. It’s all to play for.”

At the 2022 World Cup finals, Wales picked up just one point from their three group stage matches, suffering damaging losses to Iran and England having opened the tournament with a 1-1 draw against the USA.

And Vokes believes the current members of the squad who featured in Qatar are determined to make amends by putting on a show in next year’s global showpiece.

“We have a group that went to a World Cup last time and felt like we didn’t do ourselves justice,” he explained.

“Having spoken to some of those players since that tournament, they’re desperate to get back there. They’re a group that are together and that are willing to get back there.