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Welcome to the full match rerun of the most historic occasion yet in | :00:18. | :01:01. | |
the history of Welsh football. It is the first semifinal of the European | :01:02. | :01:04. | |
jabbing chip, Portugal against Wales. I'm your match commentator | :01:05. | :01:09. | |
and joining me is Danny Murphy. -- European Championship. Wayne | :01:10. | :01:15. | |
Hennessey plays behind a defence which a change for the first time in | :01:16. | :01:18. | |
France. Collins coming in for the banned Davies. The Premier League | :01:19. | :01:25. | |
winner Andy King comes in hoping to follow the lead of Ramsey in | :01:26. | :01:28. | |
providing chances for Gareth Bale and the man who might even have | :01:29. | :01:30. | |
upstaged him, Hal Robson-Kanu. Depleted by two. Suspensions with | :01:31. | :01:57. | |
Portugal and Wales and Pepe not even fit enough for the bench. | :01:58. | :02:06. | |
Has taken his place just behind. I am sure he can fall out from there. | :02:07. | :02:21. | |
Together stronger, the Welsh motto. They really do live by it. It is a | :02:22. | :02:30. | |
together team getting ready to kick off their country's first ever major | :02:31. | :02:33. | |
tournament football semifinal. It is Portugal in the pale mint | :02:34. | :02:44. | |
green and Wales in grey and bright green change strip, for only the | :02:45. | :02:50. | |
second time in the tournament. The other was in losing against England | :02:51. | :02:53. | |
but that seems like a different time. It seems a long time ago. Uefa | :02:54. | :03:00. | |
have decreed Portugal, technically being the home listed team, the dark | :03:01. | :03:07. | |
red kit was not allowed to clash with the darkness of the Wales | :03:08. | :03:13. | |
change strip. We have the ludicrous situation of neither team in their | :03:14. | :03:18. | |
preferred red. Wales try to take it the Portugal straightaway. Danny | :03:19. | :03:22. | |
Murphy is with me for the match. Can this dream go on? Yes, it can. What | :03:23. | :03:29. | |
a rendition that was, by the way. The hairs on the back of my neck | :03:30. | :03:32. | |
were to attention. A good start for Wales. Passing well. The main thing | :03:33. | :03:39. | |
we are going to see, Wales without the creativity of Ramsay, who was | :03:40. | :03:49. | |
pivotal in the last game. Hopefully, we can. Hopefully, we can. Contrary | :03:50. | :03:57. | |
to most of the hype it is not about Rinaldo against Bale. These are two | :03:58. | :04:04. | |
teens. Portugal have managed largely without their star man. Topping the | :04:05. | :04:13. | |
ball 19 times in the entire match. The first free kick of the goes | :04:14. | :04:20. | |
against Joe Allen. Get away with those earlier in the game. Rinaldo. | :04:21. | :04:40. | |
A shimmy and a shake. Jose Rondon. Portugal will continue with the | :04:41. | :04:45. | |
composed approach to football. It has always been the way of Fernando | :04:46. | :04:51. | |
Santos. The young man in the team. Getting the ball away. | :04:52. | :04:58. | |
And here is Williams. James Collins. His first start actually since that | :04:59. | :05:13. | |
3-0 win in Israel in qualifying. His only appearance in the qualifying | :05:14. | :05:18. | |
campaign. Very experienced. A really good header of the ball. Important | :05:19. | :05:22. | |
on set plays. We can see how dangerous Wales can be when they get | :05:23. | :05:25. | |
good deliveries into the opposition box. Joe Allen. Could not take it | :05:26. | :05:33. | |
under control. Allowed it to run to them on man you do not want it | :05:34. | :05:36. | |
running two. He feels he is felt by Ashley Williams. He felt it was a | :05:37. | :05:41. | |
perfect tackle by the Swansea man. Robson-Kanu. He has been penalised | :05:42. | :05:47. | |
for handball. I thought he shovelled it. Cristiano Ronaldo is fuming. He | :05:48. | :05:55. | |
thinks it was a foul. I have the say it looked like a free kick from | :05:56. | :06:00. | |
here. Got some of the ball, actually. A good tackle by Ashley | :06:01. | :06:06. | |
Williams. Wales will not mind that being part of the plan very early | :06:07. | :06:15. | |
on. Cristian Ira now though rattled. -- Cristiano Ronaldo rattled. | :06:16. | :06:19. | |
Collins steers it away from you know who. Coming across to take the flow. | :06:20. | :06:28. | |
Still pointing the finger and mumbling towards the referee. | :06:29. | :06:39. | |
Mario. Bruno Alvez. Picked ahead of, Leo. It is sensible. I think he has | :06:40. | :06:49. | |
got a bit more athleticism. In the back of the mind of the manager must | :06:50. | :06:50. | |
be the pace of Gareth Bale. Fonte. Giving Narnia chase. Williams | :06:51. | :07:19. | |
is across. -- Nani chase. I think that is why he has kept in in the | :07:20. | :07:33. | |
middle of the three. Renato Sanches. Portugal have to go back to come | :07:34. | :07:43. | |
forward. Guerreiro. Closed down by the ever willing Chris Gunter. | :07:44. | :07:51. | |
Gunter denied winning his 73rd, making him joint fifth on the | :07:52. | :07:57. | |
all-time Welsh list with Peter Nicholas and Ian Rush. Great name. | :07:58. | :08:01. | |
He is doing something they never got to do, starring in a major | :08:02. | :08:07. | |
championship. Renato Sanches. He might be a start to come in the | :08:08. | :08:18. | |
future. -- superstar. Ronaldo. Joao Mario. Collins can step across in | :08:19. | :08:28. | |
front of Guerreiro. Welsh goalkick. Cagey start. Both teams, | :08:29. | :08:34. | |
understandably so, getting a feel for it, knocking the ball around. | :08:35. | :08:37. | |
Not been a high press from either side. An easy way in on such a big | :08:38. | :08:44. | |
occasion. White normal. -- quite normal. Portugal managed against | :08:45. | :08:50. | |
Poland when they were behind after 100 seconds. I think I'm right to | :08:51. | :09:00. | |
say they came from behind in the game against Hungary as well. They | :09:01. | :09:04. | |
seem to start rather slowly. They have done the same again. They are | :09:05. | :09:08. | |
not trying to get on the front foot. They are just sitting in. Three | :09:09. | :09:13. | |
times against Hungary in this stadium. Wales of course had to do | :09:14. | :09:22. | |
it the hard way in their last round. Against Belgium. Gunter. | :09:23. | :09:33. | |
Robson-Kanu. He arguably scored the goal of the tournament and he is | :09:34. | :09:36. | |
spinning and turning and showing his skill once more. Bale. Gunter is | :09:37. | :09:45. | |
wide. Bale was only ever going to cut inside. Great play from | :09:46. | :09:53. | |
Robson-Kanu. Nice and strong. A good touch. What you want from a striker | :09:54. | :10:00. | |
early in the game. He has lost it. He lost it twice. He has recovered | :10:01. | :10:05. | |
this time. The referee has deemed that challenge a foul. Cristiano | :10:06. | :10:11. | |
Ronaldo Rinaldo has gone across to -- Cristiano Ronaldo has gone across | :10:12. | :10:15. | |
to take an issue with it and that is a booking. Definite booking, Joe | :10:16. | :10:22. | |
Allen. Sloppy. A bit nervous. Legs not going as quickly as your brain | :10:23. | :10:27. | |
is telling them. Sometimes on a big stage in a big game, I have been | :10:28. | :10:31. | |
there myself, he needs to sharpen up and play a bit quicker. He has been | :10:32. | :10:38. | |
absolutely mirthless in the games before this tournament. -- | :10:39. | :10:44. | |
nerveless. Fonte. Before he could be blocked by | :10:45. | :10:56. | |
Bale. Safely back to Wayne Hennessey. A little bit of a fumble. | :10:57. | :11:08. | |
Gunter. Mets to be in Mexico tomorrow for his brother's wedding. | :11:09. | :11:20. | |
Not sure he is going to make it. As are his parents. I am sure they | :11:21. | :11:24. | |
understand. Biggest game of his life. There are some stories like | :11:25. | :11:29. | |
that around the Welsh camp. Joe Ledley has had to postpone his | :11:30. | :11:33. | |
wedding which was this weekend in IB that. Chris Coleman might this the | :11:34. | :11:39. | |
birth of his child. Incredible, isn't it? What a wonderful story for | :11:40. | :11:45. | |
these guys. There will be other weddings and other kids. There might | :11:46. | :11:50. | |
not be another semifinal. Neil Taylor missing a John say concert. | :11:51. | :12:06. | |
-- concert. Here is Guerreiro. Two balls on the pitch. They will have | :12:07. | :12:09. | |
two through the original in one small. -- have to throw. Here is | :12:10. | :12:17. | |
Renato Sanches. Scored a delicious equaliser against Poland. That is a | :12:18. | :12:22. | |
good cross. Wayne Hennessey stays back. James Collins did his work for | :12:23. | :12:33. | |
him. Joao Mario. Another good ball. Cristiano Ronaldo winding up for the | :12:34. | :12:38. | |
big one. It should be his again. And he is already showing that familiar | :12:39. | :12:45. | |
trait of being frustrated and wanting all about his own way. Maybe | :12:46. | :12:49. | |
he has a case with Collins wrapping his arm. Fantastic header. His arm | :12:50. | :12:56. | |
is on him a little bit. But brilliant. Sticking with your man | :12:57. | :13:01. | |
and making sure you are not beaten. Crucial. | :13:02. | :13:18. | |
Never been any doubt of Cristiano Ronaldo's talents, but he knows | :13:19. | :13:26. | |
every trick in the book and has written a couple of new chapters | :13:27. | :13:42. | |
B-sides. Forward by Pepe. Just a little bit too far in front of Andy | :13:43. | :13:49. | |
King. He makes terrific runs from the midfield area. If he keeps doing | :13:50. | :13:56. | |
that, he will get in. He is really good at timing those runs. Good | :13:57. | :13:59. | |
effort from Gareth. Fonts. Collins, saw that Bale was going. | :14:00. | :14:41. | |
Even he cannot catch that want to keep it in. It is OK. This is the | :14:42. | :14:52. | |
header again. He does get away with that little bit. What a leap. | :14:53. | :14:57. | |
Especially with Ronaldo's ability in the air. Crucial you stay close to | :14:58. | :15:03. | |
him when the ball is wide. You always catch your breath when his | :15:04. | :15:09. | |
arms are raised like that. He has to be careful. If the referee sees that | :15:10. | :15:16. | |
a few more times, he could punish him. Knocked down by Adrien Silva. | :15:17. | :15:32. | |
The midfielder has his cross blocked Azubuike Egwuekwe. -- King. | :15:33. | :15:46. | |
Cedric. Not his best cross. They have obviously talked about getting | :15:47. | :15:58. | |
crosses into the box. They have put more balls into the box in the first | :15:59. | :16:07. | |
12 minutes of this game than I have seen in any other game. It is a good | :16:08. | :16:15. | |
ploy when you have someone who can head the ball as good as Ronaldo in | :16:16. | :16:21. | |
there. Chris Gunter. Good spring from Bruno Alves to get above | :16:22. | :16:29. | |
Robson-Kanu. What an amazing story this has been as this tournament has | :16:30. | :16:34. | |
gone on. Wouldn't mind being his agent right now. He is in a great | :16:35. | :16:43. | |
position, but he deserves it. He works hard for the team. Two goals | :16:44. | :16:52. | |
here in France for his country, doubling what he has scored in 30 | :16:53. | :16:58. | |
games. Only scored five for Reading last season. | :16:59. | :17:10. | |
It has helped he has had the calibre of players like Bale Aaron Ramsey | :17:11. | :17:19. | |
alongside him? Definitely, definitely. Ronaldo was | :17:20. | :17:31. | |
dispossessed. Hennessy, clear. Not the best or most confidence. Gareth | :17:32. | :17:39. | |
Bale was caught waiting for it, I allowed Adrien Silva in. | :17:40. | :17:47. | |
Tentative start from both teams. Nobody committing too many men | :17:48. | :17:51. | |
forward. Portugal making good progress in | :17:52. | :18:37. | |
knocking the ball around nicely. Ronaldo was fouled. The advantage | :18:38. | :18:43. | |
was signalled by the referee and it very nearly paid off for Portugal. | :18:44. | :18:51. | |
Best move of the game. Nice and patients. Joao Mario, just pulls the | :18:52. | :18:59. | |
shot wide, but a good passage of play from the Portuguese. Better. | :19:00. | :19:12. | |
Portugal are perennials in the semifinal, just about. They have | :19:13. | :19:23. | |
reached four of the last five championships. This is new territory | :19:24. | :19:31. | |
for anybody who has ever put on a Welsh shirt. | :19:32. | :20:02. | |
Bruno Alves. Must have had a bit of a shock when he looked up and saw | :20:03. | :20:12. | |
Hal Robson-Kanu was so close to him. Bale with the Little shift. Good run | :20:13. | :21:00. | |
from Gareth Bale. Nice and positive, but the birds time getting in behind | :21:01. | :21:07. | |
Fonte. He has to use that pays. It scares defenders all over the world. | :21:08. | :21:16. | |
Opportunity knocks for Wales. Ashley Williams, who headed them level | :21:17. | :21:22. | |
against Al Jim last time out. He comes, the captain to take his place | :21:23. | :21:29. | |
in the queue. Set pieces crucial for Wales. They have some big boys in | :21:30. | :21:41. | |
there. Something different! Bale! Caught nearly everybody out. Clever | :21:42. | :21:49. | |
corner from Wales. Couldn't quite wrap his foot around it. Have used | :21:50. | :21:55. | |
that one a few times myself. Catching the other team sleeping. I | :21:56. | :22:03. | |
think with the aerial power they have got, it is difficult to score | :22:04. | :22:12. | |
from the edge of the box when the ball is going away from you. Shows | :22:13. | :22:17. | |
the confidence in the team because of the work they have been doing. | :22:18. | :22:27. | |
Now Ronaldo has had to shake his head and apologise. | :22:28. | :23:19. | |
Chester. Nicely poked through to Joe Ledley. Good, patient build-up from | :23:20. | :23:35. | |
Wales. Good decision-making. Joe Allen had to think on his feet. | :23:36. | :23:56. | |
Bale. Good ball in! Didn't get the touch from Andy King. Nice feel to | :23:57. | :24:07. | |
the way Wales are going forward. Bale getting in behind using his | :24:08. | :24:14. | |
pace and power. Good run from Andy King. But much more positive. | :24:15. | :24:42. | |
There is the 18-year-old again. Raphael Guerreiro. Ronaldo. Bale, | :24:43. | :25:05. | |
skips past the Nilo, who dived in. Bale goes the goal. It is a shot on | :25:06. | :25:13. | |
target. Very comfortably saved by Rui Patricio. Bale is getting going. | :25:14. | :25:22. | |
Once you get him on his left foot, you expect a better strike than | :25:23. | :25:28. | |
Matt. Straight down the keeper's throat, but superb play again. | :25:29. | :25:43. | |
Collins, just got up high enough. Portugal corner. The game is | :25:44. | :25:48. | |
starting to fears. Bit more end to end. Good play again from James | :25:49. | :25:57. | |
Collins. One of its strengths in his own box, in the air. Joao Mario. It | :25:58. | :26:14. | |
wasn't the worst corner you will ever see. Nobody dared to attack it | :26:15. | :26:22. | |
and Hennessy didn't have to come for it. Doesn't quite capture it. Nice | :26:23. | :26:29. | |
and comfortable for the goalkeeper. Really positive run. Positive start, | :26:30. | :26:42. | |
by and large, from Wales. Ten goals at the tournament so far. Only | :26:43. | :26:50. | |
France more and that is due to the five they put past Iceland. You mean | :26:51. | :26:56. | |
anyone can score and put them past Iceland, is that what you are trying | :26:57. | :27:05. | |
to say? Not at all. Just one mention of England. Only one more UK team | :27:06. | :27:14. | |
has scored more than Wales at a major tournament and that was by Sir | :27:15. | :27:25. | |
Alf Ramsey's men in 1966. Nothing we have seen in the game so far has | :27:26. | :27:32. | |
suggested it will not happen. Clips it in nicely. Andy King lot in front | :27:33. | :27:43. | |
of Fonte and it was a good bit of defending to put it behind. Super | :27:44. | :27:48. | |
run from Hal Robson-Kanu. Andy King loves to get in the box. Three times | :27:49. | :27:55. | |
already he has got in, trying to get on the end of crosses. Might have | :27:56. | :27:58. | |
been an important deflection. Good defending. This looks like a | :27:59. | :28:20. | |
more straightforward corner from Joe Ledley. Taylor goes with him. | :28:21. | :28:29. | |
Excellent work by Taylor. Just to heavy out by Gunter. Portugal | :28:30. | :28:43. | |
through. -- Portugal thrown. Could not find Renato Sanches. He did not | :28:44. | :28:48. | |
give up on it. He has picked out Taylor. Looking for Ronaldo. Well | :28:49. | :28:56. | |
held, Hennessy. You can see that coming. You worry when a player is | :28:57. | :29:02. | |
trying to usher it out. I always used to say when I was playing, get | :29:03. | :29:07. | |
out, do not take the risk. We have seen it so many times, sneaking in. | :29:08. | :29:15. | |
With the ball and causing problems. Ashley Williams. Waiting for it. In | :29:16. | :29:26. | |
came Guerreiro. And back he goes once more. Ashley Williams is | :29:27. | :29:35. | |
holding his hand up and Gareth Bale is saying, why did you not chase | :29:36. | :29:39. | |
that? I agree with him. He should have gave it a chase. Was well | :29:40. | :29:44. | |
within his grasp. Maybe having a rest after that run we saw minutes | :29:45. | :30:00. | |
ago. Fonte. Bruno Alvez. Watch him when Portugal gets a free kick and a | :30:01. | :30:04. | |
corner, highest scoring defender in international history, ten | :30:05. | :30:08. | |
international goals. Good awareness from Ledley. The Bale. Gunter. | :30:09. | :30:21. | |
Solid stuff from Raphael Guerreiro. Helped out Danilo. Mario nosy has | :30:22. | :30:33. | |
got to go here. In he comes to sort it out for Wales. Adrien Silva. Joao | :30:34. | :30:39. | |
Mario. Renato Sanches. Looking for the | :30:40. | :30:52. | |
ball. Questioned by the French coach this | :30:53. | :31:09. | |
week. I think it is a condiment. So composed. -- compliment. On the ball | :31:10. | :31:18. | |
again. It bypassed Raphael Guerreiro. Wales clearing. They are | :31:19. | :31:31. | |
having to soak a little bit up now. Ronaldo. Raphael Guerreiro's cross | :31:32. | :31:56. | |
is met by Williams. King. Danilo. Soares lets fly and that is what the | :31:57. | :32:03. | |
ball does. Not the best effort. But he is capable. The Portuguese | :32:04. | :32:12. | |
supporters have been buoyed by the last couple of minutes, seeing their | :32:13. | :32:16. | |
team dominated possession in the Welsh half. I think one thing we can | :32:17. | :32:25. | |
be sure, there is nothing to fear from this side. They look more than | :32:26. | :32:30. | |
capable of opening the Portuguese out. The pace and positiveness of | :32:31. | :32:38. | |
Bale in the early stages. This time he is deeper. Looking for Andy King. | :32:39. | :32:46. | |
Ledley place it behind Gunter. -- plays it. Allen. Awkward for Bruno | :32:47. | :32:54. | |
Alvez, slightly. He does his job. Chester. 30 tentative minutes | :32:55. | :33:23. | |
played. Collins. Taylor. They all call for it. Taylor look instead to | :33:24. | :33:28. | |
the centre. Did not put his cross and there. That was poor from | :33:29. | :33:37. | |
Taylor. Just give the ball to the better players. Let them do it. Let | :33:38. | :33:42. | |
them create the chaos, make the magic. | :33:43. | :33:51. | |
The fans have warmed up their throats a little bit more. Getting | :33:52. | :33:56. | |
into full cry. Chris Coleman looks relaxed enough for now. I am sure if | :33:57. | :34:02. | |
it stays like this he will reemphasise his general message to | :34:03. | :34:05. | |
the players at half-time. No fear. Robson-Kanu. King. Here is Allen. | :34:06. | :34:27. | |
Renato Sanches. Always seems to be the Portugal player most willing to | :34:28. | :34:35. | |
receive. Looks full of confidence, full of running. Composure on the | :34:36. | :34:41. | |
ball as well. The young man. As really impressed me as the | :34:42. | :34:44. | |
tournament as regressed, his performances. -- has progressed. | :34:45. | :34:59. | |
Joao Mario. Nani. Adrien Silva. On for the shot. Just wanted it to be a | :35:00. | :35:09. | |
little bit tighter in front of him. Strong message from Fernando Santos | :35:10. | :35:13. | |
to the men in pale mint green. Can Renato Sanches show what he is | :35:14. | :35:32. | |
all about by taking penalty number two in the quarterfinal? Great | :35:33. | :35:42. | |
mentality. Ronaldo is not hanging back to number five these days after | :35:43. | :35:43. | |
what happened some years ago. Last semifinal of the Euros in | :35:44. | :35:59. | |
Donetsk, losing against Spain on penalties. 4-2. Ronaldo was waiting | :36:00. | :36:08. | |
for the moment and he never got the chance. Here he goes now. We are a | :36:09. | :36:17. | |
bit away from that tonight yet. Got that feel already. Kind of. A very | :36:18. | :36:25. | |
tight. Very even. As the game goes on you will see a bit of tiredness | :36:26. | :36:32. | |
and space. We might not get to extra time. Let's hope it improves a | :36:33. | :36:42. | |
little bit. Fonte. He wanted more movement in front of them. Joao | :36:43. | :36:47. | |
Mario obliges. That is going to move too far in front of Renato Sanches. | :36:48. | :36:54. | |
Perplexed expressions on Portuguese faces, not least his. | :36:55. | :37:02. | |
King. A foul. Free kick, Wales. Good feet, Andy King. He has done well. | :37:03. | :37:17. | |
He has got big shoes to fill this evening and has really done well. He | :37:18. | :37:21. | |
got himself in the box and made an impression. He only started nine of | :37:22. | :37:27. | |
Leicester's Premier League games last season. Hamstring injury. And | :37:28. | :37:37. | |
he could not get in. Such a group. -- grew. | :37:38. | :37:41. | |
Cedric Suarez. Danilo. It has moved away from him. And there is Fonte. | :37:42. | :38:00. | |
Looking for Ronaldo. Collins. He seemed to lose Ronaldo for a minute | :38:01. | :38:03. | |
but never lost sight of where the ball was going. | :38:04. | :38:09. | |
Chester. Joe Allen had a little glance. Adrien Silva was giving him | :38:10. | :38:56. | |
a bit of space this time. Allen. Robson-Kanu pulling away. The ball | :38:57. | :39:01. | |
towards is not accurate enough. He will cover and prevent the corner. | :39:02. | :39:06. | |
Ledley. Ledley. Taylor. Bale. Lost it. Nani | :39:07. | :39:58. | |
left it. Ronaldo returns. Might have a problem. They have got numbers | :39:59. | :40:04. | |
back. Renato Sanches to fire it in. Collins watched it. Good defending | :40:05. | :40:15. | |
again. That man, James Collins. Right place at the right time. | :40:16. | :40:17. | |
Danilo. Joao Mario. Renato Sanches. Ronaldo doesn't want | :40:18. | :41:04. | |
it. Even with his -- does want it. Even with his leap he is not going | :41:05. | :41:11. | |
to get there. Clattering right over the top of Hal Robson-Kanu. I do not | :41:12. | :41:19. | |
know why he does that, Ronaldo. This is the foul. No argument here. | :41:20. | :41:26. | |
Throws his arm up, looking at the bench, blaming people. Just using up | :41:27. | :41:31. | |
your energy for nothing. Get on with it. Just out of your picture he has | :41:32. | :41:38. | |
got a major comp on at the moment. There he is. He is back now. | :41:39. | :41:53. | |
Collins. King. I thought for one second he might just get there. He | :41:54. | :41:57. | |
did not manage it. Goalkick, Portugal. They are try to mix their | :41:58. | :42:03. | |
game. Try to get people on the diagonal with the long ball. | :42:04. | :42:07. | |
Sometimes they are playing short, building up. I like the variation in | :42:08. | :42:10. | |
the Welsh game. Not quite coming off for them yet. But very difficult to | :42:11. | :42:16. | |
play against a team mixing up their pace so well. With the exception of | :42:17. | :42:20. | |
Gareth Bale they are all British raised players. They are not looking | :42:21. | :42:25. | |
like a British team to watch tonight. They look like a | :42:26. | :42:28. | |
continental team the way they are knocking it around. They have done a | :42:29. | :42:32. | |
lot of hard work in training. You can see that from the movement, the | :42:33. | :42:37. | |
rotations, playing the system 3-5- two. They have to work on it and | :42:38. | :42:46. | |
they do. You can see that. Credit to Chris Coleman and his staff, of | :42:47. | :42:52. | |
course. They have been through the bad times to get to these lofty | :42:53. | :42:58. | |
heights. Trial three at the back with a qualifying match against | :42:59. | :43:01. | |
Andorra, almost winning from a late Gareth Bale free kick. Only winning | :43:02. | :43:08. | |
14 competitive games since but almost scrapped before they started. | :43:09. | :43:13. | |
So was Chris Coleman. He had a tough time and he got a bit of stick. Some | :43:14. | :43:20. | |
patience and perseverance and look where they are today. Unbelievable. | :43:21. | :43:24. | |
It is a game of patience and perseverance. Renato Sanches did not | :43:25. | :43:26. | |
show any here. Portugal are the taking. Hal | :43:27. | :43:39. | |
Robson-Kanu. To grips with Danilo. Raphael Guerreiro, found some space. | :43:40. | :44:29. | |
Ronaldo was quickly closed by Collins. Superb again. Spots danger, | :44:30. | :44:38. | |
get out quickly and get the block. Hasn't put a foot wrong, yet. | :44:39. | :44:52. | |
Joao Mario, gives the signal. Bruno Alves at the back. That was always | :44:53. | :45:10. | |
the keeper's. Missed the first game with an injury, but so many of these | :45:11. | :45:22. | |
Wales players have grown. James Chester hardly got a looking at West | :45:23. | :45:28. | |
Brom. But nailed it in France for their country. And for those people. | :45:29. | :45:35. | |
Sometimes you find a formula that works for a certain group of | :45:36. | :45:40. | |
players. Definitely worked for the Welsh. Taylor. That should be really | :45:41. | :45:56. | |
open should cheer with ease. -- Rui Patricio. Waiting for Wales to make | :45:57. | :46:11. | |
the first big thing in the game. Nani stumbles. Chester with the tap | :46:12. | :46:25. | |
out. Hal Robson-Kanu. Not enough room for that to work. Danilo. | :46:26. | :46:39. | |
Raphael Guerreiro. Adrien Silva. That's the best cross of the match. | :46:40. | :46:54. | |
Ronaldo on the end of it, unable to finish it. That is what we are | :46:55. | :47:03. | |
talking about, crosses into the box. Chester just is enough to put him | :47:04. | :47:09. | |
off. You expect Ronaldo 2-hit the target from there. Warning sign for | :47:10. | :47:20. | |
the Welsh. James Chester, Manchester United junior when Cristiano Ronaldo | :47:21. | :47:24. | |
was strutting his stuff at Old Trafford. | :47:25. | :47:38. | |
They have had a flash each, Ronaldo and Bale, but the superstars haven't | :47:39. | :47:50. | |
really sparkled. I think Bale has been the best. Ronaldo has had | :47:51. | :48:01. | |
threats, but Bale has been getting in behind. No great excitement in | :48:02. | :48:09. | |
the first half. I think the game has been played pretty much as expected | :48:10. | :48:15. | |
at this time. Tentative and many nerves flying around. It is as we | :48:16. | :48:20. | |
were at the start. It will carry on, I am sure in a similar pattern, for | :48:21. | :48:23. | |
the second half. It was always going to be a game of | :48:24. | :48:46. | |
fine margins. It is still perfectly balanced. One mistake wins it. One | :48:47. | :48:59. | |
moment of brilliance wins it. No changes made by either coach to | :49:00. | :49:04. | |
their systems or personnel on the field for the restart. | :49:05. | :49:12. | |
Quite content, is probably the feeling all round. Nothing | :49:13. | :49:22. | |
electrifying. You are right, there is a definite pattern in the game | :49:23. | :49:26. | |
and both managers will be reasonably pleased. No one dominating, both | :49:27. | :49:31. | |
having a few chances. But you expect the game to be upped in the second | :49:32. | :49:42. | |
half, the tempo. Passing and running forward. It is a semifinal and if | :49:43. | :49:49. | |
you want to play in the final, you have to earn it. You can see in the | :49:50. | :49:56. | |
movement, there is the natural adrenaline boost the start of a half | :49:57. | :50:00. | |
brings. A little bit more busy, everybody. | :50:01. | :50:15. | |
It is the first 40 James Collins has put wrong. Hardly a mistake. -- | :50:16. | :50:23. | |
Fortt. Bale, allowed the ball to drift and | :50:24. | :50:50. | |
gave himself a head start on Danilo. Well retrieved by James Chester. | :50:51. | :51:05. | |
You would expect Wales to make a change at a roundabout the hour | :51:06. | :51:13. | |
mark. Joe Ledley usually comes off. Don't forget he is recovering from | :51:14. | :51:21. | |
his season-ending injury, a broken leg at the end of May. No foul. | :51:22. | :51:29. | |
Given away by the Young man. Had done the hard work, nice and | :51:30. | :51:32. | |
tenacious and then a sloppy pass. Williams just asked a little bit too | :51:33. | :51:52. | |
much of Bale with that. Missing Aaron Ramsey, Danny? Yes, because he | :51:53. | :51:59. | |
is a quality footballer. When you are sat watching a game of football | :52:00. | :52:05. | |
and you want your team to win and you cannot contribute, you end up | :52:06. | :52:11. | |
more nervous than when you are on the pitch. Enough to turn your hair | :52:12. | :52:18. | |
white! I don't have that problem, as you well know. Free for Portugal. | :52:19. | :52:26. | |
Joe Allen, who was scrapping. Adrian Silber fell at his feet. Joe Allen | :52:27. | :52:34. | |
has to be careful about how he goes in. -- Adrien Silva. | :52:35. | :52:57. | |
It is headed behind for a corner. Came and counterclaim. The defending | :52:58. | :53:13. | |
by Andy King. Across and Ronaldo has met it. What | :53:14. | :53:34. | |
a leap! He has picked his moment, found his spot. Wales trail. And it | :53:35. | :53:47. | |
is one of the superstars who has made his mark on this semifinal. | :53:48. | :53:58. | |
What a jump that was. Incredible leap. First half he had been in the | :53:59. | :54:06. | |
same position a few times and Wales had managed to defend it. Watch this | :54:07. | :54:12. | |
for a leap! Unbelievable. That is why he is one of the best players in | :54:13. | :54:17. | |
the world. Big moments, big players. What a goal! It is past Wayne | :54:18. | :54:25. | |
Hennessey before he can get a glove to it. It is Pepe who celebrates | :54:26. | :54:33. | |
with the biggest smile of all. Cristiano Ronaldo, with his ninth | :54:34. | :54:43. | |
European Championship finals goal. It is a joint record with the great | :54:44. | :54:49. | |
Michel Platini. They change the angle of the corner to suit him and | :54:50. | :54:54. | |
it worked. They happened so many balls in the box 's tonight, | :54:55. | :54:57. | |
Portugal. Ronaldo has been saying to them get more balls in the box, give | :54:58. | :55:04. | |
me the opportunity. You will cause problems, you can't keep getting the | :55:05. | :55:11. | |
first head to the ball. He is going to get one. Now the game has to come | :55:12. | :55:19. | |
alive from a Wales points of view. They have come from behind before, | :55:20. | :55:22. | |
they have shown character, they have shown spirit. Gareth Bale has to | :55:23. | :55:30. | |
rise and respond. This will be loaded or somebody else. The | :55:31. | :55:38. | |
goalkeeper won it. It really is a time for no fear. Taylor. Portugal | :55:39. | :55:56. | |
in the position they like to be in. All eight of their competitive | :55:57. | :55:59. | |
victories under Fernando Santos have been achieved by a single goal. When | :56:00. | :56:11. | |
you go a goal up, you shouldn't back off, get deep and protect what you | :56:12. | :56:15. | |
have got because you are so desperate to go through. It is | :56:16. | :56:21. | |
difficult to change that mentality and stay on the front foot. | :56:22. | :56:35. | |
Ronaldo once again. It is turned past Hennessey. Finished off by | :56:36. | :56:51. | |
Nani. On the slide to move Portugal closer to Paris. It looks as though | :56:52. | :57:00. | |
Wales are sliding out. Two, quickfire Portuguese goals with a | :57:01. | :57:06. | |
Manchester United connection. Wales, in trouble. Good header from | :57:07. | :57:18. | |
Chester. Ronaldo Scots his shots, but he is onside. Good reaction from | :57:19. | :57:26. | |
Nani. They do have a mountain to climb now, Wales. So disappointing. | :57:27. | :57:37. | |
A man we mainly know as Wenger showing a striker's instinct. Read | :57:38. | :57:43. | |
it, met it, scored it. Wales now have to throw absolutely | :57:44. | :58:01. | |
every bit of spirits they have got at the Portuguese defence. Test | :58:02. | :58:03. | |
those men of war. The first test they will face is a | :58:04. | :58:23. | |
Gareth Bale delivery, once a very innocent looking Ronaldo and Joe | :58:24. | :58:26. | |
Ledley receive their words. It was not Gareth Bale's best when | :58:27. | :58:45. | |
it needed to be. A long time left in this game. One goal and they are | :58:46. | :58:51. | |
right back in it. They have to stay patient and also try and play a bit | :58:52. | :58:59. | |
higher up the pitch Tom Okker gradually moving forward as a team | :59:00. | :59:02. | |
together and start pressing a little bit higher a bit more punch and | :59:03. | :59:17. | |
power in attack. Full. Plenty of time for Bruno Alvez. | :59:18. | :59:26. | |
He helps it on. Could not do anything with it. Collins now. | :59:27. | :59:41. | |
Allen. Gave Raphael Guerreiro at the slip. Gareth Bale has two play | :59:42. | :59:48. | |
higher up the page. He keeps coming deep. He has two stay high and get | :59:49. | :59:54. | |
the ball up the pitch where he can go at people and get people | :59:55. | :00:02. | |
one-on-one. All that noise in the stadium is Portuguese. I am | :00:03. | :00:14. | |
surprised by how few Portuguese fans are here, if I am honest. Semifinal | :00:15. | :00:20. | |
of a big competition. They are looking mighty good at the moment. | :00:21. | :00:25. | |
So often the bridesmaids and never the bride at these big tournaments. | :00:26. | :00:28. | |
Looks like they are off to another wedding. Not a lot of pressure on | :00:29. | :00:37. | |
the ball right now for Cedric Suarez. Renato Sanches is caught by | :00:38. | :00:47. | |
Taylor. He is going to be caught up with by the referee, I think, | :00:48. | :00:53. | |
Taylor. You have got to start trying to ruffle some feathers. I do not | :00:54. | :00:57. | |
mind that. Get into them. Make some tackles. Upset them. Try and play | :00:58. | :01:03. | |
higher up the pitch. Got to take a risk. He has not been carded for it. | :01:04. | :01:11. | |
Joe Ledley's number is up. He has done his customary power shift, they | :01:12. | :01:20. | |
are. And on comes Burnley's Sam Vokes, who headed the third against | :01:21. | :01:24. | |
Belgium in the last round. That is the header which has made the big | :01:25. | :01:29. | |
difference tonight. That is the head which often makes a difference. It | :01:30. | :01:36. | |
is a world-class header from a world-class player. Everything about | :01:37. | :01:43. | |
it. Timing, execution, it is all there. It is the incredible... I | :01:44. | :01:48. | |
will say it again, the athleticism of the man. The spring, desire to | :01:49. | :01:55. | |
get up and head it. He must look after himself so well. We know he | :01:56. | :02:00. | |
does. He chooses his moments. Which means he looks after himself very | :02:01. | :02:04. | |
well off the pitch. The top players do. Just 51 goals last season. Ten | :02:05. | :02:13. | |
down on the previous year. There was a spell I was reading about the | :02:14. | :02:16. | |
latter stages of the season about how tired he was and he was not | :02:17. | :02:21. | |
contributing. But 51 goals in a season is remarkable in itself. | :02:22. | :02:33. | |
Incredible. Hungary managed to score three against Portugal on this | :02:34. | :02:38. | |
pitch. Maybe Wales can as well. Just getting one is a big barrier to | :02:39. | :02:47. | |
break down now. Portugal are bringing out one of their best | :02:48. | :02:51. | |
displays of the tournament in this semifinal, as they get closer and | :02:52. | :02:55. | |
closer. Foul from Robson-Kanu. Portugal free kick. Do not mind that | :02:56. | :03:02. | |
from Gareth Bale. Try and get after the ball and put pressure on the | :03:03. | :03:14. | |
back players. On Portugal. Cedric. Hennessy away. Vokes. That is what | :03:15. | :03:19. | |
he is on for. Allen. Taylor. Not open enough. Renato | :03:20. | :03:50. | |
Sanches. Coming back with him. Williams. Good play from Bale. Nice | :03:51. | :03:57. | |
and strong on his run, winning the ball back for his team. He was | :03:58. | :04:07. | |
looking for Vokes. He was arm in arm. With Bruno Alvez. Making it | :04:08. | :04:15. | |
clear to the pair of them that they saw it. | :04:16. | :04:23. | |
Renato Sanches. Well watched and good reading by Chester. He has to | :04:24. | :04:33. | |
move quickly again. He had to be quick. Coming into block, Ronaldo. | :04:34. | :04:40. | |
Williams gets on with the game quickly. Bale. Through to Vokes. | :04:41. | :04:49. | |
Vokes has brought it down. It is a very good bit of defending from the | :04:50. | :04:53. | |
experienced Bruno Alvez. A chance, that. Through to Vokes. Could not | :04:54. | :04:59. | |
quite control it. This is the danger for Wales. The more they go forward, | :05:00. | :05:04. | |
the more Ronaldo can hit them on the break and draw kicks like that. He | :05:05. | :05:16. | |
is going to get booked for that. Ronaldo is in full flow here. He has | :05:17. | :05:21. | |
done him. Yes, the yellow card is fair. Just does enough, Bruno Alvez. | :05:22. | :05:39. | |
Sam Vokes could not do any more. No. For this, if there is to be another | :05:40. | :05:44. | |
goal in the game, it is vital Wales get it. In Portugal score again it | :05:45. | :05:51. | |
is game over. They have the advantage now. They can put some | :05:52. | :05:54. | |
more men on the ball and play the counter, of course. Or Raffaele Riva | :05:55. | :06:06. | |
Road? Left footed option here. It is going to be Ronaldo. It was not far | :06:07. | :06:12. | |
away. Starting to enjoy his football again. That is as good a free kick | :06:13. | :06:19. | |
as we have seen in this tournament. It had movement and it was dipping. | :06:20. | :06:30. | |
What a strike that is. No Glory game for Hal Robson-Kanu tonight. The | :06:31. | :06:36. | |
Welsh number nine is off. His stock has risen considerably. On comes a | :06:37. | :06:41. | |
Simon Church. Only his second appearance in this accommodation. -- | :06:42. | :06:50. | |
competition. After a late score in a March friendly, it is about time I | :06:51. | :06:56. | |
did something with my career. Here is the time. Would not be a bad | :06:57. | :07:03. | |
time, would it? Touch for church. Allen. From Joao Mario. He's done | :07:04. | :07:31. | |
well tonight. Best I have seen him. I have criticised him a little bit. | :07:32. | :07:36. | |
He has flattered to deceive and been a bit wasteful but much better with | :07:37. | :07:44. | |
the ball tonight. He is giving the defenders something to do here. | :07:45. | :07:56. | |
Bale. Chester. Could not jump. Not... All the way to the gloves of | :07:57. | :08:04. | |
Rui Patricio. Portuguese scarves are in the air. | :08:05. | :08:21. | |
Chester. King. Allen. Did not have that much time with Ronaldo about. | :08:22. | :08:38. | |
Joao Mario. Very good run. Renato Sanches. Nani. He is going to have a | :08:39. | :08:47. | |
go. Spilled it. That could easily have rocketed straight back in from | :08:48. | :08:52. | |
Joao Mario. Should have scored. It all started from, guess what? | :08:53. | :08:58. | |
Ronaldo running the ball back from Joe Allen. Can't say I have seen | :08:59. | :09:03. | |
that many times before. He has spilled it, Hennessy. You can see | :09:04. | :09:06. | |
the movement. Taking a little nick from Chester. That should be hitting | :09:07. | :09:13. | |
the target. Chris Coleman has pressed the button. It is all or | :09:14. | :09:18. | |
nothing for Wales. It has to be. Third change made in quick | :09:19. | :09:24. | |
succession. Away goes James Collins. Leaving the field for the busy Jonny | :09:25. | :09:28. | |
Williams to come on. And try and have a 25 minutes of his playing | :09:29. | :09:35. | |
life. All nothing. -- all or nothing. Ashley Williams. Bale. | :09:36. | :09:52. | |
Forced to take the long way around. Vokes with the header! Looks from | :09:53. | :10:00. | |
the referee. Does not think he was impeded? Things he was impeded. Jose | :10:01. | :10:10. | |
Rondon grabbing a whole. -- Joe say Fontaine. Just taking it back a | :10:11. | :10:17. | |
little bit. A good switch out wide and a good ball in. He has claimed | :10:18. | :10:25. | |
elbow. This is the space where Southampton meet Burnley when the | :10:26. | :10:31. | |
Premier League resumes. -- watch this space when Southampton meet | :10:32. | :10:32. | |
Burnley. Wales somehow need to sum up the | :10:33. | :10:50. | |
spirit of Dylan Thomas here. Do not go gentle into that good night. They | :10:51. | :10:54. | |
have got to rage against the dying of the light. It is. It is fading | :10:55. | :11:06. | |
fast for them. There cannot be anything gentle about their play | :11:07. | :11:10. | |
from here on in. Gunter with the foul. Can they find the energy? And | :11:11. | :11:15. | |
the legs to get after Portugal when they are knocking it around and | :11:16. | :11:19. | |
wasting time? Can they find the legs to get forward and get into the box? | :11:20. | :11:24. | |
Can they find a quality to get back into the game? At the moment it is | :11:25. | :11:29. | |
looking unlikely. Still a quarter of its to go. Neil Taylor. If it is | :11:30. | :11:44. | |
going to be done if will be done by those on the field now. Bale. | :11:45. | :11:54. | |
Gunter. He has done well with it. The cross is too high. Wales are not | :11:55. | :12:02. | |
done with the attack, however. Bale. Taylor is not going to get to it and | :12:03. | :12:05. | |
Gareth Bale rubs his head. Annoyed with him self. -- himself. Was | :12:06. | :12:19. | |
actually a good switch in play. A better ball in the box would have | :12:20. | :12:24. | |
given the two strikers, Vokes and Church a chance to attack. Just | :12:25. | :12:25. | |
hitting the cross. That was good from Taylor. He | :12:26. | :12:43. | |
hounded Joao Mario. Support from Jonny Williams. Renato Sanches. Nani | :12:44. | :12:57. | |
is running down the middle. Joao Mario. Ronaldo is waiting. It is | :12:58. | :13:08. | |
deflected, it will be a corner. Wayne Hennessey couldn't stop the | :13:09. | :13:15. | |
ball from going over the line. Again it was a Nani just seeing Ronaldo | :13:16. | :13:21. | |
peal of from the back, trying to get across in. | :13:22. | :13:28. | |
The additional assistance couldn't have been better placed. He was the | :13:29. | :13:38. | |
one who signalled for the corner. It is a Joao Mario corner. It will have | :13:39. | :13:45. | |
to be taken again. Bruno Alves is getting a talking to. | :13:46. | :14:02. | |
Danilo, is the play of the referee wants to have serious words with. | :14:03. | :14:13. | |
Portugal get another go at it. They are one good delivery and had away | :14:14. | :14:18. | |
from the final, effectively. Definitely. It is a good header. | :14:19. | :14:26. | |
Just too close to Hennessey that time. Yellow card for Bruno Alves. | :14:27. | :14:42. | |
Not sure you want Gareth Bale getting the ball of your goalkeeper. | :14:43. | :14:49. | |
Roy of the Rovers, stay up there. Portugal, on top. Very well drilled | :14:50. | :15:24. | |
in keeping out opposition attacks. Williams. Fouled. Ronaldo again with | :15:25. | :15:35. | |
his desire to win the ball. Yellow card. Wasn't the tackle, it was the | :15:36. | :15:49. | |
petulance. Sometimes it's the look on his face. He is going to be the | :15:50. | :16:02. | |
one with the last laugh tonight, as things stand. Good all in, but | :16:03. | :16:09. | |
Chester could do a lot with it. Off the top of his head. Header from | :16:10. | :16:17. | |
Fonte, comfortable save for Hennessey. | :16:18. | :16:28. | |
There is a defiant chance of Don't Take Me Home from the Wales fans at | :16:29. | :16:39. | |
the moment. But back to work beckons. It is a Green charge. | :16:40. | :16:46. | |
Renato Sanches has Chester backing away. He lost his balance, he was | :16:47. | :16:53. | |
falling as he hit it. We know about Nani, we know about Ronaldo, they | :16:54. | :17:00. | |
have a third man now. He is very good at running with the ball. | :17:01. | :17:04. | |
Sometimes he does make the right decisions, which is normal when you | :17:05. | :17:08. | |
are Young player and learning. But he has the energy and the ability to | :17:09. | :17:15. | |
go past people. Off he goes for Andrei Gomes to take over for the | :17:16. | :17:24. | |
rest of the game. No surprise Bayern Munich have got themselves another | :17:25. | :17:27. | |
good player for the forthcoming season. He has got to go some to get | :17:28. | :17:39. | |
in their team, but he is a good prospect. He can be happy with his | :17:40. | :17:44. | |
evening's work. Talent beyond his years. No way through. | :17:45. | :18:05. | |
Church trying to get there, but he was all over the back of Cedric | :18:06. | :18:21. | |
Soares. Little nudge. Silly. They have got to try and find a chance, | :18:22. | :18:27. | |
set play, whatever it takes to get back in this game. Still time. They | :18:28. | :18:39. | |
have scored in every game they have played in this competition, until | :18:40. | :18:41. | |
tonight. Williams, trying to do too much. | :18:42. | :19:05. | |
Bale tried to do too much. Two targets to aim for now. Chris Gunter | :19:06. | :19:14. | |
arriving. Sam Vokes couldn't climb, he was prevented from doing so. Joao | :19:15. | :19:24. | |
Mario. Neat and tidy from Cedric and Ronaldo. | :19:25. | :19:32. | |
It was a good ball in from Chris Gunter, I have to say. Have to get | :19:33. | :19:44. | |
Gareth Bale in the box when the crosses are going in because he can | :19:45. | :19:50. | |
do what Ronaldo can do. Scored more goals than anyone else in the league | :19:51. | :19:54. | |
last season. Straight down the barrel but the goalkeeper. It sat up | :19:55. | :20:02. | |
and backed for Bale. Decent strike from there. | :20:03. | :20:40. | |
Adrien Silva has worked plenty in the midfield. Ronaldo has seen Joao | :20:41. | :20:48. | |
Mario is coming. Andre Gomes was already there. Ronaldo... Straight | :20:49. | :20:58. | |
against Taylor. Taylor winced and stretched, and isn't in a rush to | :20:59. | :21:05. | |
get back up after that one. I think the wind was taken out of him. Yes, | :21:06. | :21:12. | |
it was. Joao Mario wasn't pleased with Ronaldo but taking on the | :21:13. | :21:21. | |
shaft. At least he gets to take corners. Ronaldo will try to be on | :21:22. | :21:33. | |
the end of it. Fonte is trying to attack it. Danilo wandering through | :21:34. | :21:43. | |
and Hennessey just keeps it out. It was Bale running out of his own | :21:44. | :21:48. | |
third, trying to make things happen. You cannot run the whole length of | :21:49. | :21:55. | |
the pitch. You have to pass the ball. Taylor. That was well won by | :21:56. | :22:03. | |
Sam Vokes. But that was behind Church. The Portugal change is | :22:04. | :22:17. | |
happening. Joao Moutinho is coming on. He has put in a good shift, | :22:18. | :22:36. | |
Adrien Silva. Has been under the radar with all of the superstars. He | :22:37. | :22:49. | |
and Ricardo Carvalho had a terrible experience at the end of last | :22:50. | :22:57. | |
season, they lost 6-1 DeLeon. Tipped to be returning to Porto in the | :22:58. | :23:07. | |
weeks ahead. This was the moment it was nearly all over. Come off his | :23:08. | :23:14. | |
back as he saved it. Did well to recover. Nani's slide not quite as | :23:15. | :23:28. | |
effective this time. Chester. Just over ten minutes to go. Those Welsh | :23:29. | :23:34. | |
players have given everything in this competition and they have to | :23:35. | :23:40. | |
give it a little bit more. That was swerving. That was away from | :23:41. | :23:46. | |
Patricio. Bale's best effort yet. Taylor. | :23:47. | :23:59. | |
Just a moment like that. If the next one beats Patricio, it is all on | :24:00. | :24:11. | |
again for the Welsh. It was a good strike from Gareth Bale. Mice and | :24:12. | :24:16. | |
confident, had more movement. The keeper did well. Chester. | :24:17. | :24:29. | |
Ashley Williams is wondering forward to be an extra forward whenever he | :24:30. | :24:35. | |
can now. Why not? Bale. Only out as far as Ashley Williams. | :24:36. | :24:58. | |
Block by his own man. Sam Vokes couldn't get out of the way. I think | :24:59. | :25:08. | |
it was Sam Vokes. Good all in fon Williams. Great header from Bruno | :25:09. | :25:14. | |
Alves. I don't think it was going in. Gareth Bale, see the movement on | :25:15. | :25:18. | |
the ball. Unbelievable technique. Decent save. Very quietly, Patricio | :25:19. | :25:28. | |
has been one of the standout goalkeepers of the competition. | :25:29. | :25:33. | |
Never better than the penalty save that one member shoot out. Full | :25:34. | :25:43. | |
stretch to his left. -- won them the shoot out. Keeping out everything | :25:44. | :25:48. | |
Wales can throw at him at the moment. Bale skipped over Joao | :25:49. | :26:02. | |
Mario. However much or little contact there was, the free kick is | :26:03. | :26:17. | |
right. He was caught. If anyone can, anyone can. We have seen him do it | :26:18. | :26:27. | |
from about this range, twice at this tournament. Might need a helping | :26:28. | :26:31. | |
hand from the goalkeeper. Time he made a mistake. And we have seen | :26:32. | :26:37. | |
that happen to rise from a Gareth Bale free kick. Might have another | :26:38. | :26:52. | |
go. That looked a foul to me. It was shoulder to shoulder. Nani has got a | :26:53. | :26:55. | |
lot braver. Nani has had a good game and has | :26:56. | :27:11. | |
scored the goal that seems to have sealed Portugal's plays in the final | :27:12. | :27:17. | |
of the 2016 European Championship. It looks that way. Nani has been | :27:18. | :27:23. | |
more reliable with his ball retention. Worked hard. Quite | :27:24. | :27:34. | |
performance. Can see why Valencia has paid just over ?7 million to get | :27:35. | :27:42. | |
him from than about you. And why Mark Hughes wanted him. Oak. -- | :27:43. | :27:47. | |
Finne batch. I have been to Valencia and I have | :27:48. | :28:15. | |
been to stoke. Hand? I am with Nani. I have been to Stoke regularly over | :28:16. | :28:21. | |
the course of the season and never had anything but a splendid time. | :28:22. | :28:28. | |
Wayne Hennessey. I have to say that. I know you do. I am already | :28:29. | :28:34. | |
unpopular there, so it doesn't matter. | :28:35. | :28:45. | |
Raphael Guerreiro is showing us the range. Andrei Gomes. Strong enough | :28:46. | :28:56. | |
to hold off the challenge. It is in towards Ronaldo. He evaded | :28:57. | :29:04. | |
Hennessey, but the angle was too tight. I think he lost his bearings. | :29:05. | :29:14. | |
Super play from Gomes to set him away. | :29:15. | :29:21. | |
The Dragon's fire is in Gareth Bale now, but there needs to be more than | :29:22. | :29:31. | |
that. Takes it too far round Hennessey. Final Portugal change. | :29:32. | :29:38. | |
Nani is going. He has been terrific. Six goals in his last 13 | :29:39. | :29:43. | |
international appearances. And the last three at Euro 2016. | :29:44. | :29:50. | |
And on will, Ricardo Quaresma. He has had a pretty good time to. -- | :29:51. | :30:08. | |
and on will come. He loses the ball. Chester. Bale. 2- Taylor. -- it is | :30:09. | :30:21. | |
too high for Taylor. You cannot knock the effort and determination | :30:22. | :30:26. | |
every world player has put in. It does not seem to be enough in this | :30:27. | :30:32. | |
pressure situation for them. I agree. I think they will be | :30:33. | :30:35. | |
disappointed. The first goal was a set play. They worked long and hard | :30:36. | :30:41. | |
on those. They know the talent in the air of Ronaldo. Split second | :30:42. | :30:46. | |
lack of concentration. Then you are climbing a mountain. He gets it away | :30:47. | :30:56. | |
from Vokes. Ronaldo. Bursting down the middle. Chester winning the ball | :30:57. | :31:02. | |
for Wales. Starting the figurehead to the final, Germany or France. A | :31:03. | :31:09. | |
big talking point about this Portuguese team was their ageing | :31:10. | :31:12. | |
defence, as they are weak point. It looks to be one of their strongest | :31:13. | :31:17. | |
points. I think tonight they have defended well. In the game with | :31:18. | :31:20. | |
hungry they showed real vulnerability. -- Hungary. Gives it | :31:21. | :31:28. | |
away. Danilo dropping back to defend. Cedric was caught high by | :31:29. | :31:38. | |
Gareth Bale. He will go in the book. He's going to apologise. Well, I | :31:39. | :31:45. | |
wouldn't. Cedric went over about six yards after hitting him. It is a | :31:46. | :31:56. | |
foul. It is a foul, for sure. 2-0 down in a semifinal. I would not be | :31:57. | :31:59. | |
apologising. That is just me. The Portuguese fans are starting | :32:00. | :32:16. | |
their celebration. There is a spirit in response from the Welsh fans. The | :32:17. | :32:21. | |
chancing will go on to the end. -- chancing will stop -- that shan't | :32:22. | :32:38. | |
will go on to the end. -- chant. Ronaldo holding on. Moutinho. | :32:39. | :32:48. | |
Tormenting Neil Taylor and beating him. Not totally. Corner. The second | :32:49. | :32:59. | |
is ticking away. 90 minutes now. We have not had many stoppages in play. | :33:00. | :33:06. | |
Listen to that ringing around the ground. One last impassioned burst | :33:07. | :33:24. | |
of land of my Fathers. Quaresma's corner. Wayne Hennessey will launch | :33:25. | :33:40. | |
it. Portuguese goalkick. Bale tries to make them hurry. They are nearly | :33:41. | :33:45. | |
there. Portugal are very nearly in the final. Three more minutes left. | :33:46. | :33:56. | |
For the Wales adventure. They are getting around, these Welsh fans. | :33:57. | :34:00. | |
They are having a party come what may. They have been a credit to | :34:01. | :34:05. | |
their country, the supporters. As has the team. They can all be very | :34:06. | :34:10. | |
proud of what they have achieved, this Welsh squad. When they look | :34:11. | :34:17. | |
back in weeks, months and years to come at this, they will realise what | :34:18. | :34:20. | |
they have done and how proud they should be. Tonight will be | :34:21. | :34:24. | |
devastating for them because they would truly have believed they could | :34:25. | :34:27. | |
have won it after beating Belgium, for sure. Ashley Williams. Church. | :34:28. | :34:43. | |
Covered by Bruno Alvez. Andre Gomes. Joao Mario. He does have options. It | :34:44. | :34:50. | |
is behind Ronaldo but he has retrieved it anyway. Ricardo | :34:51. | :34:57. | |
Quaresma. Ingo Joe Allen. -- in goes. Let's hope the referee is | :34:58. | :35:02. | |
sympathetic. Just a free kick, I think. That might have been a card | :35:03. | :35:14. | |
if Allen had not already got one. I think so. Just frustration. Ten | :35:15. | :35:28. | |
seconds there, from Quaresma. A defined noise from behind the goal. | :35:29. | :35:35. | |
The goal but Ronaldo would want to test one last time before his work | :35:36. | :35:39. | |
is done for the night. What a edition for one of the greatest -- | :35:40. | :35:45. | |
what a possession for one of the greatest in the world. Inhalation of | :35:46. | :35:52. | |
breath. And right on cue, pinned straight against the solid Welsh | :35:53. | :35:58. | |
wall. Stayed really told. -- really tall. Ronaldo has been sensational. | :35:59. | :36:08. | |
Never seen him work so hard for the team. When it mattered he produced a | :36:09. | :36:17. | |
magical moment. Bale. His magic touch has just deserted him. You | :36:18. | :36:22. | |
cannot fault the commitment. As he hurls it up again towards Vokes. | :36:23. | :36:28. | |
Church. Bale. Ricardo Quaresma is back. Stout stuff from Cedric | :36:29. | :36:43. | |
Suarez. Taylor. Ashley Williams. Joe Allen. Just cannot turn and get a | :36:44. | :36:50. | |
shot on goal. It is all over. It is all over for Wales. Portugal will be | :36:51. | :36:56. | |
in Paris on Sunday. And on the night's game they thoroughly | :36:57. | :36:59. | |
deserved their place in the showpiece event. It is a second | :37:00. | :37:03. | |
European ship in chip final for a nation which has so often promised | :37:04. | :37:09. | |
but has yet to deliver. Maybe this is now. For Wales, this is only the | :37:10. | :37:18. | |
end of one story. The country's greatest year with the round ball. | :37:19. | :37:24. | |
And in years to come, thousands upon thousands will be able to fondly say | :37:25. | :37:30. | |
that I was there. Portugal's night to night and it might be their | :37:31. | :37:35. | |
championship. Portugal, two and Wales, nil. | :37:36. | :38:01. | |
Reggie Yates is joining the Mexican army. | :38:02. | :38:03. | |
It can't be that safe if everybody is...this armed. | :38:04. | :38:08. | |
You could probably get shot at. Get shot at, OK. | :38:09. | :38:13. |