06/09/2012 Sport Wales

In just over 24 hours, Chris Coleman's Wales began their 2012

qualifying campaign at the Cardiff City stadium against Belgium. We

will hear from both camp, stay with us for all the build-up. Coming up

tonight: We go inside the Welsh camp, and

they are most definitely up for it. Fresh start, fresh challenge, as

you can imagine, we are all raring to go. Sport Wales travels to

Belgium to assess their called golden generation, with the help of

Philip Albert. If we don't qualify with the set of players we have at

the moment, I don't think we will qualify ever for another World Cup.

And we look back at one of Wales's greatest triumphs over Belgium.

We had six or seven players who could score a goal in any game in

the world, whatever game it was. Plus, I will be joined by former

Wales international, Iwan Roberts. First, let's hear from the man

hoping to make his treatment it has been 54 years since Wales reached a

major tournament, can Chris Coleman and captain, Aaron Ramsey, end that

long wait? A lonely old job, international

management, as you watch Wales fall to a third straight defeat against

Bosnia last month, Chris Coleman must have thought, how do I get

this going again? Now he has to, a nation might not expect, but it

certainly hopes for a good start to this campaign against Serbia on

Tuesday, but first Belgium tomorrow. We have a huge game on Friday,

great challenge for us. We have got a good squad of players. We are

missing certain players, but, nevertheless, we have had a good

three or four days together. The preparations are going very well.

They need to be, because Friday's going to be a big challenge, we

have to be ready for that. The last two games we have played,

the four goals we have conceded were preventable goals, individual

errors that are preventable, we can't afford that on Friday.

vital is it you get the group off to a good start, not just in terms

of putting Wales in a good position in the group, but because you know

the criticism will come after those two games, if you are still looking

for that first win, it will only intensify? And, so? You can't think

what if this happens and that happens, or I will be criticised. I

will be criticised any way. My job you are damned if you do and damned

if you don't, I don't give a monkeys what people say about me.

If that is arrogance, so be it. I will do it as I see fit. The

expectations is high. People expect us to qal fight. If you look at the

teamser up against, Croatia, Belgium, Scotland, Macedonia. I was

speaking to Roy Hodgson last week, he called it the group of death,

he's right, the competition is pretty big. I'm looking forward to

the challenge, it will be a tough one. I'm confident in the ability

we have in this team, and you know the last few results haven't been

great for us, but we watched the video back at the last game. We

didn't play great. But we still created a few opportunities, and on

another night they would have probably gone in. We played bad

that night. Hopefully we can get off now to a good start in the game.

And know what we are capable of doing. At the end of the last

campaign wrecks definitely showed what we are all about and how well

we could play. So we need to get back to that. We will be a match

for anybody, hopeful leave we can get off to a really good start

tomorrow night. It is a tremenduously talented Belgium side,

these guys, everyone is talking about the Belgians. They are not

talking about Wales so much, the talent in your team. Does that

help? People aren't bigging Wales up, are they? When people talk

about Wales, they talk about Aaron Ramsey, Craig Bellamy, Gareth Bale,

now they will talk about Joe Allen, because he has gone to Liverpool.

We won't be successful with four players, we have other good players.

We need all the players to be good when they take to the field. I know

all about Belgium and their players. Even before this season, where a

number of their players are playing in the Premier League, and people

are getting a bit carried away, as they do. It changed my thinking

about Belgium, they are a good team. That is irrelevant, it is about us,

how we approach it. How we prepare ourselves, and are we brave enough,

strong enough as a group, individually, collectively, to get

a result on Friday? You have had a lot of challenges in your career

already, would you say, though, that what you are about to embark

on is perhaps the biggest challenge of your career? I think, first and

foremost, it is my biggest honour to manage my country, when you have

the hopes of a nation on your shoulders, that's what comes with

it. I thrive on that, the excitement, we don't know what is

going to happen. We know we have the possibility to do something

special, if we can get it together. Sometimes you are up against a good

team. The good thing about football is, I think that it is not always

the best team that wins, it is the best team on the day. We have to

make sure that is us on Friday. Irwan Roberts, thanks for joining

us. Here we are, on the eve of the World Cup qualifying campaign,

Belgium, first up, how positive can we be? I think we have to be, with

the squad of players we have got. We have one or two injuries, we are

playing against the best side in the group. But, take the last three

games away, where we haven't been at our best, for one reason or

another. But this is it now, this is what it is all about. It's the

start of the qualifying campaign. A difficult game, but one, I'm sure,

that we can go into, as I say, with the players that we have got, and

hopefully get something from the game. Belgium first up, Serbia away

next Tuesday, are they the fixtures Chris Coleman would have wanted?

Probably not, ideally Chris would have probably wanted, no disrespect,

probably either Macedonia, or Scotland at home, to start the

campaign. That would give you a better opportunity of hitting the

ground running, and getting three points. Looking at both games, I

think that the minimum that we ask for is four points, because it is

imperative we get off to a good start. If we lose the first couple

of games as we did in the last qualifying game -- games against

Montenegro, it is hard to go from there. Chris Coleman says he

doesn't mind criticism and won't change his approach if things go

badly in the first few games, what is he like, does he put pressure on

himself? I think every manager does. He has taken over at a difficult

stage. He has taken over from his good friend, Gary Speed, who filled

us all with hope going into this campaign. He will prepare his team

properly, that is the one thing he will do. Once they cross the line,

it is then down to the players. Iwan, we will talk more shortly I

am now to take -- time now to turn our attention to the called golden

generation of Belgian footballers, so many times in the Premier League.

We went to Belgium to learn about If we don't qualify with the set of

players we have at the moment, I don't think we will qualify ever

for another World Cup. If the magic happens, they have a stop team.

It's no option to fail, we have to make it to Brazil 2014. We all know

the cliche that you can't name more than two famous Belgians. In a

sporting context that is untrue, think of the cyclists tennis, even

the man in charge of the Olympic Games, Jacques Rogge is Belgian.

They are all becoming household names. Back in the 1990s there was

a sole trailblazer, Philip Albert. They train with extremely good

players, when they come back for the national team they are good

players. That is a big plus for us. The company is a make of their own.

Philine is a perfect player, I think, for the Premier League.

Dembele is becoming stronger and stronger every year, in every

position, they have very talented players. After a decade of failing

to qualify for world cups and European Championships, Belgium has

a squad capable of making it to Rio. How have they created such a deep

pool of talent. Wefrpblgts had a very good Olympic campaign, --

had a very good Olympic campaign in 2008, Belgium made it to fourth

place. We saw it coming that there was a very talented group of

players, and most of them were playing in Holland, now you have

them at Tottenham, Vermol at there, and Manchester City. Ten play in

the Premier League, only five are based here in Belgium. Key to the

development of the golden generations, has been their

decisions as youngsters to relocate over the homeland. The academies

for youth in Holland and France is much better for them. People like

Demele. In Belgium, the clubs aren't as rich as in Ajax and

Amsterdam. The young players are tempted to move away. The important

question for Chris Coleman and Wales is whether Mark Wilmots can

construct a golden team from his pool of talent. He's not a friend

of mine, but I appreciate him for what he Z he worked very hard.

Respect for him, and I really hope that he will get some results.

have lots of nice players, excellent players, who earn massive

amounts of money. But in the national team, except for the win

over the Netherlands in August, they haven't performed to their

standards. Ultimately, win or lose against Wales, the Belgian youth

will be judged on one simple criteria. If we don't qualify with

the set of players we have at the moment, I don't think we will

qualify ever for another World Cup. It is no option to fail, we have to

make it to Brazil 2014, we have to win against Wales. Changing sport

now, and from one golden generation to the goldrush of the Paralympic

GB team. Here is all the latest medal news from London 2012.

Congratulations to Aled Shaun Davies, he followed up a bronze

medal in the shot putt, by winning the discus in the F42 category.

is hard to put it into words, it is surreal, it was very emotional and

really nice to give something back to that crowd. Show that the four

or five years of hard work I have put into this, really does pay off.

And it has been worth it, totally worth it. It has been a memorable

games for Ellie Simmonds, who trains in Swansea. She claimed a

second gold medal in the 200 IM, in a world record time, and taking

bronze in the 50ms freestyle. Paul Davies took a medal in the table

tennis. I have had lots of ups and downs, injury, stress, heartache,

worry, I have had a lot of ups and downs. But to have this around my

neck, obviously it has been worth every minute of it. Jenny

McLoughlin, and Olivia Breen took bronze as the T454X 100 replay

people. Mark Colbourne took silver in the C1 time trial, taking his

tally at the games to three medal. Newport's Liz Johnson added to

Wales medal haul, by winning a swim in bronds, in the SB6 100ms

breaststroke. And Beverley Jones, won a bronze medal in the F47

discus. Remember, you can keep up-to-date

with all the latest Paralympic news, by clicking on the website.

Back to the big game now, we have heard from Belgium's called golden

generation, the Wales manager and captain, but when they leave this

dressing room, can this current crop of Welsh players deliver on

their promise? You know what it has been like with

Wales down the years. Optimisim at the start of a campaign, deflation

by the end of it, when hope has usually long gone. But the quest to

reach Euro 2012 did end with a flurry of wins, goals, and a

suggestion that things might play out differently this time. It is

important to get off to a good start. Not like the last campaign,

chasing, we want early points on the board. Fresh start, fresh

challenge. As you can imagine, we're all raring to go. It is

probably the best shape we have been in, going into a qualifying

group, certainly since I have been involved, maybe for longer than

that. Injuries have again reeked havoc, Neil Taylor fracturing his

ankle, to join Craig Bellamy and others on the sidelines. Not what

you need with the talented Belgians in town. The last transfer window

was dominated by Belgian players, we are under no illusions that they

will be a strong siefpltd there is a couple of Belgian -- side, there

are a couple of Belgian lads in the side from West Brom, they are great.

It will be a good test for us and them. Fellani and Dembele I have

come up against, two of the best midfielders I have played against

in the Premier League. If I'm playing, I will have my work cut

out against the likes of them. They have strengths in company, Vermalen

at the back, they have a good spine to their team. Another problem, of

course, overcoming the lack of recent goals. Three defeats, five

conceded, and none scored, is the story of life under Chris Coleman

so far. We all need a goal, we all need a

goal to win the game. Obviously first and foremost we need to make

sure we don't concede any, with the players in the team we have a

chance of scoring,. Hopefully Friday night we can get another

goal. We haven't scored in the last couple of games. That can happen,

it works out at international football, it goes on longer,

because you don't have game every week. It is not too long. We scored

four against Norway, not so long ago. We are Kev dent, -- confident,

come Friday we will do everything we can. 1998, the last time Wales

has qualified for a large championship, the nation overdosing

since then on failure. footballer, or young kid, that is

what they target and what they dream of reaching, and achieving.

It is no different for everyone here. We're all massively proud to

represent our country. We will be even more proud if we are able to

get this fantastic nation into a World Cup. It is about time, you

know, like I say, it is never for the want of trying. But, like I say,

we are probably in as good a position as we have been for a

while, to give it a good go. Hopefully we can get off to a good

start and really kick on, and set the ball rolling.

Withstand, positive noises coming there from the Welsh camp, Gunter

ready to give it a go, Joe Allen raring to go? You would expect to

hear that as well. There is a lot been said about this qualifying

campaign. They need to be judged now on the performances that they

put on the pitch. If anything's got to go with what we have heard and

what the boys have said, then, I would think Belgium are in for a

really tough night. We have to talk about the injuries, starting

perhaps with Craig Bellamy. How much of a blow is that? It's

massive loss down that left hand side, you ask any defender what

don't they like playing against, it is pace. And Craig's got bags of

that. Neil Taylor, out for the season, but who will replace him in

the Wales team? I would think that Chris will go for experience, and

you look at the options he has got. Matthews, Gunter, they can both

play there, I think he will go with Sam Ricketts, loads of experience

at Premier League level and international level. Formation-wise,

we have played 4-3-3 in it the last games and been really successful

with it. I can't help that would be playing into the Belgian's hands,

that is a very attacking formation for me. And with the pace that they

have got in their side, they could cause us numerous problems, if we

carry on with the 4-4 will have 4. -- 4-3-3. I wouldn't be surprised

if in this we go for a 4-5-1. We have caused teams in the last 18

months, going forward with pace, putting crosses into the box. That

is what we want to see tomorrow night. Thank you. We will talk more

in a bit. But now time to step away from the present, and look back at

the archives, during the 190, Wales played Belgium six times in seven

years. -- 1990s, Wales played Belgium six times in seven years.

Now to look at Wales's greatest- ever performances in international

football. March 1993, and Wales are sat mid-

table in the qualifying group to reach the USA. In their first game

they had been hammered 5-1 in are you mainia. They avoided slipping

up against the Pharaoh islands and Cyprus. After failing to get one

shot on target in Brussels, they suffered another defeat.

In the days of two points for a win, Belgium arrived in Cardiff as group

leader. Six games played, six wins. For Wales, losing would end their

hopes of going to America. This game now was a crunch game.

Obviously Belgium six games on the trot, team full of superstars at

the time. Nearly as many as they have got now. Prudon as the

goalkeeper, with Neville, one of the best goalkeepers in the world,

Albert, and Shifoe, one of the best players in the world. When we

played him previously in the European Championships, he had a

lot of the ball, we couldn't get the ball off him. But managed two

good results against him. We went into the game with confidence,

knowing we could beat him. Probably they thought they were going to

beat us. Wales had some of the best forwards in Europe. Along with

Sanders, there was Ian Rush. Rush. And Manchester United

provided Mark Hughes, and a certain 19-year-old playing out of his skin.

Gigsgigs. Still gigsgigs.

-- Giggs. Now was the moment for the selection of the young star to

start game for the first time. try to get all the best players on

the pitch, and find a system that would suit the best players. With

five defenders at the back, Wales were certainly a robust team.

them into Sparky and he did the rest. I used to wins sometimes some

of the tackles he used to go in for. We knew if we worked hard and kept

the ball out of of the net, we had six or seven players who could

score a goal in any game in the world. When you were playing well,

and the crowd were behind us in Cardiff. It was brilliant to play

in. I remember getting tripped up on the edge of the box. I'm not

sure, I got a picture in my head now, I'm not sure if I walked into

the wall and I looked back and I saw Ryan Giggs standing over the

ball with his hands on his hips, like he does now. I looked over my

shoulder at the net thinking he's going to score it. I'm not sure if

I was in the wall, I walked back to the ball, and had a look at the

view he had. And I knew he was going to score. As he has shown,

over the years. It wasn't a fluke, he flipped it over the wall. Great

goal, that got us going. We clawed our way back into the group. And

the Belgium game was a big win, we started to think, we get a couple

of results here and now, we could be going into the last one, maybe

not needing to win. In their last group match, Wales found themselves

one game away from qualification for the World Cup, but lost to

Romania. I always considered it the biggest game of the season. If I

was playing for Wales. Never mind if I was playing for Liverpool

against Manchester United, in the league. You know, Wales against the

Faro Islands was a bigger game for me. Playing for your country.

Happiest days of my football career, really. It's all about 2014 now.

And it's time to return to Belgium to find out how the visitors are

preparing for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign.

It seems you are no-one in the Premier League at the moment if you

haven't got a Belgian at your disposal, they are the glamour boys

of Europe, but it wasn't all that ways. This is the home of ant we

were Football Club, and much like the Belgian national side, it has

seen better days, the hey day was in Mexico 1996. But this new crop

of Belgian footballers could be on the cusp of something equally

special. All the players playing for the big clubs. There is some

pressure now. We have the edge to perform on the pitch. We feel the

pressure. We have to win those games. If you see the names where

everybody plays, the form everybody has, we have to do something this

time. Every time there comes a generation, I think now we have a

very good generation of very good players, talented players. A lot of

players in England and the Premier League. At the moment we are a very

good group. Two or three years w a lot of talent and the results

coming, at the moment, yeah, the results are there. We hope to start

good. With players from the Bundesliga, and la league ga, as

well as those in the UK, they have outstanding contributors in every

area of the pitch. The pressure is there, it is a long time since we

qualified for beige tournament. We have to have a good start, it is

good to win the first big games, it will be difficult, Wales is a big

country, they have good players. Croatia is the same, it will be

difficult, we are also a good team and respected also I think in

Europe. While they are undoubtedly talented, this squad has won

nothing yet. They failed to qualify for Euro 2012, unfortunately for

Chris Coleman and Wales, they have just beaten the Dutch, and Rio is

their stated target? We have to qualify, we are young and talented,

the time has come. From the 1 players who will play on Friday,

you will see they play all for big clubs, and all good players. The

pressure is there from the audience and from the supporters. No excuses.

Everyone thinks we are going to qualify, this is the pressure. For

to qualify to be first, and the second have to play the games

against the other second one. It will be difficult but OK. We have a

good group. We hope to win. Confidence is evident around the

whole squad, but manager, Mark Wilmot, seems capable of keeping

his young stars in check. TRANSLATION: We go through the pre-

match video analysis before the match, I give them a sheet with the

attacking and defensive qualities of each player. It is an aide

memoir, I have done it at club level. Now we are concentrating on

Wales, it is not necessary to put too much pressure on the players.

We will get on the flight, and prepare everything calmly for the

game. Their only perceived weakness is at rightback, and Gareth Bale's

name is mentioned by all. He's an amazing player, he played a few

games with him. I think he's the best player for Wales. We have to

take care of him, I think. If we can eliminate him, I think we have

a good chance to win. What an unbelievable number of stars at the

Belgian's disposal, with that a lot of pressure? You look at their

players, they play all over Europe, for all the big clubs. Household

names in this country. The favourites in the group, I think it

is fair to say. We have given them that target. They have given that

target to themselves, and rightly so. The nation expects, they expect

to qualify. But that does bring its own pressure. I'm sure they will

feel the pressure tomorrow night they are coming out here. They will

be expecting to win. I'm positive that Chris and the lads have had a

week or so together, in preparation for this game. That's the longest

Chris has had to get his players and team prepared for any of the

three games that he's been involved. I'm sure they will be ready for him.

You sound positive, predictions then? I will go for a Wales win, a

win at home, we have been talking about this opening game for many,

many months now the Cardiff city stadium will be rocking, full of

Welsh fan, I think we can cause an upset, I will go for a 2-1 Welsh

win. Here is hoping. Thank you very much. Don't forget you can watch