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Belgium national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Nov 16, 2014 at 5pm UK
 
Wales national football team

0-0

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Player Ratings: Belgium 0-0 Wales

Sports Mole gives each Belgian and Welsh player a mark out of 10 for their performance in tonight's Euro 2016 qualifier in Brussels.

Wales kept their unbeaten Euro 2016 qualifying record intact by holding Group B favourites Belgium to a goalless draw in Brussels this evening.

Gareth Bale was the visitors' biggest threat when they were able to get forward, while Eden Hazard starred for the misfiring Red Devils.

Here, Sports Mole hands out a rating out of 10 for each of the players who took to the field at the Stade Roi Baudouin.


Eden Hazard of Belgium runs at Chris Gunter of Wales during the Group B UEFA European Championship 2016 Qualifier match on November 16, 2014© Getty Images

BELGIUM

Goal

Thibaut Courtois: Commanding in the air and also made some good saves from a couple of Bale free kicks. (7/10)

Defence

Anthony Vanden Borre: Got forward when he could, but had to be wary of Bale at the other end. (6/10)

Toby Alderweireld: Filling in at centre-back for the injured Vincent Kompany, made no mistakes. (6/10)

Nicolas Lombaerts: So unlucky not to open the scoring in the first half when his lovely shot on the turn came back off the inside of the post. (7/10)

Jan Vertonghen: Made a crucial early tackle to deny Aaron Ramsey a chance. (6/10)

Midfield

Marouane Fellaini: Couldn't emulate his impressive form for Manchester United recently with a quiet display. (6/10)

Axel Witsel: Even less noticeable than Fellaini. Not the best from Belgium's two big midfielders. (5/10)

Kevin De Bruyne: Bright every now and again. The best thing about his display was his excellent consistency from set pieces. (6/10)

Attack

Nacer Chadli: Taken off after an hour. Couldn't take Belgium's best chance as Wayne Hennessey denied him. (6/10)

Divock Origi: Decent link-up play, but didn't really do enough when facing the goal. Taken off in the 73rd minute. (6/10)

Eden Hazard: The game's man of the match. Showcased some of his dazzling dribbling ability and always looked like creating something. (8/10)

Substitutes

Christian Benteke: Replaced Chadli but couldn't net the opener. Did well to win a late header that was cleared off the line. (6/10)

Dries Mertens: Looked bright after replacing Origi but had to come off after a nasty clash of heads. (6/10)

Adnan Januzaj: Took Mertens's place and created a couple of chances for his teammates. (6/10)


Wales's Gareth Bale hits a free kick during the Group B Euro 2016 qualifying match against Belgium at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, on November 16, 2014© AFP

WALES

Goal

Wayne Hennessey: Two brilliant saves from the keeper to preserve the visitors' clean sheet. (7/10)

Defence

Chris Gunter: Struggled to contain Hazard for much of the game and didn't get forward much. (5/10)

Ashley Williams: Has been in excellent form for Swansea City this season and impressed today with his no-nonsense defending. (7/10)

James Chester: Like Williams, solid at the back and made several key clearances. (8/10)

Neil Taylor: Also had to deal with the brilliance of Hazard at times and like Gunter, struggled. (6/10)

Midfield

Joe Allen: Conceded a lot of free kicks and generally looked like he was still working his way back to full fitness. (5/10)

Joe Ledley: Put himself about, but didn't see a lot of the ball. (6/10)

Aaron Ramsey So energetic in chasing Belgium down, but didn't have his best passing night, often giving the ball away. (6/10)

David Cotterill: Taken off at half time after an ineffectual opening 45. (6/10)

Attack

Gareth Bale: Went close with a couple of free kicks and a low drive that fizzed past the post after a trademark run down the left. Clearly his side's best player and also helped out defensively by helping clear the ball off the line in the dying moments. (8/10)

Hal Robson-Kanu: Was always going to be a tough night for him up front, but he worked hard and went close with a second-half shot. (6/10)

Substitutes

George Williams: Looked good when the ball was at his feet, setting up the odd chance for his teammates after coming on at the break. (7/10)

Emyr Huws: Replaced Robson-Kanu in injury time in a time-wasting move by Coleman. (6/10)


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Eden Hazard of Belgium runs at Chris Gunter of Wales during the Group B UEFA European Championship 2016 Qualifier match on November 16, 2014
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Match Analysis: Belgium 0-0 Wales
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

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Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

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Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

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Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

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Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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