Success born out of tragedy for Wales

He described his historic goal saying: “I presume they thought I would lay it off – and I have Cruyffed and put it in the net”.

Hazard simply said “yes” when asked if Sunday had been his best ever performance for his country and instead paid tribute to an overall team performance. From nearly missing the European Championships through an ankle injury sustained on the eve of the tournament, he was one of the most talked about players of the remaining nations at the weekend. It could have been very different, missing the tournament and without a contract: not a great position.

“But he made the tournament and worked extremely hard on his fitness”. “They showed a lot of enthusiasm, but we had to dig deep, get through the situation and get in front”.

“We had a young average age”.

But their reaction to falling behind was exemplary and after Neil Taylor had been denied by Thibaut Courtois, Williams met Ramsey’s right-wing corner with a thumping downward header to equalise in the 31st minute.

Now without a club, Wales striker Hal Robson-Kanu placed himself in the shop window with a goal of shimmering audacity in the victory over Belgium. The scenes were mirrored back home in Wales.

There was one downside to the famous victory in that inspirational midfielder Aaron Ramsey and defender Ben Davies picked up bookings that will rule them out of Wednesday’s (Thursday NZ time) semifinal against Portugal in Lyon.

Barring loan spells at Southend United and Swindon Town, he has spent his entire professional career at the south-east England club, scoring 30 goals in 227 appearances, but has now made a decision to seek pastures new.

“There’s offers from around the world”, Robson-Kanu told BBC Sport.

Robson-Kanu let his contract run down at Championship side Reading with a view to joining a Premier League side, and on the same day the 27-year-old became a free agent, he burnished his CV by scoring Wales’ second goal – a stunning Cruyff turn and finish – in a 3-1 quarter-final victory in Lille. “I’m sure the players who step in will perform”.

“I was delighted he got the goal because he almost didn’t make the tournament”, Coleman said.