The moment that Radja Nainggolan looped his header back towards Thibaut Courtois, the Belgium midfielder wanted his time again. How could he have failed to see Gareth Bale, lurking on the fringes of the six-yard box?
Nainggolan certainly saw him as the ball travelled towards the Wales talisman and his heart turned a somersault. So did those of just about everybody inside this raucous stadium.
Bale’s did not. He had time to think about the situation; perhaps too much time. But his focus did not waver. The composure, as he took a touch on his chest before stroking low through Courtois’ legs with his weaker right foot, was breathtaking. Chris Coleman, the Wales manager, had said that Bale had the ability to “change the game in a second”. Here was that second. Bale had his seventh goal in seven international appearances and Wales had something to protect, something to fire them towards the Euro 2016 finals.
What a night this was. Belgium had arrived as the second-ranked team in world football. They had not lost a qualifying tie since October 2011. They had conceded only one goal during the current campaign. They had Eden Hazard and a host of stars. But Wales had a tremendous collective resolve, which they showed during the second half, in particular. They are building something that has captured the imagination of this nation. They had titans at the back. And they had Bale.
On the occasion of his 50th cap, the Real Madrid forward looked relaxed and he enjoyed himself, apart from his final 15 minutes or so on the field, when his muscles tightened into knots. He left everything on the field and his confidence spread to his team-mates. He and Wales are on the brink of their first major championship since the 1958 World Cup.
All eyes were on Bale from the moment he tore out for the warm-up, red socks rolled down to his ankles. Coleman has shaped an impressive supporting cast around him but nobody can be under any illusions as to who is driving this squad, who is central to the battle to overturn 57 years of history, one that is marked by nightmares and near misses.
Bale was the symbol of the evening, of the hope that had sprung so urgently since the 3-0 away win over Israel in March. His star status feels total in these parts, and the trappings are everywhere. In the media, there had been a long wait for a video clip of an interview with him to drop on Thursday afternoon. When it did, Bale spoke in those soft tones and said very little. It did not matter.
This was a seismic game for Wales, comfortably the biggest since November 2003, when Mark Hughes’ team had lost 1-0 to Russia in the Euro 2004 play-off second-leg. That was one of those nights with which Wales supporters have become wearily familiar, when the dreams turn to dust. The image of Vadim Evseev, the Russia No2, rising early on to head the decisive goal is freeze-framed in the memories of all those present. It sucked the life out of the Millennium Stadium. Bale was 14 at the time.
The plan here was to get Bale on the ball and with his head up; the space in front of him. Coleman started him as an inside-left but the licence to roam, to interchange with the hard-working striker Hal Robson-Kanu and to drift to the other side, was pronounced.
Rafael Benítez, the new Real manager, was in the crowd and he watched Bale decorate the early stages with some stylish moves and trademark bursts. His first touch was a Cruyff-turn to bamboozle his one-time Tottenham Hotspur team-mate Jan Vertonghen, while his next involvement was to nutmeg the Belgium left-back. The crowd loved it.
Bale’s goal took his tally to 17 for his country, which is already five more than that of Ryan Giggs, the other great icon of modern Welsh football. As an aside, Giggs finished his career with 64 caps; Bale has reached the half-century at the age of 25. With Giggs, there was the thing about him not playing in friendlies – Sir Alex Ferguson had an influence there – and some Wales fans never truly took him into their hearts. It is different with Bale.
Cardiff City Stadium had been transformed into a patriotic bearpit, with giant images of the Wales players at the top of the stands behind the goals and the Football Association of Wales’ qualification motto “Together Stronger” also prominent. The atmosphere was hot 20 minutes beforehand; at kick-off time, as the fine rain came down and the electro blared over the PA system, it pulsated.
The vocal Belgium fans also played their part, some of them dressed as devils. Black speedos, red body paint, horns; it was a strong look.
Bale struck fear into Belgium’s defensive players. When he charged forward in the 33rd minute, he glided past Nainggolan as though he were not there.
Nainggolan looked frightened to go too near him. Other Belgians backed off him. At times in the first half, it was remarkable to see how much room Bale had.
Bale covered some ground and by the 70th minute of the backs-to-the-wall second-half effort, he had begun to cramp. With a few minutes to go, he was withdrawn to a hero’s ovation. The Welsh celebrations were long and loud.
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