Taylor wary of Belgium’s attacking threat

Wales defender Neil Taylor says it is vital that his side respect the attacking potential of Belgium going into Friday’s Euro 2016 quarter-final in Lille.

Chris Coleman’s side have a decent record against the Red Devils and the nation’s have clashed four times since 2012, with the Welsh unbeaten in the three most recent encounters.

Gareth Bale scored the only goal of the game last June in Cardiff as Wales grabbed a vital win en route to qualifying for France. Swansea defender Taylor is cautious however, and he points to the enormous strength and depth Marc Wilmots has got at his disposal in comparison to Wales’ squad.

“On paper, they are an unbelievable team,” said Taylor. “They could put two teams out who are able to compete at these Euros – they have had a blessed generation of players coming through. Teams like that can force you to be defensive. “They move the ball so well. With the type of players they have got, you have to respect them, otherwise they can blow you away completely.”

Wales have kept back-to-back clean sheets against Russia and Northern Ireland in their two most recent outings in France. They shut Belgium out in successive games during qualifying and Taylor says that will be the first objective in Friday’s encounter.

“You have to show them respect they have earned from being good players and a good team, but we also know that we can hurt them. “We have got our ways of hurting teams when we need to do but, first and foremost, we must try not to concede,” he added.

Wales 5.50 to defeat Belgium, who are 1.73, with the draw available at 3.60 in the Euro 2016 quarter-final.