FORMER Germany skipper Lothar Matthaus is bringing his unique tactical insight to SunSport’s star Euro 2016 line-up.
Here, the 1980 Euros winner looks at Wales’ night of destiny against Portugal — and names a surprising main threat to the Dragons.
WHAT Wales have done in the Euros has been amazing. The way they have played with passion, power and speed has fascinated me.
Maybe the Welsh have less quality than many of the teams here but they have shown what you can do by approaching it in another way.
Of course it helps that they have a player like Gareth Bale, someone who makes the difference and gives the team power, security and confidence. He has been one of the faces of the tournament, not just his goals but also with his body language.
Bale has carried the team to this stage but this is where it will get so much harder because they are missing two key players.
Aaron Ramsey has been the one to provide the link between defence and attack, making those runs from midfield and transferring the ball.
Wales will miss Ben Davies as well and I’m not sure Chris Coleman has the quality on the bench to make up for those losses.
The Dragons have to play like they did against Belgium, when they didn’t show any signs of pressure, got even more out of those incredible fans and were fantastic.
REN IS KEY... NOT RON
THE new star of Portugal is not Cristiano Ronaldo but Renato Sanches.
I love how he plays, with his power and speed on the ball.
The 18-year-old is a box-to-box midfielder and has given Portugal something they lacked at the start of the tournament.
Sanches has changed the speed of the game and, for me, he’s more important to them than Ronaldo.
It is incredible to see what such a young player has done for the team.
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Ronaldo needs the other players to get him the ball. But Sanches doesn’t depend on anybody.
He gets the ball himself and then has the creativity to hurt the other team.
Wales have to close him down. He starts on the narrow left and they have to negate his influence.
That means getting eight behind the ball, keeping close, disciplined and staying compact.
The new star of Portugal is not Cristiano Ronaldo but Renato Sanches
Lothar Matthaus
They cannot afford any mistakes as Portugal have defended very well in the knockout stage.
If they go in front it will be hard for Wales to break them down without Aaron Ramsey.
THE WELSH SPECIAL ONE
GARETH BALE is a fantastic player — but what I like is that we have seen a different version of Bale to the one we know from Real Madrid.
At Madrid he is one of many. In this team he is the only one.
For Wales, he is the Special One. Bale is the main man for his national side, for Wales and Welsh
football, not just the team — but the whole country.
If you talk about Wales, then you cannot avoid also talking about Bale.
MAKING CRIS CROSS
THIS game is NOT about Bale v Ronaldo.
If it was, then on the basis of what we have seen so far, Wales have to win.
Ronaldo has only played well against Hungary. Wales will be happy if he starts in the middle because they play deep, closing off the centre of the pitch, leaving more space out wide.
LOTHAR'S PREDICTION - PORTUGAL 2-0
EXPERIENCE is on Portugal’s side — they have played in more big games.
Wales have Bale and he can change the game, he’s shown that all tournament.
The Welsh are a disciplined side, they are happy to work together and have loved being the outsiders.
To reach the last four is remarkable but I fear this is the end. Portugal are the favourites and I think they will go through.
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