20,000 Welsh fans sing rousing rendition of national anthem
Welsh dreams are shattered by two Portugal goals in THREE minutes leaving their army of 20,000 proud fans to reflect on team's brave Euro 2016 run as they drown their sorrows in Lyon
Despite the support of 20,000 fans who flocked to Lyon to see their team compete in the semi finals of Euro 2016, plucky underdogs Wales have left the tournament following a 2-0 defeat to Portugal.
Following a strong defence from Wales during the first 45 minutes the teams found themselves at 0-0 at half-time – but after Cristiano Ronaldo's team scored twice in three minutes supporters began looking seriously worried.
In the final five minutes Wales supporters showed their appreciation for their team by bellowing out the national anthem. The match was the first time Wales had qualified for a tournament since the 1958 World Cup
While the match was unchartered territory for Chris Coleman's side they stood up manfully to the Portuguese in the opening period at the Stade de Lyon.
It was the biggest game in the country's history and they played well but the headed second-half goal from Cristiano Ronaldo and a second from Nani three minutes later secured a 2-0 win for Portugal .
Portugal will next appear at Paris’s Stade de France on Sunday in the final against either host nation France or Germany, who will play each other in their own semi-final this evening.
More than 20,000 jubilant Wales fans gathered in Lyon for the biggest game in the country's history as they take on Portugal in the semi-finals of Euro 2016 tonight - but after Ronaldo's team scored twice in three minutes Wales fans are looking worried
Millions of Welsh fans watched from home as the unfancied side stood 90 minutes away from claiming a place in the Euro 2016 final in Paris on Sunday.
Earlier today excitement reached fever pitch in Cardiff as 20,000 tickets to see the game live on the big screen were snapped up in just an hour.
Wales have already been one of the stand-out stories in the tournament after topping their group (ahead of England) and dispatching first Northern Ireland then Belgium - packed with Premier League stars - 3-1 in the quarter-finals.
They were hoping to become the first British team to reach the final of a major tournament for 50 years.
But the match was made all the more remarkable as it is the first time Wales had qualified for a tournament since the 1958 World Cup - before many of the supporters in the southeastern French city were even born.
He told MailOnline: ‘My mum wasn’t very pleased about taking time off school but we are watching history here. I am with my uncle and he is looking after me so my mum can’t complain.’
His uncle Lee ‘Mogsy’ Morgan brought Louie and his son Dylan on the once-in-a-lifetime trip. He said: ‘I have been working abroad for a few months so I really wanted to bring the boys out here to watch the lads play. Luckily their mum agreed.’
Meanwhile Mark Morris, 31, from Carnarthem has risked a new promotion at work to come to France to be part of the Welsh football dream.
Portugal are without key central defender Pepe for their semifinal against Wales after he failed to recover from a thigh muscle injury.
Coach Fernando Santos has opted to give 34-year-old Bruno Alves his first minutes of the tournament in place of Pepe. Santos had said Pepe would be a match-day decision based on his fitness after he missed training on Monday and trained separately on Tuesday.
Also for Portugal, Danilo replaced suspended holding midfielder William Carvalho, while Raphael Guerreiro returns at left back after recovering from injury.
Wales manager Chris Coleman has entrusted the midfield spot left vacant by the suspended Aaron Ramsey to Andy King. James Collins takes the spot of the suspended Ben Davies in defence.
There are no surprises up front for either side, where Real Madrid teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are ready to square off.
He told MailOnline: ‘I watched the game against Northern Ireland and then came back to France to watch them win against Belgium.
‘After that I went back to my boss and told him I had come for the semi-final. I have only just been promoted but I had to come.’
He also encouraged wife Kelly to accompany him telling her this would be their only holiday this year. Kelly, 42, said: ‘We came out on Monday. We had to part of it especially after the epic match against Belgium.
Some supporters arrived just in time for the game – taking trains through the night. Richard, 31, from Cardiff, told MailOnline: ‘We left at 1am this morning and have travelled all night and all day by train but we have finally got here.’
A group of friends from Tredegar also arrived just in time to make the match.
Sophie, 21, told MailOnline: ‘We got the train first to Lille and then here to Lyon. Come on Wales!’
Tag: Welsh ,fans ,Portugal , 2-0, sing , rendition ,national ,anthem
