From Lyon Heartbreak to New Dreams: Can You Name Wales' Euro 2016 Heroes Ahead of Portugal Trip?

Nearly a decade has passed since Wales captivated a continent, and now, as Craig Bellamy's side prepare to travel to Portugal on Thursday, BBC Sport is testing the memory of Dragons supporters everywhere: can you name the Wales XI that started the Euro 2016 semi-final against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal? The summer of 2016 remains the defining chapter in Welsh football history. Under Chris Coleman, a nation appearing at its first major tournament in 58 years marched improbably to the final four, stunning Belgium in the quarter-finals courtesy of Hal Robson-Kanu's now-iconic Cruyff-turn goal in Lille. That set up a semi-final date with destiny in Lyon on 6 July 2016. Tens of thousands of Welsh fans transformed the city into a sea of red, but the fairytale ended there. Ronaldo rose to power home a trademark header shortly after half-time, and Nani's deflected effort doubled Portugal's advantage, sending Ronaldo through to the final — where he would lift the trophy — and Wales home as heroic losers. The team that started that night has since passed into legend, though recalling all eleven names is trickier than it seems. Gareth Bale spearheading the attack is the obvious starting point. But who skippered the side from the heart of defence? Who stepped in for the suspended Aaron Ramsey, the midfield engine whose tournament was cruelly cut short by a ban? And can you remember the goalkeeper and the rest of the back line that stood between Ronaldo and glory? BBC Sport's quiz challenges you to do exactly that — no peeking, just pure 2016 nostalgia. For Bellamy and his players, the trip to Portugal carries far more than sentimental value. The Dragons' impressive form under their head coach has reignited belief that Wales can return to football's biggest stage, with the expanded 48-team World Cup 2026 in North America offering a golden opportunity to build on the Qatar 2022 breakthrough. Few in the current squad experienced Lyon firsthand, but the stories remain woven into the fabric of Welsh football — Bale's long-range free-kicks, the wall of noise from the stands, and a team of largely unsung names that went further than anyone dared dream. Facing Portugal, and potentially Ronaldo once more, offers a full-circle moment for Welsh football. Nine years ago they fell short against one of the game's all-time greats. On Thursday, a new generation gets the chance to write its own chapter — while supporters everywhere test just how well they remember the last one.