Wales players would “run through a brick wall for each other,” says Thomas after thrilling World Cup qualifying loss | OneFootball

“I don’t think they showed us the respect we deserved,” declared Wales’ Sorba Thomas after a thrilling 4-3 loss to Belgium in a FIFA World Cup qualifier on Monday.

Belgium roared into a comfortable three-goal lead in front of their home fans at the Stade Roi Baudouin, but complacency gifted Craig Bellamy’s Wales an opportunity to drag themselves level in the most spectacular of circumstances.

On a night defined by lengthy VAR checks, Harry Wilson was able to clinch Wales’ first goal from the penalty spot just before the break, with Sorba Thomas adding his first senior international goal in the 51st minute before Brennan Johnson found the equaliser almost 20 minutes later.

“For us to go 3-0 down, I felt like we made a lot of mistakes which gave them a lot of the goals,” Thomas told BBC Sport following the match, but added that “from those goals, I felt like we controlled the game.”

“Don’t get me wrong, there were times and they countered us at times, but I still felt we were in control and I don’t think they showed us the respect we deserved. I think for them to go 3-0 up, they thought the game was done but we showed the Welsh fight, the Welsh fire – we showed no fear and we were able to get to 3-3.”

Wales’ efforts proved to be in vain, though, with Kevin de Bruyne able to slot home a late winner for Belgium after being left unmarked at the far post. Thomas, who completed a move to Stoke City for an undisclosed fee two days ago, noted that while the visitors “fought until the end, [there was] a little lapse of concentration at the end and against countries like this, you’ll get punished.”

Wales, who now sit second in their five-team qualifying group having played two more games than Belgium, showed immense team spirit in their first defeat under since Bellamy took charge of the team in July 2024. 26-year-old Thomas noted that “the gaffer’s been saying in his interviews that we’re a close group. We’re very close: we’ll fight for each other, we’ll bleed for each other and we’ll run through a brick wall for each other.”

“The second half there literally showed exactly what we’re about under the new management.”