Harry Wilson. Pic: Alamy
Wales resume their World Cup qualification campaign at home to Liechtenstein on Friday night, before facing Belgium in Brussels, where Harry Wilson has good memories.
Harry Wilson has told Kevin De Bruyne, there’s nothing boring about Wales playing Belgium.
The two nations have met each other eight times in 12 years and will meet for a ninth in next Monday’s World Cup qualifier in Brussels.
Such familiarity led departing Manchester City superstar De Bruyne to claim matches between the two nations had become “boring”, but Wilson begs to differ.
The Wales and Fulham forward’s contrary view is understandable since, like a number of Welsh players, the Belgian matches hold good memories.
Wilson did not play in Wales’ most memorable triumph over De Bruyne and company - the 3-1 quarter-final win in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 - but he has other personal high points.
The 28-year-old made history when he became the youngest Welsh player to be capped in a full international when he came on in the Belgian capital in a 1-1 draw in 2013.
He was 16 years and 207 days.
“At the time I didn’t know (about the record),” says Wilson.
“It was just about coming on for my country. It was something I had always wanted to do so to do it so young was amazing.
“I can't really remember too much about being on the pitch, but I came on at 1-0 down and we drew 1-1 so I'll take a little bit of credit for that.
“Then I had a few years away which probably made me even more hungry to make sure I got back in the fold and really started to rack up the caps.
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“I didn’t want to just be a one-cap 16-year-old. I wanted to be a mainstay in this team. It took me a few years but I feel like I am that now.”
Wilson will win his 61st cap in Cardiff against Liechtenstein on Friday night, three days before Craig Bellamy’s team take on the Pool J favourites.
After an impressive season in the Premier League with Fulham - who challenged for Europe - Wilson is aiming to ensure Wales extend their manager’s unbeaten start to his tenure to 10 matches.
“We've gone eight games unbeaten since the manager's come in and to do at international level is not easy at all. It shows what a good team we are,” adds Wilson.
“The style we're playing now, both on the ball and off the ball, suits a lot of players in this team and that's why we're on such a good run.”
Of those eight matches between Wales and the Belgians - still ranked No.8 in the world - Wales have won two, lost two and drawn four.
But they have never won on Belgian soil, which would be a significant blow should they manage to take six points from their two summer qualification games.
“I think we are a good team and we have shown that over the years,” adds Wilson.
“When we played them in the Euros, we were in an amazing moment and that game was one of the best in our history, with an iconic goal from Hal (Robson-Kanu).
“To have a record as good as that against a nation as good as they are – over the last 10, 15 years they have had a bit of a golden era – so to only lose two games against them, that shows what an amazing feat that is.
“I am not sure why the record is so good but hopefully we can keep it going.”