VfL WOLFSBURG (Volkswagen Arena)

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE GROUP H, VfL WOLFSBURG 0-2 EVERTON,
ATTENDANCE: 23,375

Another November weekend, another European adventure! This time it involved my beloved Blues as I joined the 5,000 or so Everton fans making the trip to Germany.

I had been advised by many a groundhopper that there is not much going on in Wolfsburg as nothing really exists beyond the Volkswagen car factory (incidentally the biggest of it's kind in the world). The city was only founded in 1938 specifically to house workers of the newly built factories. They would build the iconic Beetle car.

I therefore based myself in nearby Hannover. The 'Weihnachtsmarkt' had started the previous Monday so there was a stall outside the main train station doing a roaring trade in Gluhwein, so that set the ball rolling regards pre-match beverages!

I met up with my friends from Hamburg and we took the train to Wolfsburg. We got chatting, and shared a bottle of beer, with a 'Wolfie' fan on the way. My mate reckoned he was part of their Ultras but I found this hard to believe as he was wearing a 'half 'n' half' scarf' in my eyes that only means one thing....

After a few more beers in a Wolfsburg supporters bar, that was rammed with fellow Evertonians, we made the short 15 minute walk to the ground. The Volkswagen Arena was opened in 2002 and has a capacity of 30,000 but that was slightly reduced to 26,000 tonight as the terracing is converted to seating for European games.

I was sat in amongst the home fans, but like Nuremburg in 2007, they were very friendly and there was absolutely no hint of any trouble. The police and stewards kept a watchful eye, but at a distance. Maybe they could have a word with their French counterparts?

The Everton fans inside the stadium made a great noise

Wolfsburg, Bundesliga champions as recently as 2009, were in good form prior to this game and were second in the table to Bayern Munchen. This would be a tough test for Everton.

It was a consummate away from the Toffees as Wolfsburg dominated possession and had more of the chances, albeit mostly long range efforts, but Everton clinically finished them off with two counter attacking goals.

Admittedly Everton rode their luck at times, especially when a linesman incorrectly ruled out an Ivan Perisic header, but the back four held firm.

Romelu Lukaku gave Everton the lead after 43 minutes when he beat the defender and burst through beat Diego Benaglio in the Wolfsburg goal.

At half time the result of the Lille v Krasnador game came through meaning both Everton and Wolfsburg were through regardless, but it would be nice to top the group and the Blues ensured that happened after 73 minutes when Lukaku played through Kevin Mirallas who sealed the victory.

Eto'o! Eto'o!

Post match we returned to the supporters bar where we were pre-match only this time the shots were flowing along with the beer. The landlady was also happy to join us for a few as well!

We caught the last train back to Hannover, where I met a few old mates from Work/School - small world isn't it? - before collapsing into bed in the wee small hours. Another great Everton European away trip.

KING BAUDOUIN STADIUM (Belgium v Wales)

UEFA EURO 2016 QUALIFYING GROUP B, BELGIUM 0-0 WALES,
ATTENDANCE: 55,000

It was time for the main event as I made my way from Grote Markt  to The King Baudouin Stadium in the north of Brussels.

The stadium is forever remembered for the Heysel Stadium disaster of 1985 when 39 football fans lost their lives at the European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus. Their fans were separated by a neutral block, set aside for Belgian fans. This block however was filled with Juventus fans and before kick off both sets of fans began baiting each other, throwing missiles at each other (including bits of the crumbling terrace). Liverpool fans then charged at the Juventus fans and as they fled a wall blocking their escape collapsed on top of them.

There is a memorial in the corner of the ground where the tragedy occurred. It is a sundial with 39 lights and there is a plaque with the names of the victims.

The stadium has been completely rebuilt since those events of May 29th 1985 and was renamed after the Belgian monarch who died in 1993.

This Euro qualifier was a highly anticipated game and tickets for the Wales end were seriously oversubscribed. The allocation of 2,400 were quickly snapped up and it is estimated a further 1,000 travelled without tickets.

Wales have a great start to qualifying, winning two and drawing one of their three games but tonight was to be a big test against the team ranked 4th in FIFA's ranking.

It was a fantastic, back to the walls, performance from the boys in yellow as they held out to gain what may prove to be a valuable point. As you can imagine Belgium had most of the possession, Eden Hazard weaving his magic, and most of the chances with Nicolas Lombaerts hitting the post.

Wayne Henessey was also in top form, pulling off some fine saves. Christian Benteke had a chance to win the game in stoppage time but the Welsh defence held firm. Inevitably Wales' best chance came through Gareth Bale but he dragged his effort wide.
A fine result and the Welsh fans celebrated with gutso as they dispersed in the Brussels night.

ROYAL UNION ST GILLOISE (Stade Joseph Marien)

BELGIAN NATIONAL DIVISION 3 (Group B), ROYAL UNION ST GILLOISE 0-2 ROYAL SPRIMONT COMBLAIN SPORT, ATTENDANCE: 1,000 (est)

Tonight was the second part of my Saturday double in the Begian 3rd Division. I thought I would have to go some to beat Grimbergen's superb Prinsenbosstadion but I certainly managed that!

I was basically instructed by many fellow groundhoppers that when in Brussels a visit to Royal Union St Gilloise is an absolute MUST. They were spot on!

The Stade Joseph Marien is simply fanstastic. Opened in 1919 and situated on the edge of Duden Park, the ground is a 10 minute tram ride from Brussels Midi. You walk up the street from the main road and the first thing you see is the glorious facade of the main stand and the ornate glass in the main entrance. It was just a shame I wasn't visiting in the daylight to fully appreciate this more.

The ground is now effectively two sided as the trees of the park attempt to reclaim the terraces behind each goal. The is a large seated stand, with a very small standing section in front, along one side of the pitch whilst opposite there is a very steep, but impressive, terrace. 

USG were once a major force in Belgian football, winning the championship 11 times but the last of these was in 1935. They are now languishing in the third tier of Belgian football.

Tonight was a mid-table affair as USG took on Royal Sprimont Comblain. The visitors ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Valentin Goffin (3) and Mandi Sahuké (73).

There were lots of other Welsh fans present in the crowd tonight and the clubhouse was buzzing after the game, despite the result. I was still in there supping my beer and chatting away long after midnight. A top night, indeed a top day. These two grounds have certainly whetted the appetite for more Belgian visits in the future.

KSC GRIMBERGEN (Prinsenbosstadion)

BELGIAN NATIONAL DIVISION 3 (Group B), KSC GRIMBERGEN 0-2 HOOGSTRATEN VV, ATTENDANCE: 300 (est)

Once the precious tickets for Belgium v Wales had been secured, I had to find something to keep me out of the pubs on the Saturday and what better way than another game! After scanning the fixture lists there was actually the chance of a double on the Saturday with a couple of games kicking off in the afternoon. I opted for KSC Grimbergen v Hoogstaten VV.

Grimbergen is just north of Brussels and took about 30 minutes on the bus. Grimbergen is famous for it's beer though it is no longer brewed in the town. However that never stopped my sampling plenty at the game!

The ground is in Prinsenbos, which is a woodland area of the town. The bus stopped about 500 yards from the ground. The ground is open and there tables at each corner to make sure you pay your 10 euro entrance fee. Indeed the ground is so open that joggers and cyclists went by as the game was going on (though someone on horseback was turned away). The ground looked absolutely stunning as the green leaves gave way to the autumn reds and browns.

The large seated stand has a bar at the top and it gave you perfect views of the pitch and it is from here I watched the first 45 minutes, whilst supping the aforementioned Grimbergen beers.

Hoogstraten took the lead after 2 minutes when a Grimbergen defender was dispossessed on the half way line by Jelle van Kruijssen and he was left one on one with the goalkeeper, he made no mistake in blasting the ball home. Grimbergen had plenty of possession but always looked vulnerable to the counter attack. 

Van Kruijssen made it 2-0 to the visitors just before half time and that was effectively game over. Grimbergen were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Yannick van der Voorde was given a straight red for a foul. It made no difference to the result and in the end it could have been a lot worse for the homesters, they were fortunate to only get away with conceding two. 

It was back to the bar for some post match analysis, where the people were very friendly and hospitable. They gave me a bottle of Grimbergen Blonde to take away, totally unnecessary but I was very grateful. 

It was then a bus back to Brussels for part two of my double header....