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On the whole the Reading connections have had mixed tournaments, with players such as Ryan Bertrand, Simon Church, Chris Baird and Stephen Quinn, being bit part players, whereas Chris Gunter, Hal Robson Kanu, Oliver Norwood and Gylfi Sigurðsson being all heavily involved in games.
With Wales being the latest bastion of Reading’s attempts to have a Euro 2016 winner in our history, all our hopes are that the dream for the Welsh team carries on, a small matter of a certain Real Madrid player standing in their way of a final, yes let that sink in, a final at Euro 2016.
Of our three remaining connections, Hal Robson Kanu has lived up to his tag as an enigma, an injury disrupted season last year failed to get the Reading fans on his side. Yet at the Euros he has played like a man possessed, you may ask where this guy has been for the last few years.
Chris Gunter really has shown what we all know, his game is all about athleticism and the cross that he put on Vokes head was sublime, more next season please Chris! (if your still here)
Simon Church has been doing what Simon Church does best. The bench being his best friend he is still with a chance of getting on the pitch at a Euro 2016 final. Just pause, let that sink in, and realise that there are indeed strange forces at work in the Universe.
Right so as we have three left – what’s been said in the Twittersphere.
Simon Church
Does take a minute to sink in....
So Simon Church is in the Euro semi-finals #baller #mkdons
— On the Dot (@2014MK1) July 1, 2016
#Legacy #21forDolan
From our Academy at Hogwood, to the semi-final of Euro 2016. @RobsonKanu @churchy18 #WAL pic.twitter.com/jur0MPpfAF
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) July 1, 2016
Who wants to go halves on a tenner?
@FootballManager Quick heads up, Wales beat France in the final 1-0 after extra time. Simon Church nicks the winner
— David Berry (@DavedByTheBerr) July 1, 2016
Really!! Eurovision could be interesting!
What a performance from @FAWales,so proud I can't explain.still waiting for my @churchy18 chant to kick off too #takemetosimonchurch
— Sir Simon of Lewis (@gnipschnid) July 1, 2016
Chris Gunter
As put down's go......
@austin_j_powers I put it on big vokesy's head... 1 every 1,670,457 ain't that bad is it?
— Chris Gunter (@Chrisgunter16) July 2, 2016
Never a truer word said
Two people I'm feeling really sorry for tonight, it's @RobsonKanu's agent and @Chrisgunter16's brother #WAL #TogetherStronger @FAWales
— Amy (@ammylouxx) July 1, 2016
Oooh thats gotta hurt!
Chelsea fans got their answer tonight: Where's #Hazard been all season? @Chrisgunter16 's pocket! #WALBEL
— Drew Sherman (@DrewCSherman) July 1, 2016
A very valid point.
I mean who tf is Robson Kanu, Joe Ledley, Chris Gunter compared to Harry Kane, Joao Moutinho and Toby Aldeweireld hahaha
— Melan (@amirraslan) July 1, 2016
Top picture!
@UEFAEURO @FAWales @GarethBale11 @WayneHennessey1 @Chrisgunter16 @aaronramsey @Ben_Davies33 @joe16led pic.twitter.com/kAJzdCss1E
— めろ先輩⚪️⚫️ (@juventusFC___) July 1, 2016
nah not like it's Hazard, Fellani - oh wait....
In fairness to Belgium, not many teams can handle the explosive combination of Chris Gunter and Hal Robson-Kanu
— Euan Cunningham (@ETRCunningham) July 1, 2016
Who said the Premiership is the best league?
Chris Gunter (Championship) to Sam Vokes (Championship). Goal. Can we end this nonsense about England not having the players now?
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarretTimes) July 1, 2016
Bromance
Year of the underdog. What a performance from Wales. I'm a proud friend!!! #SemiFinalists #HistoryMakers #Congratulations @Chrisgunter16
— Garath McCleary (@gmccleary12) July 1, 2016
Has Gunter ever, ever crossed a better ball?
.@Chrisgunter16 with the long cross picking out Sam Vokes who heads it past the keeper (3-1) #Belgium #EURO2016 https://t.co/1uv9dhbvUn
— eric veal (@gcsuballer) July 1, 2016
Hal Robson Kanu
Bet Celine never thought that this would happen!
@RobsonKanu goal is soo much better with the titanic music pic.twitter.com/7aDEzriFPh
— Cai Davies (@caidavies2002) July 1, 2016
Ok, one more angle....pure genius, there I said it....
Hal Robson, Hal Robson-Cruyff #EURO2016 #WALBEL https://t.co/VbEKLhILEN
— Matthew Orlinski (@MatthewOrlinski) July 1, 2016
The Belgium defense will never live this down.
Apparently those 3 Belgian defenders have just come back with the pies & bovril's that Hal Robson Kanu sent them for #WAL #EURO2016
— Daniel Gabbidon (@Gabbidon35) July 1, 2016
Who is this player and wheres the real HRK
AMAZING performance by #MOTM @RobsonKanu & #WAL! What an achievement! #EURO2016 #WALBEL #Probably pic.twitter.com/Afm4xMJBs7
— Carlsberg (@carlsberg) July 1, 2016
Ouch!
Goals at #EURO2016: Hal Robson-Kanu(2) Harry Kane (0) Thomas Müller (0) Zlatan Ibrahimović (0) He's a free agent! pic.twitter.com/XJ0rhW2026
— Fabianski (@itzfabianski) July 1, 2016
How many versions of this are there?
Hal Robson Kanu's agent right now. #CruyffTurn #paytogetbackin pic.twitter.com/qgXO40CRzm
— Jamie Langfield (@jamlang22) July 1, 2016
Think there's a few clubs in dreamland!
Ipswich should go for @RobsonKanu please make this happen
— Dane (@daneclap) July 1, 2016
Summary
Love him, hate him, not bothered about him, but you can't say that Hal Robson Kanu hasn't had a decent championship. There is a strong chance that if Wales continue their run he could end up as player of the tournament, certainly he has a good chance of goal of the tournament!
There is also a lot of head scratching as to how a player that has been average for Reading has suddenly turned into Messi. Is this coaching, is this the player or one of those unfathomable things, like why does buttered toast always land butter side down when you drop it.
Either way what it has shown is that you take an average side, give them something to fight for and a point to prove and who knows what can happen, I just hope that the Reading team are watching this tournament and can get inspiration for next season from it.
Hopefully we I will be back after the semi's reporting on another amazing Welsh performance so until then....Pob lwc!