Hal Robson-kanu Sends Belgium For A Hot Dog

The highlight of Wales’ wondrous Euro 2016 was their cult hero flummoxing three Belgians to secure a semi-final spot. FFT meets up with our Goal of the Year winner.

- Chris Evans

Hal Robrsn-Kanual Robson-Kanu seems slightly puzzled when FourFourTwo’s photographer shares his vision for our opening shot. “You want me to hold up… a sausage?” the Wales hero asks as our snapper hands over all the ingredients to put together the perfect hot dog. Standing in his pristine-looking apartment in Warwickshire, the 27-year-old takes one look at the ketchup bottle in his right hand, and then another at the cream carpet beneath his feet. A worried expression crosses his face. “My missus isn’t going to be very happy about this – it could ruin my year if we get any on the carpet,” he jokes. Well, half-jokes.

After his other-worldly Cruyff turn to score the second of Wales’ three goals in their shock Euro 2016 quarter-final victory against Belgium, social media lit up with people celebrating Robson-Kanu for sending three Belgian players for a hot dog. Basically, he sent them all running in completely the wrong direction.

It was the crowning moment of an incredible summer, when the forward went from being an out-of-contract Championship player to the toast of Europe – before signing for West Bromwich Albion amid talk of interest from Atletico Madrid.

Best of all (probably), his strike is named FFT’s Goal of the Year, which is why he’s squirting sauce on a Frankfurter.

It could all have been so different. Having announced that he wouldn’t be renewing his contract at Reading, ending a 12-year association with the club he’d called home since the age of 15, Acton-born Robson-Kanu decided he would use the European Championship as a shop window for his talents. But with only weeks before Wales kicked off their campaign against Slovakia, Robson-Kanu snapped a tendon in his leg and faced an anxious race to be ready for the jaunt across the Channel.