GIOVANNI Trapattoni, the legendary former Italy and Juventus manager, used to say a good coach can make a team a little bit better, say up to five per cent. But a bad one can make a team 30 to 50 per cent worse.

His words came to mind on Friday night watching Wales and Belgium. While the former were a solid, well-drilled unit with a defined game plan that allowed their one superstar to make those around him better, the latter looked like 11 random men who had met in a pub that afternoon. Eleven gifted footballers mind you – some outrageously gifted in fact – but still a random assortment of guys lacking chemistry and preparation.

Credit Wales, of course, because Chris Coleman had them prepared to exploit Belgium’s weaknesses while minimising their own his players the freedom to do things they’re not meant to be doing … like Hal Robson-Kanu’s ridiculous Cruyff turn for the second goal. It was all in contrast to Marc Wilmots’ crew. Some, like yours truly, picked them to win it all, thinking the combination of set-piece threats, individual talent who could unlock packed defences and an impermeable goalkeeper could carry them through the knockout stages. How wrong we were.

When it emerged, after the opening loss to Italy, that Belgium had hardly prepared to face a back three, alarm bells ought to have sounded. The romps against Hungary and Ireland gave them a false sense of security. Belgium scored via individual imp- rovisation and defended via individual quality. The minute they faced a side with actual organisation and a modicum of quality, they struggled.

As for Wales, a date with Portugal in Wednesday’s semi-final awaits. Getting this far means surpassing the 1958 World Cup side, who faced Brazil and were beaten by a single Pele goal. We’re in nosebleed territory, but, thus far, they’ve shown the ability to cope.

“There’s nothing wrong with dreaming,” said Coleman post-match.

He’s right. And, at this stage, it’s far from an impossible dream either. Portugal presents the Ronaldo v Bale sub-plot but, crucially, they are also a side that have yet to win a single game within 90 minutes. They may be a more gifted and pedigreed footballing nation, but their superstar is firing blanks right now. And while the absence of the suspended Aaron Ramsey will be a big blow to the Welsh, they can count on the fact that both their lead actor and the supporting cast are pulling their weight.

Dare to dream: the final of Euro 2016 is only 90 minutes away.

ONE of the strange things about England’s elimination was that it felt familiar: the early exit, the hand-wringing, the vilification of managers and players, the panels and root-and-branch reviews. Yet at the same time we were in uncharted territory; never before had they been beaten by a country as unfancied as Iceland. Rarely had they played so poorly.

When the press stop crucifying players for buying homes for their mothers (Raheem Sterling) or smiling after defeat (Adam Lallana) or having a girlfriend who wears glamorous clothes (Dele Alli), they may get around to their post- mortems. And because they wield massive influence over the folks at St George’s Park, their conclusions really do matter.

The first thing they might want to do – before throwing around the usual wishlist of names – is to actually define the job in a realistic way. That means understanding that, away from major tournaments, a national team coach only gets to work with his team for maybe 15 to 18 days a year. That means philosophy and vision take a back seat to pragmatism. Whoever comes in won’t be able to work the way he would at club level.

It also means that this “picking on form” culture has got to go. It seems a peculiarly English thing. You have a decent, say, right-back, then some other right-back has a cracking few months, gets talked up on Match of the Day and suddenly he gets the call. The incumbent right-back is now insecure and looking over his shoulder. And regulars have to adapt to the new right-back which further inhibits development of chemistry.

Obviously you need flexibility and alternatives. But Roy Hodgson called up 39 different players in the nine months leading up to the tournament. Sure, some of it was down to injury. But a lot felt like the need to respond to media flavour-of-the-month clamour, witness the likes of Danny Ings, Jesse Lingard, Ryan Mason, Jonjo Shelvey and Kieran Gibbs.

Managing a national team involves a different skill set. The FA would be wise to keep that in mind in appointing the next England coach.

THIS time last year, the biggest celebrities at the best supported club in England were probably Wayne Rooney – massive name, but after 11 years the hype-meter was wearing rather thin – and Louis van Gaal, illustrious coach but hardly a commercial juggernaut and a turn-off to many. Now, it’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jose Mourinho.

Whatever footballing reservations you may have about either (or both), it’s undeniable Manchester United have dialled up the showbiz and wow factor. The global spotlight is once again trained on Old Trafford, for better (the clicks and attention can and will be monetised) or worse (nobody is bigger than the club, but these two are often treated that way).

After three years in the wilderness (nope, that FA Cup against Crystal Palace does not count), United are attempting a quick fix back to relevance. The good news is that, even if it doesn’t work out, in the short term you’ll be getting plenty of commercial bang for your buck.

There are tons of footballing reasons why this might not be a good idea. Ibrahimovic turns 35 in October and while he’s coming off a stellar season, the Premier League isn’t Ligue 1. His arrival could hamper development of young stars and Mourinho isn’t exactly Sir Matt Busby when it comes to pushing youth.

Maybe it’s more relevant to note so many of United’s key figures are going to be all-in this season. Ed Woodward, surely, can’t expect to boss the football side much longer if he gets this one wrong too. Mourinho can’t afford another failure. Rooney is at a crossroads. For Ibrahimovic, the clock is ticking. This suggests everyone will raise their game and United will once again win meaningful silverware. Or, it will be a colossal, and expensive, failure. Whoever picks up the pieces will be left with the mother of all rebuilding jobs.