Wales are not a one-man team. Chris Coleman and his players have proven that beyond any doubt both on the road to the European Championships and at the finals themselves.

In qualifying they defended tremendously, conjured chances at key moments and cultivated a team spirit that exudes from the camp. In France itself, there have been numerous superb performances on the way to the quarter-final against Belgium on Friday evening in Lille; Ashley Williams has been rock solid, while the midfield axis of Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen has functioned brilliantly.

Gareth Bale has added the stardust. Three goals and one assist have evidently been key to the Welsh cause. And if their adventure in the Euros is to extend beyond Friday evening, you suspect he’ll have a major say.

They’re not a one man team, though. That much has been established. The manager will tell you that, the players will tell you that and Bale himself will certainly tell you that. But you sense indulging a little in this moniker they’ve been saddled with has helped Coleman’s men make it this far.

While other nations accused of being little more than their best player—including the likes of Poland man Robert Lewandowski and Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo—have insulated their star from the relentless nature of these championships, Bale has been front and center.

SEE MORE: Where to find Wales vs. Belgium on US TV and streaming

The Real Madrid man has been happy to take part in pre-match walks—a tradition that’s become something of a good luck charm for the Welsh—and when it comes to press conferences, it’s Bale who has been happy to face up to the media. And when he has done, he’s spoken candidly and with the maturity of a man that’s won two Champions League titles in three seasons at Real.

There’s been no shying away from the spotlight for Bale and Wales seem happy for him to revel in it. And it’s refreshing for such a high-profile player to take such responsibility in a squad that’s made up of less illustrious counterparts. It’s a reminder to the teams coming up against the Welsh; “you lot have got this lad to worry about.”

They know it too. “Bale is for me perhaps slightly higher than [Eden] Hazard,” was the startling admission made by Belgium’s Jordan Lukaku in the buildup to this game. “…At key moments at club level Bale is the man and he stands there, while Hazard is still not consistent.”

That much has been evident in the goals scored by Bale so far. The Welshman netted two free-kicks in the group stages, strikes for which the goalkeepers were lambasted for letting in. Perhaps it’s no coincidence, though; the 26-year-old standing over a dead ball puts the fear in the opponent.

With that edge, he’s raised the levels of others. In general play, Bale’s influence on match has actually been nullified well by Slovakia, England, Russia and Northern Ireland, who each devised tactical plans to stem his quality. That’s facilitated not only extra space for team-mates, but a release of pressure too.

Ramsey, for example, has performed better in the national team jersey in the last four games than he has done for Arsenal in the past year, while Allen has knitted things together wonderfully in front of the back four. And provided Bale continues to produce decisive moments, the expectation and the narratives will continue to gravitate around him.

They’ll hope a similar pattern emerges against Belgium. “We’re like their bogey team, aren’t we?” said a confident Bale ahead of the game, noting Wales took four points off the world’s No. 2 ranked side in qualifying. “Hopefully that edge gets into their heads, you never know.”

Of course, things will be tough against the Red Devils, who have scored eight goals and conceded none in the three games following their opening loss to Italy. They have wonderfully gifted footballers, goal scorers and some momentum building behind them.

They’re the big favorites for the quarter-final. Yet there’s little doubt the Welsh will continue to raise their game. And perhaps drawing inspiration from the efforts of the Azzurri, whose cohesive and spirited game plan unsettled Belgium’s star-studded but fractured setup, they will feel confident their unbending determination will have enough to see them through.

With Bale there’s always be a chance too. In a game that’ll be stretched and primed for Wales to counter-attack, the Real Madrid man could see more of the ball than any match he has done in the competition so far. Even if he doesn’t, the four matches to date have proven he can still swing games in an instance.

These key moments would have been uplifting for those in red. Having a talisman who plays, talks and conducts himself with such conviction under immense pressure has lifted standards in the Wales squad. With the stakes high again on Friday, expect Bale to galvanize a nation dreaming of glory another time.