Key events<\/p>\n
Show key events only<\/p>\n
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n
Half-time reading:<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n This is the live table of Group J at half-time, with North Macedonia 0-0 Kazakhstan the other result.<\/p>\n Photograph: Uefa.comShare<\/a>Half-time: Wales 1-2 Belgium<\/p>\n Everything turned on that penalty decision.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 min: Three minutes added on here.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 43 min: Wales<\/a> finishing the half as the stronger side! Jordan James, who is developing something of a habit of long-range scorchers, tries his luck with a left-footed volley \u2026 tipped wide by Courtois!<\/p>\n Wales come straight back and a lovely ball from Ampadu finds Wilson down the right. The Fulham man breaks the offside trap, rolls the ball across the six-yard box, but it\u2019s just in front of Harris and Belgium<\/a> see the danger away!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 40 min: Heartening news for Wales<\/a>. North Macedonia are being held by Kazakhstan. It\u2019s goalless there.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 37 min: Wales are playing a really high line. Belgium<\/a> aren\u2019t blessed with pace \u2013 Doku aside \u2013 but the visitors are finding lots of space in behind.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 34 min: Back in Cardiff, one chance apiece for Wales and Belgium<\/a>. Thomas is such a good crosser of a ball \u2013 as he proved for Rodon\u2019s opener \u2013 and he swings another beauty into the Belgium box here, curling and swirling over the defenders and into the path of Wilson, who wasn\u2019t expecting to receive the ball and took a heavy touch on the six-yard box away from goal. The chance gone.<\/p>\n Belgium roar back, with Doku again getting clear of his marker\/markers to the byline \u2026 he cuts the ball back to De Bruyne, in oceans of space 12 yards out \u2026 this feels inevitable \u2026 but the Napoli midfielder skies his finish into Row Z!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 31 min: Germany have taken the lead against Northern Ireland, with Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade nodding in a corner. Standing at 6ft6in, he will do that. It\u2019s 1-0 to the Germans \u2013 a frustrating way for Michael O\u2019Neill\u2019s side to concede.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 29 min: Belgium<\/a> look much more likely to add to their two goals than Wales equalise. Doku is causing his customary chaos down the right flank and the diminutive winger cuts the ball back perfectly to the onrushing Trossard. The Arsenal forward flicks his finish goalwards, but Rodon gets a crucial block in! That could easily have been three.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 26 min: Wales<\/a> are fortunate not to concede a third goal inside the last 10 minutes. From a free-kick, Cabango misses his header at the back post. The ball ricochets off the shin of Theate, back off Cabango and Theate hooks a finish just wide of Darlow\u2019s left-hand post! That was close, and I\u2019m not sure the Wales keeper was getting there if Theate got that on target.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Wales 1-2 Belgium (Meunier 24)<\/p>\n Belgium lead! Trossard turns neatly in midfield and pings a brilliant diagonal ball out to Doku on the right wing. The Manchester City man does well to retrieve what initially looked like a lost cause near the corner flag before feeding the underlapping Meunier, who lashes a first time finish into the roof of the net! Could Darlow have done better? Perhaps. Thomas also did not track Meunier\u2019s run properly.<\/p>\n Belgium’s Thomas Meunier (centre) scores their side’s second goal. Photograph: David Davies\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.17 EDT<\/p>\n 22 min: It will be a surprise to say that Belgium<\/a> have settled. They have a stranglehold on possession now. What a frustration for Wales, who were rampant in the first 15 minutes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 20 min: It appears that Craig Bellamy was also booked in the aftermath of that penalty decision. I\u2019m not exactly sure what for, but I can have a good guess.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Wales 1-1 Belgium (De Bruyne 18 pen)<\/p>\n Darlow dives to his left, and De Bruyne whips the ball into the opposite corner. The scores are level. Wales<\/a> must be very careful to not let their early momentum evaporate with that penalty decision.<\/p>\n Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium scores his team\u2019s first goal from the penalty spot. Photograph: Dan Mullan\/Getty ImagesDe Bruyne celebrates. Photograph: Dan Istitene\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.12 EDT<\/p>\n Penalty to Belgium!<\/p>\n 16 min: In their first significant attack of the game, Belgium<\/a> work the ball into the Welsh box. From a little over two yards away, De Ketelaere chips the ball into the arm of Ampadu, the absolute definition of \u2018ball-to-hand\u2019. The decision is not initially given on the field, but after the referee is referred to the screen, the penalty is given. What a break for Belgium.<\/p>\n Referee Daniel Siebert gestures to give a penalty following a handball incident with Ethan Ampadu of Wales (not pictured). Photograph: Dan Mullan\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.09 EDT<\/p>\n 14 min: A deserved yellow card for Harry Wilson, who was late in catching Theate as he tries to keep the Welsh intensity up. That means the Fulham man will miss the next game, against Liechtenstein. A blow for Bellamy, but at least it\u2019s not the North Macedonia game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 12 min: Prior to that goal, I received an email from Matt Dony. I suspect he is still terrified but perhaps a little more confident after that Rodon goal.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not \u2018quite exciting\u2019. It\u2019s flipping terrifying. There have been incredible highs over the last 10 years of Welsh football, and Bellamy has been a revelation as manager, but this isn\u2019t a \u2018great\u2019 side. Player-for-player, Belgium<\/a> are stronger and better. I\u2019m not confident. And yet, that night in Lille nags away. That magical night. Dewch ymlaen, fechgyn! Dach chi\u2019n gallu neud e!\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 10 min: Belgium<\/a> look absolutely shellshocked, they haven\u2019t strung two passes together. It was Debast that lost Rodon in the box there. Sunday league defending.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Wales 1-0 Belgium (Rodon 8)<\/p>\n From a corner, Sorda Thomas swings a delicious ball into the box. Joe Rodon, standing six yards out, is completely unmarked and the centre back nods past Courtois to give Wales<\/a> the lead! Absolutely dreadful defending but Wales won\u2019t care one jot!<\/p>\n Joe Rodon of Wales scores his team’s first goal. Photograph: Dan Mullan\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.58 EDT<\/p>\n 5 min: Wave after wave of Wales<\/a> attacks. Another cross, this time from the left, is swung into the box. Brooks looks to meet it, is tripped by De Cuyper, but the referee deems it not to be a penalty! Perhaps it was more of a slip than a trip.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4 min: Wilson takes a tumble after a clumsy tackle from De Ketelaere and Williams crosses to the penalty spot: Cabango meets it, but glances his header wide! The crowd are up, and Belgium<\/a> can\u2019t get out!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2 min: Wales so nearly open the scoring! Belgium<\/a> are exposed down their left, Williams crossing low to the near post and Harris gets their first, flicking a finish goalwards. Only a block from Debast sends the ball inches wide! Belgium survive the early onslaught!<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Peeeeeeeeep!<\/p>\n We\u2019re underway in Cardiff.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n In other World Cup qualification news \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The teams are out at the Cardiff City Stadium. The anthems are belted out, Wales fans in their bucket hats, Belgium<\/a> supporters with the devil horns on their heads. Ben Davies, holding his young son, looks about as emotional as I have seen as the camera pans across the players.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n This is a good time to face Belgium. Not only are they stuttering in front of goal, but also missing Romelu Lukaku. Leandro Trossard was selected as the striker in the goalless draw against North Macedonia, with Michy Batshuayi and Lois Openda left on the bench. Belgium<\/a> manager Rudi Garcia has included Charles De Ketelaere in the starting XI tonight but responded to criticism over his selection choices in his pre-match press conference.<\/p>\n From time to time, some of you make me laugh,\u201d Garcia said to journalists. \u201cWhen a player is on the list, he shouldn\u2019t be there. And the same player should have been included, even though you didn\u2019t even want him. I make my choices based on what I see. When you win, you\u2019re always right, and when you don\u2019t win, it\u2019s the coach\u2019s lot. Everyone becomes a coach in those moments. I have enough experience not to pay attention to it and stay focused on the next match.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Craig Bellamy, Wales<\/a> manager, speaks to the cameras:<\/p>\n Tonight will have a big say with what happens in the group. Hopefully we can be the ones on top. I want to see intensity, with an without the ball. This is tough game, but it has to be. The reward is so great. We know we are going to have to through pain, but we have to be prepared to do that.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Obviously Wales\u2019 performance and result against England last week was disappointing. Craig Bellamy has made no excuses for the defeat:<\/p>\n I like pressing and we didn\u2019t press. We were deep, we didn\u2019t get out, we didn\u2019t trigger. Top teams don\u2019t let you get away with it. Looking back through the game, I really enjoyed it. I don\u2019t like the defeat, but there\u2019s a lot to grab and it gives me the feeling this team can go a lot further and that leaves you excited.<\/p>\n Here is Ben Fisher\u2019s take on a bad night at Wembley. I expect to see a completely different performance in front of a raucous Cardiff crowd. The issue is that a Belgium<\/a> might also put in a very different shift to the draw against North Macedonia.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Given the significance to the fortunes of both Wales and Belgium<\/a>, I\u2019ll also bring you intermittent updates from North Macedonia v Kazakhstan. They are also kicking off at 7.45pm BST.<\/p>\n Also, I\u2019ll do my best to bring you updates from Northern Ireland v Germany in Group A, another 7.45pm BST kick-off. Friday\u2019s 2-0 win over Slovakia<\/a> means Northern Ireland, Germany and Slovakia go into Monday\u2019s games level on six points. Qualification is very much up for grabs in that one, too!<\/p>\n Photograph: Uefa.com<\/p>\n Here is a bit of background to that one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.15 EDT<\/p>\n \u201cEverything crossed for a Wales victory tonight!\u201d emails Ian Kay. \u201cA point would be admirable, but sadly not much use. Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan are almost certainly going to lose their remaining games, which means that if Wales get a point tonight, it would be no different to a defeat – Belgium<\/a> would finish top, and Wales would still need to beat North Macedonia to take the play-off spot. So if the scores are level with five minutes to go tonight, Wales would be foolish to sit on it.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The ever-dependable Ben Davies earns his 100th international cap for Wales, just the fourth male player to do so after Gareth Bale, Chris Gunter and Wayne Hennessey. Here\u2019s Ben Fisher<\/a> on \u2018Mr Consistency\u2019.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Team news!<\/p>\n Brennan Johnson and Kieffer Moore on the Wales<\/a> bench!<\/p>\n Wales: Darlow, Williams, Rodon, Cabango, Ben Davies, Ampadu, Belgium: Courtois, Meunier, Debast, Theate, De Cuyper, Raskin, Onana, Doku, De Bruyne, Trossard, De Ketelaere. Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany)<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n As Jimothy Lacoste once nearly declared<\/a>: \u201cLife in Group J is getting quite exciting\u201d. This is the current state of play before Monday\u2019s crucial qualifiers.<\/p>\n Photograph: Uefa.com<\/p>\n Despite their most recognisable player being Eljif Elmas \u2013 who has started just once for Napoli this season \u2013 North Macedonia held Belgium<\/a> to a goalless draw on Friday night in Ghent despite the Balkan country having just 21% possession and three shots to Belgium\u2019s 25.<\/p>\n The result has thrown Group J wide open. Should Wales<\/a> beat Belgium this evening, as well as minnows Liechtenstein and North Macedonia next month, they will qualify for the World Cup for just the third time in their history. It\u2019s really that simple.<\/p>\n
Jordan James, Brooks, Wilson, Thomas, Harris.
Subs: King, Adam Davies, Mepham, Koumas, Cullen, Johnson, Moore, Rubin Colwill, Dasilva, Kpakio, Sheehan, Broadhead.<\/p>\n
Subs: Lammens, Sels, Mechele, Witsel, Openda, Lukebakio, De Winter, Fofana, Vanaken, Castagne, Seys, Batshuayi.<\/p>\n