MATCH THREAD " BELGIUM v WALES " MATCH THREAD

KIEFFER MOORE & JONNY WILLIAMS ON THE BENCH

HARRY WILSON STARTS

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Wales begin their World Cup 2022 Qualifying Campaign on Wednesday with an away fixture in Belgium.

The game kicks off at 7.45pm. It is live on Sky Sports Main Event and S4C.


Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies and Tom Lockyer have all withdrawn from the squad due to injury.


Three of Cardiff City's players are in the squad. Kieffer Moore, Harry Wilson and Jonny Williams have been called up but Will Vaulks missed out.


We also play Mexico in a friendly on Sunday, and Czech Republic at home on Tuesday in another qualifier during this period.



There is one other match in our group on Wednesday, as Estonia host Czech Republic - also at 7.45pm.




Wales squad

Goalkeepers

Wayne Hennessey - Crystal Palace

Danny Ward - Leicester City

Adam Davies - Stoke City

Tom King - Newport County

Defenders

Chris Gunter - Charlton Athletic

Connor Roberts - Swansea City

Ethan Ampadu - Sheffield United

Chris Mepham - AFC Bournemouth

Joe Rodon - Tottenham Hotspur

James Lawrence - St Pauli

Neco Williams - Liverpool

Rhys Norrington-Davies - Stoke City

Ben Cabango - Swansea City

Midfielders

Joe Allen - Stoke City

Jonny Williams - Cardiff City

Dan James - Manchester United

Harry Wilson - Cardiff City

Matt Smith - Doncaster Rovers

Joe Morrell - Luton Town

Dylan Levitt - Istra 1961

Brennan Johnson - Lincoln City

Josh Sheehan - Newport County

Forwards

Rabbi Matondo - Stoke City

Hal Robson-Kanu - West Bromwich Albion

Tom Lawrence - Derby County

Tyler Roberts - Leeds United

Gareth Bale - Tottenham Hotspur

Kieffer Moore - Cardiff City

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Belgium have their all-time leading goal scorer Romelu Lukaku available despite Inter Milan initially blocking their players from leaving Italy.

Milan's health authority made the decision to stop Inter players joining up with their national teams because of Covid-19 cases at the Serie A club.

But forward Lukaku was called up by Belgium boss Roberto Martinez and has since tested negative for coronavirus.

Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard misses out with an ankle injury despite making his first club appearance since January last weekend.

Belgium are also without Borussia Dortmund midfielder Alex Witsel, who had surgery on an Achilles problem in January.

Martinez has called up a host of star names, including Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Napoli forward Dries Mertens.

Couldn’t have asked for a tougher start would jump at a point right now

Belgium have their all-time leading goal scorer Romelu Lukaku available despite Inter Milan initially blocking their players from leaving Italy.

Milan's health authority made the decision to stop Inter players joining up with their national teams because of Covid-19 cases at the Serie A club.

But forward Lukaku was called up by Belgium boss Roberto Martinez and has since tested negative for coronavirus.

Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard misses out with an ankle injury despite making his first club appearance since January last weekend.

Belgium are also without Borussia Dortmund midfielder Alex Witsel, who had surgery on an Achilles problem in January.

Martinez has called up a host of star names, including Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Napoli forward Dries Mertens.

is finishing second in this group of any use other than coefficient points .?

KIEFFER MOORE ON THE BENCH

HARRY WILSON STARTS

20210324_182309.jpg

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Pleased for the City that Moore and Williams aren’t starting. Pity that Wilson is though.

Belgium have their all-time leading goal scorer Romelu Lukaku available despite Inter Milan initially blocking their players from leaving Italy.

Milan's health authority made the decision to stop Inter players joining up with their national teams because of Covid-19 cases at the Serie A club.

But forward Lukaku was called up by Belgium boss Roberto Martinez and has since tested negative for coronavirus.

Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard misses out with an ankle injury despite making his first club appearance since January last weekend.

Belgium are also without Borussia Dortmund midfielder Alex Witsel, who had surgery on an Achilles problem in January.

Martinez has called up a host of star names, including Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Napoli forward Dries Mertens.

is finishing second in this group of any use other than coefficient points .?

Go into some sort of playoffs but not sure how or who will qualify for finals as couple of nations league teams will be put into playoffs as well.... it is complicated but sure be explained on tv later

Belgium have their all-time leading goal scorer Romelu Lukaku available despite Inter Milan initially blocking their players from leaving Italy.

Milan's health authority made the decision to stop Inter players joining up with their national teams because of Covid-19 cases at the Serie A club.

But forward Lukaku was called up by Belgium boss Roberto Martinez and has since tested negative for coronavirus.

Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard misses out with an ankle injury despite making his first club appearance since January last weekend.

Belgium are also without Borussia Dortmund midfielder Alex Witsel, who had surgery on an Achilles problem in January.

Martinez has called up a host of star names, including Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Napoli forward Dries Mertens.

is finishing second in this group of any use other than coefficient points .?

Go into some sort of playoffs but not sure how or who will qualify for finals as couple of nations league teams will be put into playoffs as well.... it is complicated but sure be explained on tv later

From what I understand of the Nations League (which is limited) our finish in our NL group and our points total means that if we finish 2nd in the WC qualifying group then we're guaranteed a play off place?

f**k knows truth be told, every time I think I've finally understood the NL there seems to be some new permutations or side tournaments/play offs that completely change what I thought I knew

Belgium have their all-time leading goal scorer Romelu Lukaku available despite Inter Milan initially blocking their players from leaving Italy.

Milan's health authority made the decision to stop Inter players joining up with their national teams because of Covid-19 cases at the Serie A club.

But forward Lukaku was called up by Belgium boss Roberto Martinez and has since tested negative for coronavirus.

Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard misses out with an ankle injury despite making his first club appearance since January last weekend.

Belgium are also without Borussia Dortmund midfielder Alex Witsel, who had surgery on an Achilles problem in January.

Martinez has called up a host of star names, including Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Napoli forward Dries Mertens.

is finishing second in this group of any use other than coefficient points .?

Go into some sort of playoffs but not sure how or who will qualify for finals as couple of nations league teams will be put into playoffs as well.... it is complicated but sure be explained on tv later

From what I understand of the Nations League (which is limited) our finish in our NL group and our points total means that if we finish 2nd in the WC qualifying group then we're guaranteed a play off place?

f**k knows truth be told, every time I think I've finally understood the NL there seems to be some new permutations or side tournaments/play offs that completely change what I thought I knew

Yes we have qualified at least playoffs because of our success in NL but when you look at playoffs that is not simple to understand ... and hazzard is playing

Belgium have their all-time leading goal scorer Romelu Lukaku available despite Inter Milan initially blocking their players from leaving Italy.

Milan's health authority made the decision to stop Inter players joining up with their national teams because of Covid-19 cases at the Serie A club.

But forward Lukaku was called up by Belgium boss Roberto Martinez and has since tested negative for coronavirus.

Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard misses out with an ankle injury despite making his first club appearance since January last weekend.

Belgium are also without Borussia Dortmund midfielder Alex Witsel, who had surgery on an Achilles problem in January.

Martinez has called up a host of star names, including Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Napoli forward Dries Mertens.

is finishing second in this group of any use other than coefficient points .?

Go into some sort of playoffs but not sure how or who will qualify for finals as couple of nations league teams will be put into playoffs as well.... it is complicated but sure be explained on tv later

From what I understand of the Nations League (which is limited) our finish in our NL group and our points total means that if we finish 2nd in the WC qualifying group then we're guaranteed a play off place?

f**k knows truth be told, every time I think I've finally understood the NL there seems to be some new permutations or side tournaments/play offs that completely change what I thought I knew

Yes we have qualified at least playoffs because of our success in NL but when you look at playoffs that is not simple to understand ... and hazzard is playing

Luckily not the Real Madrid/Chelsea Hazard. His brother Thorgan Hazard from Dortmund. Which hardly makes things much easier

Belgium have their all-time leading goal scorer Romelu Lukaku available despite Inter Milan initially blocking their players from leaving Italy.

Milan's health authority made the decision to stop Inter players joining up with their national teams because of Covid-19 cases at the Serie A club.

But forward Lukaku was called up by Belgium boss Roberto Martinez and has since tested negative for coronavirus.

Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard misses out with an ankle injury despite making his first club appearance since January last weekend.

Belgium are also without Borussia Dortmund midfielder Alex Witsel, who had surgery on an Achilles problem in January.

Martinez has called up a host of star names, including Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Napoli forward Dries Mertens.

is finishing second in this group of any use other than coefficient points .?

Go into some sort of playoffs but not sure how or who will qualify for finals as couple of nations league teams will be put into playoffs as well.... it is complicated but sure be explained on tv later

To clear it up..


There are 13 slots in the 2022 World Cup for European Nations.

The ten group winners will qualify automatically.

The three additional places will be determined in the play-offs.

The teams in the play-offs will be the ten group runners up and the two highest ranked Nations League teams.

These 12 teams will be split into three separate play-off routes, each containing four teams. There will be two knockout rounds in each route and the three winners will qualify for the World Cup.


The Nations League rankings are below:



TBD - France

TBD - Belgium

TBD - Italy

TBD - Spain

5 - Portugal

6 - Netherlands

7 - Denmark

8 - Germany

9 - England

10 - Poland

11 - Switzerland

12 - Croatia

13 - Ukraine

14 - Sweden

15 - Bosnia and Herzegovina

16 - Iceland

17 - Wales

18 - Austria

19 - Czech Republic

20 - Hungary

21 - Finland

22 - Norway


So, if we win the group then we will qualify.

If we finish second, we will be in the play-offs.

If we finish below second, to be in the play-offs we will need fifteen of the teams from France down to Iceland in those rankings to finish in 1st or 2nd in their group.


In short, it's very likely we will be in the play-offs at least.

Hope they play better than they sing

Joe Allen injured early on. Looks like a hamstring injury so will probably miss Czech Republic as well

Joe Morrell is on

What a goooooal

Brilliant team goal by Wales with Harry Wilson finishing it off

1-1. Great goal by Kevin De Bruyne.

Nice while it lasted.

2-1 Belgium.

Thorgan Hazard heads in from close range.

2-1 Belgium.

Thorgan Hazard heads in from close range.

Shame Roberts slipped at vital moment otherwise he wouldn't have scored? But get impression Wales can score again .

2-1 Belgium.

Thorgan Hazard heads in from close range.

Shame Roberts slipped at vital moment otherwise he wouldn't have scored? But get impression Wales can score again .

To be fair, it was just as bad by Neco Williams to let the cross come in.


Harry Wilson down injured.

Wilson was down injured for a couple of minutes but is carrying on.

Why cant they move ball quicker on right 4 times now we've had overload but the ball is so slow players get offside so it never reaches them.. think we've got more goals in us if change slightly 2nd half

HT: 2-1


Wales took an early lead with a brilliant team move that Harry Wilson finished off.


But ever since Kevin De Bruyne equalised with a great finish from outside the box, Belgium have looked in control and took a deserved lead when Thorgan Hazard headed in from close range.

Why cant they move ball quicker on right 4 times now we've had overload but the ball is so slow players get offside so it never reaches them.. think we've got more goals in us if change slightly 2nd half

I think he'll want to keep it at 2-1 for as long as possible. Maybe make some changes with 20 minutes to go.

If we go for it too early, then this Belgium side will score four or five.

In the group's other game, Czech Republic are 5-1 up at Estonia.

Tomas Soucek has scored a hattrick.

Wales have started the second half well.

Courtois hasn't had anything to do though, with Dan James and Gareth Bale both having shots off target.

Still 2-1 with about half an hour to go.

Tyler Roberts on for Harry Wilson

3-1 Belgium.

Chris Mepham brings down Dries Mertens in the penalty area and Romelu Lukaku makes no mistake from the penalty spot.


No complaints about the decision.

3-1 pen sloppy goal to give away ward should gave punched ball and mepham who gave away foul should have played ball not try boot it out ground?

Kieffer Moore on for Gareth Bale

Kieffer Moore on for Gareth Bale

Plenty of positives and result doesn't tell whole story but they are no1 in world for a reason...... chechs was 6-1 up! Estonia FT 3-1

Last edited by pembroke allan on Wed Mar 24, 2021 9:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.