Wales diary: Defeat to Belgium shakes World Cup qualification dream – but all is not lost | Football news
Where does this leave Wales’ hopes of reaching the World Cup next year? Worked, but far from finished.
The simple and fast route was closed by Belgium, which now holds all the trump cards before the last day of November. It’s hard to argue with Belgium’s position, they were quite simply the better team in Cardiff.
Qualifying in November has more benefits than just the glory of topping your qualifying group. Planning can start earlier, the race for the best training facilities and hotels is easier – you don’t have to face the challenge of play-offs.
For Wales, however, there are still opportunities for a North American adventure next year.
Before we get to the conclusion of Group J, Wales’ performance in the first half-dozen games with Craig Bellamy as head coach has led to a successful Nations League campaign, and while it’s not 100% sure, that campaign should provide a play-off path next March if Wales finish third.
For that to happen – and it’s more of a probability than a possibility – two countries from England, Germany, Spain, Portugal and France need to finish first or second in their respective qualifying groups. This is a motley crew made up of Europe’s elite, so we can expect at least two of them to come first or second.
Assuming Belgium win their final two matches next month, the other route is for Wales to dust themselves off and win their final two group matches next month in Liechtenstein, then beat North Macedonia in Cardiff.
They will need to win both to secure second place in the group, but again there is still life in this qualifying group for Wales. There are still two games left, one away against the 204th best team on the planet and the other at home.
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Wales head coach Craig Bellamy criticized VAR after their defeat to Belgium.
Okay, it’s not as satisfying and confidence-boosting as winning the group and surpassing Belgium, but perhaps we’ve seen where the chasm lies. Belgium remained calm at all times, the first 10 minutes must have been a nightmare as Wales beat them and took a deserved lead, but when those key moments arrived Belgium delivered.
Belgium’s first penalty can be debated in pubs, bars, touchlines and press conferences, but it was awarded by officials after VAR intervened. Referees don’t change their minds because of players pleading their case.
It’s a move we might not necessarily see in the Premier League now, but we saw them a few seasons ago, and in Europe, for club and international matches, the refereeing is different. Kevin De Bruyne’s composure and execution of both penalties was excellent.
Kevin De Bruyne scored twice from the penalty spot as Belgium came from behind to win
De Bruyne reminds me of Lionel Messi’s penalty at the last World Cup in Qatar, he just waits for the goalkeeper to act, even late, and places the ball in an area that is impossible to save.
What De Bruyne showed is that when a goal opportunity comes your way, you take it clinically. Wales had plenty of chances, but they were often 50/50. When a team, even if they work hard, gets beaten by someone better, then it’s time to raise your hand and accept it.
Bellamy has talked a lot in recent weeks about exposing his team to the best teams in the world and over the last week he has done just that: England and Belgium. Defeat always hurts, but if a small nation like Wales, with a much smaller pool of talented players, wants to learn, then perhaps tough nights and lessons are necessary for the greater good.
I have another thing on my mind that I can’t get rid of. It’s a quote from Bellamy from a while ago: “There’s always a twist and I feel it in this group…”
Well, so far he was right. Nobody saw Belgium losing points at home against North Macedonia and it happened. Nobody saw a late, late and – to drive the point home – very late equalizer for Wales in their first away qualifier against the same team, and yet it happened.
Harry Wilson looks dejected after defeat against Belgium
Bellamy also hinted the other day: “Belgium still have to go to Kazakhstan, it’s difficult in many ways.”
Could there still be another twist in this group? Kazakhstan is a seven-hour round trip flight to Belgium. They play on an artificial pitch and they play there on November 15th. According to my estimation, Astana in November is a bit cold.
We certainly won’t go back to automatic qualification…
Maybe not, there is a fatal flaw. Belgium’s final qualifying match will take place at home against Liechtenstein. Eighth in the world against 204th in the world. Surely not?
