Good evening, and welcome to live coverage of Belgium versus Wales in this opening World Cup qualifier in UEFA Group E. World Cup qualifiers before the preceding European Championship has been played, I hear you cry? Yes, such is the rejigged football calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic, although this used to be commonplace for teams that hadn’t made it to the Euros. Both of these teams have, of course; Wales will be contesting their second in a row while Belgium, currently ranked number one in the world, will be one of the short-priced favourites for the title this summer. Tonight however is all about the road to Qatar 2022, and it starts in Leuven. Teams to follow shortly, let’s get about it.
World Cup Qualification UEFA / Matchday 1
King Power at Den Dreef Stadion / 24.03.2021
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Live
Live Updates
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Updated 24/03/2021 at 21:38 GMT
15'
Wales lose the ball in midfield when Lawrence overruns it. De Bruyne finds Lukaku on the right of the area, but his attempted curler to the far corner is blocked.
13'
What a stunning goal from Wales. Crisp, incisive passing that was virtually impossible to defend.
10'
GOAL! Belgium 0 Wales 1 (Wilson 10)
What a goal! Wales break down the right through Harry Wilson. Three one touch passes later, the last one from Bale to release Wilson clean through on goal and breaking Belgium's offside trap, leaves Wilson the chance to side-foot the ball into the far corner and give Wales the lead!
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Goal
H. Wilson
Wales
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Goals1
On target1
Fouls against1
8'
Joe Morrell replaces Allen. That's an early blow for Wales.
7'
Joe Allen has tweaked his hamstring here, and is grimacing; he'll have to come off.
6'
Wales have started well here, and are holding a good shape. James has a dart down the left, carrying it deep into the Belgian half, but is eventually crowded out.
2'
A long ball over the top by Vermaelen briefly looks like it might release Mertens through on goal, but he's offside.
1'
Right then, we're off.
19:44
The players take the knee before kick-off. There is no room for racism.
19:40
We're nearly ready to go here, the players are out and the anthems are underway. Your referee tonight is Cuneyt Cakir.
19:35
The record between these two is level; five wins apiece, with three draws. They last time they met, in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 in Lille, was the most memorable night in Welsh football history. If you want to feel what it meant, jump to 5.47 on the video below for Craig Bellamy's reaction when Sam Vokes nodded in Wales's third. Magical.
19:30
Wales have qualified for two European Championships on the spin. A mighty fine achievement, but let's be honest; the Euros is not the World Cup. Wales have made just one appearance at the greatest show on earth, back in 1958 when Pele broke their hearts in the quarter-finals. Another visit is overdue; suitably emboldened by establishing themselves as a modern regular at the Euros, can this squad make it all the way to Qatar?
19:25
Is it time to start cashing it in? Arguably their greatest ever generation of players – and their early to mid-eighties vintage are a persuasive counter thrust – have to date achieved one third-placed finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Can they go one or two better in Qatar next winter? They’ll have to get there first, and qualification for the big one doesn’t leave much margin for error. Joining Belgium and Wales in Group E are the Czech Republic, Belarus and Estonia, with only one team guaranteed to qualify directly.
19:20
Are Wales workshopping a hipster, strikerless formation here? Of course not, two of their players will be playing up front. Gareth Bale and Daniel James might not be centre forwards by trade, but they’ve got enough gas and trickery to keep the Belgian back three on its toes tonight. There’s potential history in the making from the bench tonight; if Chris Gunter enters the fray, he’ll become the first Welsh player in history to reach 100 caps.
19:15
No Eden Hazard for Belgium tonight, he’s injured, but the hosts have a wealth of attacking talent packed into their line-up tonight. Between them Kevin De Bruyne, Dries Mertens, Romelu Lukaku and Thorgan Hazard have 102 international goals to their collective name.
19:10
Croeso i Gymru:
19:05
Here are your hosts, Belgium: