Qatar v Ireland.
Around Europe.
Ben Fisher’s match report has landed. Enjoy ... and thanks for reading tonight’s Clockwatch. Nighty night!
Wales captain Gareth Bale speaks. “We didn’t get off to the best start against Belgium ... it was massively important to get the victory ... the press were saying it was a must-win, we knew it wasn’t a must-win but we wanted to win the game and showed a lot of heart and desire ... it was a good goal ... two bits of magic to win the game ... we kept going until the end and got the win ... Pagey’s kept us focused through thick and thin, no matter what’s going on off the field.”
The full-time scores
- A: Azerbaijan 1-2 Serbia; Luxembourg 1-3 Portugal
- E: Wales 1-0 Czech Republic; Belgium 8-0 Belarus
- G: Gibraltar 0-7 Netherlands; Montenegro 0-1 Norway; Turkey 3-3 Latvia
- H: Cyprus 1-0 Slovenia; Croatia 3-0 Malta; Slovakia 2-1 Russia
FULL TIME: Qatar 1-1 Republic of Ireland
Still no win for Stephen Kenny, but it’s baby steps in the right direction after the pain of Luxembourg.
FULL TIME: Wales 1-0 Czech Republic
A huge win for Wales! The Czechs had a couple of chances towards the end, but some staunch defending - including a sensational last-minute block by Joe Rodon - has secured a result set up by Dan James’ wonderful header.
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GOAL! Croatia 3-0 Malta (Brekalo 90). It was in the balance for an hour, but Josip Brekalo puts a more realistic sheen on the scoreline.
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GOAL! Gibraltar 0-7 Netherlands (Depay 88). Memphis Depay gets his second. Can the Dutch match Belgium’s tally?
GOAL! Belgium 8-0 Belarus (Vanaken 89). It’s all too easy, as Hans Vanaken sidefoots into the bottom right from the edge of the box.
GOAL! Gibraltar 0-6 Netherlands (Van de Beek 85). Donny van de Beek embellishes the rout on the rock.
GOAL! Turkey 3-3 Latvia (Ikaunieks 79). Turkey were 3-1 up and odds-on to maintain their 100 percent start. But Latvia have stunned them by completing the comeback, Davis Ikaunieks jinking and threading a shot into the bottom left.
GOAL! Luxembourg 1-3 Portugal (Palhinha 80). Maria Joao Palhinha makes the points safe for the unconvincing European champions.
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GOAL! Wales 1-0 Czech Republic (James 81)
Wales find the goal they need. Gareth Bale digs out a cross from a tight spot on the left. In the middle, rising highest ... the diminutive Dan James, who steers a superb header into the bottom left! That’s a peach of a cross, some leap, and one hell of a finish!
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GOAL! Slovakia 2-1 Russia (Mak 74). ... but Robert Mak soon restores Slovakia’s lead.
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GOAL! Slovakia 1-1 Russia (Fernandes 71). Mario Fernandes draws the Russians level ...
GOAL! Croatia 2-0 Malta (Modric 76 pen). The 2018 runners-up have huffed and puffed this evening, but should have secured the points now. They’ll feel a little better after an underwhelming start to their campaign.
GOAL! Belgium 7-0 Belarus (Trossard 75). Leandro Trossard nutmegs keeper Aleksandr Gutor, who has had better evenings.
RED CARD. Connor Roberts, who was involved in the dismissal of Patrik Schick, has picked up a second yellow card, and it’s now ten versus ten. Wales really need to win this game, given the early results in the group, and now that task has been made quite a bit harder.
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GOAL! Belgium 6-0 Belarus (Benteke 70). Christian Benteke grabs a slice of the action in Leuven, meeting a right-wing cross by lashing a volley into the bottom right.
Wales are huffing and puffing against the Czech Republic. In fact it’s the ten men who nearly break the deadlock in Cardiff, as Vladimír Darida whips a vicious volley towards the top left, the ball only just clearing the crossbar, Danny Ward beaten all ends up.
GOAL! Gibraltar 0-5 Netherlands (Malen 64). Donyell Malen makes it four goals in nine minutes for the 1974, 1978 and 2010 runners-up.
GOAL! Croatia 1-0 Malta (Perisic 62). Ivan Perisic, who scored in the 2018 final, breaks the deadlock against the Maltese minnows.
GOAL! Gibraltar 0-4 Netherlands (Wijnaldum 62). ... Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum adds another. All of a sudden, having harboured hopes of a shock, Gibraltar are in damage-limitation mode.
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GOAL! Gibraltar 0-3 Netherlands (Depay 61). Not long after Memphis Depay makes it three ...
GOAL! Turkey 3-2 Latvia (Uldrikis 57). Turkey lose their two-goal cushion in short order for the second time this evening, as Roberts Uldrikis narrows the gap.
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GOAL! Gibraltar 0-2 Netherlands (De Jong 55). Reality has also invaded the rock, as Luuk de Jong nudges the Dutch back towards respectability.
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GOAL! Turkey 3-1 Latvia (Yilmaz 52 pen). Burak Yilmaz restores Turkey’s two-goal cushion from the penalty spot.
GOAL! Luxembourg 1-2 Portugal (Ronaldo 50). A ball comes in from the right. Ronaldo meets it, six yards out, softly guiding a volley into the bottom right. Reality is back in fashion.
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GOAL! Belgium 5-0 Belarus (Praet 49). How many are Belgium going to score, then? Leicester City’s Dennis Praet sends a low drive into the bottom left from distance. A fine goal, though it’s so easy he doesn’t bother celebrating too wildly.
GOAL! Qatar 1-1 Republic of Ireland (Muntari 47)
Mohammed Muntari swivels and fires into the bottom left, and the 2022 hosts draw level with Ireland.
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RED CARD! Czech striker Patrik Schick has been sent packing for gormlessly thumping Connor Roberts during a penalty-box melee. Wales will play the next 41 minutes against ten men!
Right, time for the second halves, then. Here we go. “Bale never misses a sitter when he is with Real Madrid,” quips the sun-frazzled Ian Copestake, refusing to cut the former and future Bernabeu dugout regular any slack whatsoever.
The half-time scores
- A: Azerbaijan 1-2 Serbia (FT); Luxembourg 1-1 Portugal
- E: Wales 0-0 Czech Republic; Belgium 4-0 Belarus
- G: Gibraltar 0-1 Netherlands; Montenegro 0-1 Norway; Turkey 2-1 Latvia
- H: Cyprus 1-0 Slovenia (FT); Croatia 0-0 Malta; Slovakia 1-0 Russia
GOAL! Luxembourg 1-1 Portugal (Jota 45). It couldn’t last. After 64 seconds of the one extra minute (yep) added by the referee, Diogo Jota continues his rich vein of form by steering a left-wing cross into the top left with a cute header.
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GOAL! Slovakia 1-0 Russia (Skriniar 38). Milan Skriniar powers a header into the net against the 2018 hosts.
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GOAL! Belgium 3-0 Belarus (Trossard 38); GOAL! Belgium 4-0 Belarus (Doku 42). Another quick one-two by Belgium, Leandro Trossard sending a heatseeker into the top left, Jeremy Doku then finding the bottom left at the end of a fine dribble. Safe to say this one is over.
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GOAL! Gibraltar 0-1 Netherlands (Berghuis 41). Speaking of Gibraltar, they’d been holding out at home against the Netherlands, but just as they started to dream of going in goalless at half-time, Steven Berghuis has broken their hearts. A similar story to the game against Norway last week.
GOAL! Montenegro 0-1 Norway (Sorloth 35). Alexander Sorloth begins Norway’s response to their surprise thumping at the hands of Turkey. Montenegro had won their first two games, against Latvia and Gibraltar.
Gareth Bale has just missed an absolute sitter in Cardiff. A cross comes in from the left and drops at his feet, six yards out. He has to score ... but he slams the ball straight into the ground and back up, allowing keeper Tomáš Vaclík to tip it over the bar. He should never have been given the chance.
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GOAL! Turkey 2-1 Latvia (Savalnieks 35). OK, apologies for getting ahead of myself. Roberts Savalnieks abruptly halves Turkey’s lead in Istanbul.
GOAL! Turkey 2-0 Latvia. (Calhanoglu 33). Hakan Calhanoglu doubles Turkey’s lead. At this rate, the Crescent Stars will fancy their chances of matching, or perhaps even bettering, their third-place finish in 2002. Might as well dream, huh?
GOAL! Luxembourg 1-0 Portugal (Rodrigues 30). Can Clockwatch claim an assist? Because having said that, and all of a sudden, it’s all happening at the Stade Josy Barthel in Luxembourg! Moments after Cristiano Ronaldo sees a fierce free kick batted away by keeper Anthony Moris, the hosts zip up the other end, sling a cross in from the left, and the hero of Dublin, Gerson Rodrigues, guides a header into the bottom left! Luxembourg lead the champions of Europe! Luxembourg 1, Portugal nul points.
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Nearly half an hour has passed, and Portugal have yet to score in Luxembourg. More proof, if it was required after events in Dublin last weekend, that the perennial minnows have filled out a bit? Or maybe it’s just one of those nights. Not many goals about.
Bad news for Burnley fans: Robbie Brady has limped away from the Qatar-Ireland stramash. Troy Parrott of Ipswich comes on in his stead. Meanwhile Ian Copestake has clearly spent the day outside enjoying the sun, because he’s tinder dry this evening: “I am surprised Bale is in a fit state to play given that he’s had his head turned by the team he is under contract with.”
GOAL! Belgium 2-0 Belarus (Vanaken 17). Thomas Meunier whips a cross in from the right. Hans Vanaken slams a volley home from ten yards. Belgium are already in total control of this match. Their new golden generation has to win something, surely. Euro 2020? The 2022 World Cup? Both?
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GOAL! Belgium 1-0 Belarus (Batshuayi 14). Michy Batshuayi opens the scoring for the world number-one side with one hell of a thrash into the roof of the net from a tight angle on the left. What a finish that is! Belgium have rested quite a few players; they have some strength in depth.
Meanwhile in Debrecen, Qatar have responded well to falling behind early on. They’re asking quite a few questions of Ireland, shifting the ball hither and yon, showing promise down both flanks.
The Czechs have established some early control in Cardiff. They’re pinging it around nicely. Wales have yet to get out of first gear, and they’re having trouble getting out of their half. By way of illustration, Jakub Jankto has just been allowed to turn and face goal, 20 yards out; his attempted curler towards the bottom left only just flies wide.
GOAL! Turkey 1-0 Latvia (Karaman 2). The Turks have made a sensational start to their qualifying campaign, with huge wins against the Netherlands and Norway, and it looks like they’re at it again: Kenan Karaman opens the scoring early doors in Istanbul.
GOAL! Qatar 0-1 Republic of Ireland (McClean 4)
What a start for Ireland, who work a lovely short-corner routine that ends with James McClean sweeping home from 12 yards. That’s a very well-worked goal, and on the touchline Stephen Kenny celebrates accordingly. A huge smile as everyone cavorts.
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And we’re off! Just before kick-off at the Cardiff City Stadium, Wales take the knee, while the Czechs point at the Uefa “Respect” badge on their shirts. The Czech line-up includes Ondřej Kúdela, the Slavia Prague player accused of racially abusing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara.
All across Europe, the teams are out. Not long now!
Robert Page talks to Sky Sports. “We thought it was a great performance in the second half against Belgium, the number-one seeds in the world ... we have tried to pick a team that we think can go out and win us the game ... the Czechs went toe-to-toe with Belgium so we know it will be a tough game ... we’ve got to get everything right.” Incidentally, he point-blank refused to be drawn on the antics of Hal Robson-Kanu, Tyler Roberts and Rabbi Matondo, sent home after breaking curfew.
Some more pre-match reading. Paul Doyle picks the bones of the Luxembourg debacle, and argues that there’s no need to be pressing the panic button quite yet.
The teamsheets from Debrecen
Qatar: Al-Sheeb, Ro-Ro, Salman, Khoukhi, Abdelkarim Hassan, Al-Rawi, Boudiaf, Al-Haydos, Hatem, Muntari, Ali.
Subs: Abunada, Waad, Alaaeldin, Fatehi, Youssef, Kheder, Al-Hajri, Suhail, Ahmed, Al-Ahrak, Madibo, Yousef Hassan.
Republic of Ireland: Bazunu, Coleman, O’Shea, Duffy, Christie, Molumby, Brady, McClean, Hendrick, Shane Long, Horgan.
Subs: Travers, Manning, Clark, Knight, Browne, Collins, Robinson, Curtis, Cullen, Parrott, Lenihan, O’Hara.
Referee: Balazs Berke (Hungary).
Some pre-match reading ... that may make you wonder whether all this is the ultimate exercise in futility.
The teamsheets from Cardiff
Wales: Ward, Mepham, Jamie Lawrence, Rodon, Connor Roberts, Wilson, Ampadu, Morrell, Neco Williams, James, Bale.
Subs: Levitt, Johnson, Sheehan, Tom Lawrence, Moore, Norrington-Davies, Cabango, Hennessey, Jonathan Williams, Adam Davies, Gunter.
Czech Republic: Vaclik, Coufal, Celustka, Kudela, Boril, Holes, Soucek, Provod, Darida, Jankto, Schick.
Subs: Pekhart, Vydra, Zima, Mandous, Pesek, Masopust, Krmencik, Pavelka, Barak, Stronati, Pavlenka, Kaderabek.
Referee: Ovidiu Alin Hategan (Romania).
FULL TIME: Cyprus 1-0 Slovenia. The other early kick-off was settled by a 42nd-minute goal from Ioannis Pittas. That’s put the Cypriots second in Group H behind leaders Russia, though it’ll be all change later once the Croatia-Malta and Slovakia-Russia matches are over.
FULL TIME: Azerbaijan 1-2 Serbia. Aleksandar Mitrovic, who put Ireland to the sword last week, was Serbia’s hero yet again in Group A. He whistled a low drive into the bottom-right corner on 81 minutes to settle a tight match. Serbia go three points clear of second-placed Portugal, who play Luxembourg this evening.
As well as the World Cup qualifiers, we’ll be keeping one eye on the Republic of Ireland, who are taking on World Cup hosts Qatar in a Debrecen friendly. Stephen Kenny makes eight changes to the side humiliated by Luxembourg at the weekend, with only keeper Gavin Bazunu and defenders Seamus Coleman and Dara O’Shea surviving the cull. Shane Duffy, who hasn’t played a minute since losing his place at Celtic in February, starts along with with Cyrus Christie, Jeff Hendrick, Jayson Molumby, James McClean, Robbie Brady, Daryl Horgan and Shane Long. Ciaran Clark, Enda Stevens, Matt Doherty, Jason Knight, Josh Cullen, Alan Browne, James Collins and Callum Robinson make way.
STARTING XI | Qatar v Ireland
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) March 30, 2021
▪️ Wholesale changes as only Bazunu, Coleman & O'Shea remain from Luxembourg defeat
▪️ Shane Duffy, Shane Long, Daryl Horgan, Cyrus Chrstie & James McClean among those to start
KO | 7.45pm (8.45pm local time)#WEAREONE | #COYBIG | #QATIRL pic.twitter.com/UQUNcvxw1j
Wales make one change to the side named for the opener in Belgium. Joe Morrell replaces Joe Allen, just as he did after a few minutes in Leuven last week. The Czechs recall captain Vladimir Darida and striker Patrik Schick after their 1-1 draw with Belgium on Saturday.
🏴 🇨🇿 CYMRU XI
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) March 30, 2021
Chi'n barod, #YWalGoch?
#WALCZE | #TogetherStronger | #WCQ pic.twitter.com/aojxAs6gPV
Preamble
It’s a big one for Wales tonight. Having lost their opening Group E qualifier against top seeds Belgium, they really can’t let the Czech Republic out of their sights. The Czechs have already hit Estonia for six, and drawn with the Belgians, so if they take anything away from Cardiff this evening, Wales will be playing catch-up early doors.
Other fixtures are available, hence this Clocko. Here’s the card ...
- A: Azerbaijan v Serbia; Luxembourg v Portugal
- E: Wales v Czech Republic; Belgium v Belarus
- G: Gibraltar v Netherlands; Montenegro v Norway; Turkey v Latvia
- H: Cyprus v Slovenia; Croatia v Malta; Slovakia v Russia
All of the ties kick off at 7.45pm BST, with the exception of the matches in Azerbaijan and Cyprus. They began at 5pm BST, so you’ll be getting some hot full-time action before you know it. It’s all on!
