The Albania v Macedonia match has now been abandoned due to torrential rain, with the match to resume tomorrow at 77 mins with the scores still at 1-1.
Thanks for reading, and for your emails and tweets. See you next time!
Updated
Full-time scores
Just the seven goals for Spain in that half, then.
Serbia 2-2 Republic of Ireland
Wales 4-0 Moldova
Albania 1-1 Macedonia (latest score, play suspended due to bad weather)
Israel 1-3 Italy
Spain 8-0 Liechtenstein
Croatia 1-1 Turkey
Finland 1-1 Kosovo
Ukraine 1-1 Iceland
Earlier result: Georgia 1-2 Austria
Updated
GOAL! Wales 4-0 Moldova (Bale pen 90+4)
This will be Wales’ biggest qualifying win in 13 years! Bale was bundled over in the box after Gunter crossed. The Real Madrid star picked himself up and after a stuttering run up, slotted the ball to the keeper’s right. Bale is now his country’s second-highest scorer outright. Only Ian Rush in front of him now.
7 - Seven of Wales’ last 10 qualifying goals have been scored by Gareth Bale. Update.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 5, 2016
Updated
Full-time: Serbia 2-2 Republic of Ireland
Great point for Martin O’Neill and co.
The Albania v Macedonia match has been suspended, due to the fact that it is absolutely chucking it down. The score was 1-1 when the teams went off.
En Albania están a punto de jugar con chubasquero.
— La casa del fútbol (@casadelfutbol) September 5, 2016
Así está diluviando.#DestinoRusia2018 pic.twitter.com/wmcDE9p3Iv
GOAL! Israel 1-3 Italy (Immobile)
Ten-man Italy have scored! What a precious goal that is, as Israel were pushing for an equaliser. Pelle plays a through ball towards Immobile and the striker shrugs off his marker with a shoulder-charge before ruthlessly finishing across the keeper, low into the net. Quality goal.
Updated
86 min: What a save from Randolph. He might have spilled a shot a few minutes earlier, but he’s kept his side level here, spreading himself like a peacock in front of Ivanovic. The Chelsea defender was played onside by Coleman, who was lurking on the line, but this proved crucial: Ivanovic’s shot ricocheted off Randolph, hit Walters and was trickling in, before Coleman hacked the ball off the line. Ireland survive!
Updated
83 min: Quick update from Spain: Morata has come off the bench to score twice in two minutes. It’s now Spain 7-0 Liechenstein. And Ukraine have just missed a penalty against Iceland, Yevhen Konoplyanka the culprit. It’s still 1-1 there.
Updated
GOAL! Serbia 2-2 Republic of Ireland (Murphy 81)
Ireland have scored! And this time it counts. Terrible, terrible marking from Serbia defending a corner, and Daryl Murphy steals in, completely unmarks to nod a Robbie Brady corner past Rajkovic – his first international goal. What a time to get it – Ireland’s fans go mad! In a good way. And they’ve every right to go mad …
Updated
75 min: Goal for Ireland! No! It’s been ruled offside. And rightly so. Walters a yard off just as Hendrick crossed. Nice glancing header, but they still trail 2-1 in Serbia.
72 min: Ireland are so lucky not to concede again! Randolph needlessly spills a weak shot and Pavlovic is there on the rebound. Surely he must score … the goal is gaping … no! He smashes the ball against the underside of the bar and bounces safely clear! What a let off for Randolph!
Updated
GOAL! Spain 5-0 Liechenstein (Costa)
His second of the night! He’ll enjoy this game, and return to Chelsea full of confidence. Which is not great news for Chelsea’s next opponents, Swansea. That Chiellini red card means the Italian defender will be suspended for Italy v Spain next month. Big boost for the Spaniards!
2 - Diego Costa is the 1st player to score two headers in a game for Spain since Fernando Llorente vs Lithuania in 2010. Lizard.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 5, 2016
Updated
GOAL! Serbia 2-1 Republic of Ireland (Tadic pen)
A terrible dive from Kostic in the area, but the referee has fallen for it! Jonathan Walters is incensed, as well he might be, because he got nowhere near the Serbian forward there. Kostic had got his body across the Stoke City man, but there was no contact! Tadic fires his penalty into the roof of the net and Belgrade erupts!
“I have no idea how or why Shane Long gets out of bed during international breaks,” emails David Flynn. “He consistently flies to far flung destinations like Serbia to stand in the rain for 90 minutes, 40 yards from his nearest teammate, watching balls sail over his head while large eastern European defenders elbow him in the back of the neck.”
Updated
GOAL! Finland 1-1 Kosovo (Berisha pen)
Kosovo draw level. Scenes in Turku! Berisha was the final player to be cleared for action this evening.
And they celebrate! pic.twitter.com/Ra5jN0HJGL
— Nick Ames (@NickAmes82) September 5, 2016
For your Premier League interest – Manchester City's Bersant Celina is on for Kosovo, who have been irresistible since half-time.
— Nick Ames (@NickAmes82) September 5, 2016
GOAL! Serbia 1-1 Republic of Ireland (Kostic)
Serbia are level! Serbia have emerged much the stronger in this second half. Ivanovic sends a hopeful low cross in the box, John O’Shea fails to deal with it and Southampton’s Tadic manages to toe the ball across the six-yard box to Kostic, who sidefoots the ball past the flailing Randolph.
Updated
Red card for Italy's Chiellini! Israel right back in this!
He’s had a torrid night in the rain, dawdling on the ball. Has looked completely out of sorts, and a cynical foul off the ball is spotted by the referee, who gives the big Italian defender his second yellow card of the night.
GOAL! Spain 4-0 Liechenstein (Vitolo 60)
Um, Spain have just scored three times in five minutes, so I’m going to do one update and be done with it. Spain went 2-0 up on 55 minutes through Sergi Roberto after good work from Nolito, went 3-0 up through David Silva who taps home from 2cm out off the bar, and finally 4-0 up through the sub Vitolo, who also converts from close range.
Fun fact: Liechenstein’s national anthem is God Save the Queen!
@sidlowe Lots of countries had it as anthem about 200 years ago. Most replaced it with something better, leaving only Liechtenstein and UK
— Douglas McNair (@drjohnmcnair) September 5, 2016
GOAL! Wales 3-0 Moldova (Bale 51)
Bale races clear after latching onto one of the worst backpasses I have ever seen. One big touch – those touches which seem clumsy to anybody else, but allow the Welshman to move up the gears – takes him clear of the trailing defenders and he defly chips the ball over the onrushing keeper. 3-0. Game over.
Updated
GOAL! Albania 1-1 Macedonia (Alioski 50)
Madedonia draw level. That’s a huge goal, both teams will want to win this game in a tough group containing Spain, Italy and Albania.
Peeeeeep! And we’re underway again.
“I’m in Croatia trying to watch Ireland and “hello Sir, can we put Serbia on the TV” doesn’t go down too well. Plus I can’t leave the hotel. Talk more about Ireland!,” demands Brian Foley.
OK. Serbia are peppering Ireland’s penalty box with crosses, but so far John O’Shea and Richard Keogh have headed everything away. Randolph claimed a few crosses with authority in the first half too. Ireland holding firm.
Half-time reading: Portugal play Switzerland tomorrow, by the way.
Half-time scores
Serbia 0-1 Republic of Ireland
Wales 2-0 Moldova
Albania 1-0 Macedonia
Israel 1-2 Italy
Spain 1-0 Liechtenstein
Croatia 1-1 Turkey
Finland 1-0 Kosovo
Ukraine 1-1 Iceland
Neil Taylor joins the Greats pic.twitter.com/XOgq8LojWt
— James Dutton (@jrgdutton) September 5, 2016
Updated
GOAL! Croatia 1-1 Turkey (Calhanoglu 45+1)
Turkey hit straight back. After Emre Mor is brought down 30 yards from goal, Calhanoglu steps up, curls one of his trademark free-kicks over the wall, it glances off Perisic’s head and completely wrong-foots the keeper. Turkey have rode their luck but played some good stuff this half and got their reward!
Updated
GOAL! Croatia 1-0 Turkey (Rakitic pen 44)
Koybasi brings Modric down in the box, and Rakitic makes no mistake from 12 yards. The stadium tannoy system plays some music to drown out the deafening silence. Official attendance tonight is 10 people. Not sure who they are, either.
GOAL! Ukraine 1-1 Iceland (Yarmolenko)
Who else? Ukraine’s main man is first to a rebound and tucks the ball under Halldorsson. That’s been coming, Ukraine have had 63% possession in this first half.
Updated
GOAL! Wales 2-0 Moldova (Allen 44)
Wales double their lead! After Moldova head clear a set piece, Joe Allen is first to the ball, and despite him being a little wide, a fierce first-time drive catches Cebanu off guard in the Moldovan net, who was perhaps put off by a slight deflection. 2-0.
Updated
GOAL! Israel 1-2 Italy (Ben Haim)
Tal Ben Haim (not that one) controls the ball dead on the edge of Italy’s box, has time to get his head up and loops a wonderful lob over Buffon’s head into the net. Israel back in it!
Rough translation of the goal comnentary in Turku, emailed by Rob Behan:
“Paulus Arajuuri strikes from the second ball played in from a corner, he hits the ball with power into the roof of the net! My Finnish is a bit rusty but hope that helps!”
Charles Antaki has also had a go: “Finnish is a notoriously difficult language to learn, but this is a rough translation: ‘We have an affluent, liberal and egalitarian society,with beautiful islands and lakes, and our educational system is world class. So we’re not that bothered about being rubbish at football. On the other hand, Finland 1, Kosovo 0’”
GOAL! Wales 1-0 Moldova (Vokes 38)
It’s Vokes that nods this one in, to break the deadlock, but this is all about Bale, who steps back on his left on the right wing, curls a cross with pace and dip to the back post, and all Vokes has to do is stay standing and let the ball hit his bonce. An absolutely outrageous assist. Wales can relax now. Probably.
13 - Since September 2014, Gareth Bale has been directly involved in half of Wales' goals (13/26, 10 goals and 3 assists). Delivered.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 5, 2016
Updated
“They have an empty stadium as well in Ukraine,” emails Dave Hill. “Theirs a weird moaning ringing in the stadium from the wind I guess. They’ve set up a fan zone outside the arena so you can hear a cheer every now and them. The biggest so far was for a well placed tackle.”
Ukraine still trailing 1-0 to Iceland.
GOAL! Israel 0-2 Italy (Candreva 31 pen)
Israel’s Bitton falls for a couple of stepovers from Bonaventura, before bringing the Milan midfielder to the ground with a cynical trip. Certain penalty, despite the Israeli protestations. Candreva steps up and calmly sends Goresh the wrong way. That’s how you do it, Zaza.
28 min: Oooooof! Bale nutmegs Gatcan in the middle of the pitch, and the Moldovan No8 responds with a bodycheck that Richard Sherman would be proud of. Bale goes down in a crumpled heap. But he’s OK, getting to his feet and whips in the most delicious dead-ball which misses everyone and just squirts wide of the back post.
26 min: No goals in Cardiff yet. Moldova are holding their own, although they have set up with nine men on the edge of the their own area. They have won just one of their last 21 matches.
6 - Wales are unbeaten in six home competitive games (W4 D2); they last went seven unbeaten in October 1993. Reminisce.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 5, 2016
22 min: As you might expect, it’s eerily quiet in Zagreb, with the match being played behind closed doors. Feels like a training match, you can hear every player’s voice. Pjaca has just hit the bar for Croatia, after a good cross from Perisic (minus that chequered haircut). Turkey made the better start to the match though. Even contest.
Updated
GOAL! Finland 1-0 Kosovo (Arajuuri 18)
Leart Paqarada hit the bar for Kosovo in the early stages but they have conceded, with Arajuuri getting the goal for the hosts. Not really sure how. Anybody speak Finnish?
Paulus Arajuuri laukoo tilannetta seuranneen kulmapotkun seurauksena pallon voimalla ylänurkkaan! Suomi johtaa 1-0! #FINKOS #Huuhkajat
— Huuhkajat (@Huuhkajat) September 5, 2016
GOAL! Israel 0-1 Italy (Pelle 14)
A goal made by Veratti. What kind of a difference might he have made at the Euros, had he been fit. He wins the ball on the edge of Israel’s box, feeds Antonelli who breaks the offside trap and races to the byline, before rolling the ball across the six-yard box for an easy tap in at the back post for Pelle.
Updated
GOAL! Albania 1-0 Macedonia (Sadiku 10)
Armando Sadiku has just turned his marker inside out, leaving him helpless on the turf, before calmly slotting his shot into the corner. Magical goal. That’s the first goal in Albania’s new home: Shkoder’s rebuilt Loro Boriçi Stadium. They hosted a 0-0 draw with Morocco on Wednesday.
Updated
GOAL! Spain 1-0 Liechtenstein (Costa 10)
Koke flights a wonderful ball into the box, absolute cap nip for Diego Costa, who plants a bullet header into the corner from around six yards out. Going into this game …
1 - Diego Costa has only scored one goal in his 11 appearances for Spain (33 shots). Opportunity. pic.twitter.com/O1jADiOrmJ
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 5, 2016
Updated
GOAL! Ukraine 0-1 Iceland (Finnbogason 6)
Gudmundsson tries his luck but it is well blocked by the Ukraine defence but Finnbogason, the big Augsburg striker, who is on hand to tap in the rebound. The Iceland story continues!
Updated
GOAL! Serbia 0-1 Republic of Ireland (Hendrick 2)
Ireland take an early lead. A Robbie Brady free-kick causes chaos in the Serbia box and after the ball comes out to Burnley’s record signing Jeff Hendrick on the edge of the box, he smashes a low shot through the crowd, clipping Branislav Ivanovic on the way through, to deceive Rajkovic in the Serbia net. What a start for the Irish!
Updated
Peeeep peeeep!
And we’re off.
“Please rise for the national anthem of Turkey,” says the Croatian stadium announcer in Zagrab, says to a crowd of none. This is a match being played behind closed doors, as punishment for racist behaviour during a match against Norway earlier this year, as well as a swastika being drawn on the pitch in Split before playing Italy. There were also flares thrown onto the pitch against the Czech Republic.
Croatia and Turkey met during the Euros, remember, with Luka Modric scoring a peach of a volley to win the game for Croatia.
When is somebody going to buy Yarmolenko? Baffling that nobody has come in for him over the summer.
Israel v Italy
Israel: Goresh, Ben Bitton, Tibi, Tzedek, Davidadze, Kayal, Nir Bitton, Yeini, Ben Haim II, Hemed, Zahavi.
Subs: Harush, Dasa, Gershon, Natcho, Dabour, Einbinder, Magharbeh, Atzily,
Saief, Kahat, Golasa, Klaiman.
Italy: Buffon, Candreva, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Antonelli, Parolo, Verratti, Bonaventura, Eder, Pelle.
Subs: Donnarumma, De Sciglio, Astori, Ogbonna, Florenzi, Immobile, Montolivo, Pavoletti, Bernardeschi, Gabbiadini, Rugani, Marchetti.
Ukraine v Iceland
Ukraine: Pyatov, Butko, Rakitskiy, Kucher, Sobol, Yarmolenko, Sydorchuk, Stepanenko, Konoplyanka, Kovalenko, Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Subs: Boyko, Ordets, Zozulya, Shakhov, Seleznyov, Buyalsky, Rotan, Kryvtsov, Fedetskyi, Malyshev, Petryak, Mykyta Shevchenko.
Iceland: Halldorsson, Saevarsson, Arnason, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Skulason, Gudmundsson, Gunnarsson, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Birkir Bjarnason, Finnbogason, Bodvarsson.
Subs: Kristinsson, Hauksson, Eyjolfsson, Ingason, Sigurjonsson, Theodor Bjarnason,
Magnusson, Hallfredsson, Traustason, Kjartansson, Jonsson.
Referee: Clement Turpin (Bourgogne)
Chris Gunter will become Wales’ fifth most capped player tonight with 74 caps, overtaking Ian Rush. Let that sink in a bit. Gunter started all six of Wales’ games in the summer, and was integral to the team’s success. I never thought I’d write those words, but hats off to him.
My favourite Welsh story of the summer, though, is Dean Saunders leaving his car in the £100-a-day short-stay car park at Birmingham airport, presumably expecting Wales to go out in the group stage. The bill soon ran into the thousands of pounds and a crowd-funding campaign on JustGiving.com was set up by their Chris Coleman’s brother-in-law Richard Jackson, who is brother to Sky Sports News presenter Charlotte Jackson. Birmingham airport offered to waive the bill if Wales won the tournament. Which they didn’t.
Serbia v Republic of Ireland
No Matic or Kolarov for Serbia tonight, which will be a big boost for the Irish. Seamus Coleman has the armband tonight and after Robbie Keane’s international retirement, Ireland’s new No10 is … Robbie Brady.
It’s been raining cats and dogs in Belgrade, but the players are out on the pitch for their warm up, and the pitch looks as though it’s holding up.
Serbia: Rajkovic, Rukavina, Gudelj, Nastasic, Ivanovic (c), Mitrovic, Tadic, Mladenovic, Milivojevic, Kostic, Vukovic.
Subs: Dmitrovic, Dusko Tosic, Zoran Tosic, Markovic, Nemanja Maksimovic, Stefan Mitrovic, Slobodan Rajkovic, Katai, Ignjovski, Pavlovic, Stojiljkovic, Jovanovic.
Republic of Ireland: Randolph, Coleman, O’Shea, Keogh, Whelan, Long, Brady, McClean, Hendrick, Ward, Walters.
Subs: Westwood, Rogers, Clark, McGeady, Arter, McShane, Hoolahan, Christie, Meyler, Wilson, Murphy, Quinn.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Updated
Croatia v Turkey
Croatia: Lovre Kalinic, Vrsaljko, Corluka, Vida, Strinic, Pjaca, Badelj, Modric, Perisic, Rakitic, Mandzukic.
Subs: Vargic, Lovren, Kovacic, Kramaric, Brozovic, Jedvaj, Nikola Kalinic, Cop.
Turkey: Babacan, Ozbayrakli, Aziz, Topal, Koybasi, Tufan,
Yokuslu, Ayhan, Mor, Calhanoglu, Tosun.
Subs: Kivrak, Sahin, Sahan, Cigerci, Tore, Ahmet Oguz, Soyuncu, Ahmet Oguz, Ahmet Oguz, Malli, Sen, Tekin.
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
Updated
Spain v Liechtenstein
West Ham’s goalkeeper Adrian is on the Spain bench for the first time (no Casillas!) alongside Real Madrid’s Asensio, who is one of the Guardian’s ten rising stars to watch in this World Cup qualifying campaign. Spain’s U21s have just gone 1-0 against Sweden U21s, with Everton’s Gerard Deulofeu getting the goal.
Spain: De Gea, Roberto, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Busquets, Koke, Vitolo, Thiago, Silva, Costa.
Subs: Azpilicueta, Martinez, Morata, Alcacer, Adrian, Mata, Bartra, Asensio, Vazquez, Carvajal, Nolito, Reina.
Liechtenstein: Jehle, Rechsteiner, Polverino, Kaufmann, Goppel, Salanovic, Martin Buchel, Wieser, Marcel Buchel, Burgmeier, Hasler.
Subs: Hobi, Brandle, Christen, Kuhne, Yildiz, Gubser, Sandro Wolfinger, Benjamin Buchel.
Referee: Lee Evans (Wales)
26 - David Silva has netted 26 goals for Spain - only five players have scored more. Delight. pic.twitter.com/zM9nMM6TME
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 5, 2016
Updated
Four of the six players given clearance this afternoon start. For a bit more context on Kosovo’s match, you could do a lot worse than read this feature from Nick Ames, who is in Turku tonight.
Veritas Stadion’s capacity is only 9,372 and it is expected around half the crowd will be cheering on Kosovo; around 10,000 Kosovans live in the region – many of whom, like the Inter Turku manager and the former Ipswich striker Shefki Kuqi –emigrated before or during the civil war in the 90s. The ties are close and best summed up by the plight of Perparim Hetemaj, a Kosovo-born Finland and Chievo midfielder, who asked Backe to be stood down from this fixture while he considered his future allegiance.
Finland v Kosovo
Finland: Lukas Hradecky, Lam, Arajuuri, Niklas Moisander, Raitala, Lod, Halsti, Eremenko, Uronen, Pukki, Pohjanpalo.
Subs: Maenpaa, Moren, Ojala, Ring, Markkanen, Schuller, Granlund , Mattila, Kauko, Saksela, Hamalainen, Joronen.
Kosovo: Ujkani, Perdedaj, Rrahmani, Pnishi, Paqarada, Rashica, Valon Berisha, Kryeziu, Alushi, Bernard Berisha, Bunjaku.
Subs: Kolshi, Jashanica, Pepa, Halimi, Celina, Shala, Meha, Muriqi,
Sulejmani, Zejnullahu, Bytyqi, Neziri.
Referee: Ivan Kruzliak (Slovakia)
Wales v Moldova
Vokes has got the nod in front of Robson-Kanu, who has only just signed for West Brom, and presumably isn’t fully match-fit.
Wales: Hennessey, Gunter, Chester, Ashley Williams, Davies, Taylor, Ledley, Allen, King, Vokes, Bale.
Subs: Fon Williams, Robson-Kanu, Huws, C Williams, MacDonald, Richards, Cotterill,
Collins, Lawrence, Dummett, Church, Ward.
Moldova: Cebanu, Andrei Cojocari, Cascaval, Epureanu, Armas, Jardan, Gatcan, Cebotaru, Ionita, Ginsari, Dedov.
Subs: Namasco, Golovatenco, Cociuc, Racu, Bordiyan, Picusciac, Ivanov, Mihaliov, Sidorenco, Bugaev, Coselev.
Referee: Liran Liany (Israel)
Updated
Preamble
This being the start of the working week, and this being the first round of a long qualifying campaign that will last for the next 13 months, for a tournament shrouded in controversy almost two years away, there are a lot of people feeling a tad apathetic about these internationals. After the excitement of the transfer window, there are some that don’t seem too bothered about actual football, especially the kind that doesn’t count towards their fantasy football team.
I can assure you that is not the case with this MBMer. Nor, a tad more importantly, is it the case with a small group of people in Finland, hailing – through their heritage – from Kosovo. The Balkan state will start their first-ever World Cup qualifying campaign this evening, but rather than spend the last few days in anticipation, it has been nothing but fret. After being granted admission to Fifa in May – with players of Kosovan birth or heritage who had represented other countries invited to apply for a nationality switch – there has been a long, laborious process of admin to get some of these players cleared to play tonight. The 3pm deadline today came and went with no updates and until a few moments ago, six of the squad were unaware if they had been declared eligible – hardly ideal circumstances for the manager Albert Bunjaki – but they have all been given the green light to play. Cue bedlam in Turku! It’s as though they’ve already won the World Cup! Whatever happens, this Monday night is going to be a good one.
Wonderful scenes as the players hug and congratulate each other. A scrum of #Kosovo & Finnish media around them... pic.twitter.com/XZodcPh3ug
— James Montague (@JamesPiotr) September 5, 2016
Tonight’s matches:
Serbia v Republic of Ireland
Wales v Moldova
Albania v Macedonia
Israel v Italy
Spain v Liechtenstein
Croatia v Turkey
Finland v Kosovo
Ukraine v Iceland
All kick of times: 7.45pm BST
Updated
