Wales thrash Belarus 5-1 in World Cup qualifier with Aaron Ramsey, Neco Williams, Ben Davies and Connor Roberts all on target... but Gareth Bale hobbles off injured at half-time on his 100th cap
- Wales won in their attempt to secure a home draw for the World Cup play-offs
- Didier Deschamps' France will be going to Qatar after a massive 8-0 win in Paris
- Holland could have qualified but conceded two late goals in Montenegro draw
- Belgium eased past Estonia 3-1 in the only other World Cup qualifier on Saturday
- Follow this link for all the latest World Cup news, including live action and results
Gareth Bale celebrated a century of Wales caps by helping his side to a routine win over Belarus which keeps their World Cup ambitions firmly on track.
The Real Madrid star was playing his first game for more than two months after injury and was used only until half-time, when Wales were 2-0 up through Aaron Ramsey and Neco Williams. Ramsey scored a penalty shortly after the interval and Ben Davies headed his first international goal as Wales completed a comfortable victory.
After missing a number of his side's qualifying games through injury in recent times, Ramsey is making his presence felt again and has three goals in his last three internationals.
Wales thrashed Belarus 5-1 on a superb evening for Robert Page's side in Cardiff on Saturday
Aaron Ramsey opened the scoring in just the second minute of the game with a clever rebound
Neco Williams (right) doubled the lead with a weak shot that Sergey Chernik should have saved
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As they aim to take Wales to a World Cup for the first time since 1958, Bale and company are already guaranteed a place in next year's play-offs thanks to their performances in the Nations League.
But a point against Belgium on Tuesday would seal second spot in their qualifying group and improve Wales' chances of a home draw in the play-offs.
Bale became only the second Wales player to reach the 100 mark, after Chris Gunter achieved it earlier this year. Remarkably, the 32-year-old has spent nearly half of his life as a senior international after making his debut shortly before his 17th birthday.
A hamstring injury has kept Bale out of action since Wales' 0-0 draw with Estonia here on September 8 yet as soon as it was clear his recovery was on track, there was no chance Bale would miss this one.
Since he scored twice in the 2018 Champions League final to inspire Real Madrid to victory over Liverpool, little has gone right for Bale in his club career, yet he has continued to produce decisive displays for his country.
If Wales do reach Qatar, there is every chance Bale will lead them, even though his contract in Spain expires at the end of the season. His team were in the mood to give him an occasion to remember and they stormed into the lead in the second minute.
Gareth Bale (second right) limped off at half time but helped his side win on his 100th cap
After the break Ramsey scored his second, putting a penalty past Chernik after a handball
Joe Allen's shot was deflected wide for a corner and after a poor header from Kirill Pechenin, Ben Davies struck a fierce volley from the edge of the penalty area. Goalkeeper Sergei Chernik spilled it, providing Ramsey – who had followed the shot in – with a simple finish.
At this stage Wales were clearly the better side. Both Williams and Dan James had shots blocked as the visitors struggled to resist the early pressure.
Chernik could have done better with the first goal and he made an even greater blunder with the second. Neco Williams cut inside off the left and sent a weak shot towards the near post.
Chernik should have gathered it comfortably but somehow allowed it to squeeze under him, to give Wales breathing space. It was a goalkeeping howler to rank alongside any seen this season.
Playing up front alongside James, Bale's lack of match fitness was apparent but his class still shone through with a number of clever touches.
With one eye on Tuesday's meeting with Belgium here – as well as his captain's recent return – Wales coach Rob Page took off Bale at half-time and sent on Brennan Johnson.
The plan had clearly been agreed prior to kick-off but how Bale must have wished he was still on the pitch when Wales won a 49th minute penalty.
Under pressure from Johnson, Ruslan Yudenkov lost his bearings and handled inside the box. With Bale watching from the sidelines, Ramsey sent Chernik the wrong way from the spot.
Even from such a comfortable position, Wales continued to attack, and looked dangerous on the flanks.
Close to the hour mark, Williams escaped on the left and drove the ball into the middle where Roberts, the wing-back on the opposite side, should have done better from close range.
The fourth arrived when Davies jumped for Harry Wilson's corner and the ball went in off his shoulder blades.
Kontsevoi then produced a glorious finish from 20 yards to put Belarus on the board, only for Roberts to turn in the fifth following more appalling defending.
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Elsewhere, Kylian Mbappe scored a scintillating four in France's 8-0 win against Kazakhstan, which sealed their place at Qatar 2022.
Holland could have qualified tonight with a win but conceded twice late on to draw 2-2 against Montenegro, while Belgium eased past Estonia 3-1 thanks to a goal and an assist from Christian Benteke.
Want to see how it all happened? Follow Sportsmail's MAX MATHEWS for play-by-play updates of the World Cup qualifier coverage, including build-up, analysis and all the results after a number of enticing matches took place across the continent.
Here is Sportsmail's wonderful (if I may say so myself) report from the thumping Wales win tonight.
Hope you enjoyed the blog - have a good evening and see you next time!
And there it is! A 5-1 win, a very decent result.
Report incoming...
Harry Wilson puts in another super set piece, and it comes off Connor Roberts and squirms in.
Five for Wales! Goalie Danny Ward comes off to rapturous applause - unusual, maybe Rob Page trying to get Wayne Hennessey (now on 98 caps) a bit closer to his 100 too.
And there will be no clean sheet for Danny Ward and Wales.
Belarus counter again and Artem Kontsevoi bends a wicked right-footed effort into the net from 20 yards out!
Fantastic strike - the best of the night.
Applause and chanting ripples around the Cardiff stadium in tribute to Gary Speed, no longer with us. It comes in the 85th minute - he won 85 caps. Lovely.
France are now SIX up against Kazakhstan thanks to a goal from Adrien Rabiot, while Estonia pulled one back after Thorgan Hazard's strike to make it 3-1 to Belgium.
That's a popular scorer! Ben Davies with his first EVER goal for Wales!
Harry Wilson bends in a lovely corner, the keeper gets nowhere near it, and it goes in off Davies' shoulder! Lucky but he won't care a dime.
Dan James replaced by Tyler Roberts now.
Three points seemingly in the bag for Robert Page's men.
Williams with a fine run and dipping shot, but it's just over. He looks a real prospect.
Now Aaron Ramsey is off, with two goals to his name. This game is sewn up.
A double from Karim Benzema, and the French are now FIVE up on Kazakhstan.
Yannick Carrasco's goal puts Belgium two ahead against Estonia, and Depay scores again to take Holland to 2-0 against Montenegro.
Ah, darn, Ethan Ampadu is booked for leading with an arm in an aerial challenge and that will see him miss the Belgium game. Tough, and he looks disappointed.
...that he couldn't hang on for five minutes into the second half and mark his 100th cap with a (presuming he scored) goal.
Another reminder that Belarus are posing a minor threat up top... an away forward, I think Lisakovich, steps around Danny Ward and lays it back to the penalty spot... but it's offside.
Ramsey, cool as anything, steps up and sends the goalie the wrong way. Bottom corner.
Wales now three up and it's another early blow for Belarus, just like there was in the first half!
Brennan Johnson has been bright since he came on, and he wins a penalty for Wales as the defender sticks his arm out to block a cross.
Aaron Ramsey to take...
I was going to say, I'm surprised it's not Bale's shoulders that are injured after carrying Wales for all these years...
I tell you what though, if Bale's out long term that's a gigantic loss. Gargantuan.
And a sub for Wales at the break... it's star man Gareth Bale, with Nottingham Forest youngster Brennan Johnson on in his place.
Word from the Wales camp is that it's a calf injury for Bale...
France three up against Kazakhstan thanks to Mbappe's treble - France's first competitive hat-trick since Dominique Rocheteau in 1985.
Belgium one up on Estonia (via Christian Benteke) and Holland one up at Montenegro (via a Memphis Depay penalty)
And that's the break! Without sounding overconfident, I reckon Wales have the win in the bag.
But goal difference will be important for the Group... how many can they get?
Wales having plenty of possession and throwing plenty of men forward... but that means when they lose it Belarus have the chance to counter.
This time, though, Joe Rodon steps up beautifully to slide and end an attack.
They're absolutely bouncing in Cardiff.
Aaaand it's Kylian Mbappe. Again. A 32-minute hat-trick. Madness.
What a flipping player.
I do find it interesting that the back six for Wales are all pretty much reserves for their club.
Williams, Liverpool's backup right back is at left wing-back, Ampadu, in midfield for Venezia, at centre half, with Ward, Rodon, Davies and Roberts struggling to get a game for their club sides.
A couple of championship players in Allen and Wilson too. But they're consistently more than the sum of their parts - must be in the Welsh blood!
Memphis Depay gives Holland the lead in Montenegro.
They can qualify for Qatar tonight...
After Neco Williams left one on Zolotov a bit earlier, Zolotov absolutely clatters an unsighted Ben Davies, who couldn't see him coming.
Yellow card there.
"I just don't want to go to work..." sing what sounds like 50,000 Welsh people.
Fair enough.
Kylian Mbappe, again, and France are 2-0 up against Kazakhstan.
Some player. Could be a long night in Paris for the visitors.
And Neco Williams doubles the lead!
Joe Allen escapes the Belarus press with a nice pass, Gareth Bale - who else - feeds Williams in space on the left side of the area.
The Liverpool defender then cuts back inside onto his stronger right foot and unleashes a weak-ish shot... but it goes straight through Sergey Chernik in goal.
Reminder: Ethan Ampadu, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and Harry Wilson are ALL on yellow cards.
If they pick up a booking tonight, they will miss Tuesday's game against Belgium. That would not be ideal - they're all first-teamers.
That Ramsey strike was Wales' quickest since... 2003. As I say, quick.
Kylian Mbappe puts France one up on Kazakhstan, while Belgium go ahead against Estonia through Christian Benteke.
That Belgium goal is bad news for Wales, as it puts the group leaders further ahead of Rob Page's boys.
All the Welsh lads and lasses are loving this.
Isn't it a bit chilly to be shirtless? 10 degrees in Cardiff. Rather him than me.
What a start! And it's Aaron Ramsey with it! THAT'S lifted the roof off!
A corner, not cleared, Joe Allen crosses, not cleared, Ben Davies shoots on the volley, saved, and Ramsey taps it in.
He was definitely onside, and Rob Page could scarcely have dreamed of a better opening.
Here we go then!
To David Brooks and Wales U21 goalie Dan Barden, both diagnosed with cancer in October.
Horrible news, but all of Wales and the world of football are behind them both.
I mean, it's loud, but doesn't it annoy you when the music, the crowd and the players are all signing out of sync? It's not that difficult, lads!
Only me?
Looks lush out there Goodness me, there's a hell of a noise out there.
The crowd shout either 'Bale' or 'Wales' over and over - is it cruel to suggest they've been pretty much interchangeable on the international stage?
Belarus' anthem is a nice pomp-filled military-sounding piece. But the home anthem is going to take the roof off...
Our esteemed fellow colleagues at BBC Sport reckon Wales will line up in a 4-4-2, with Ethan Ampadu at right midfield and Harry Wilson as one of two central strikers.
I'm gonna stick my neck out and say: no chance.
Roberts and Williams as wing-backs, Ampadu as one of the three centre backs, Wilson and James either side of the main man Bale up top.
Well, Holland and Norway meet in the group finale on Tuesday, so control their own destinies.
If Holland, currently top, win against Montenegro tonight, they qualify (as Norway only drew with Latvia). Turkey are also in contention.
Simple - if they beat Kazakhstan tonight, they can book their place in Qatar.
But if they lose, it could come down to their final game against Finland.
Ukraine and Finland are probably battling it out for the final slot.
Well, far be it from me to say Wales are a one-man team, but...
Gareth B scored two penalties as Wales went into the closing moments at 2-2, before a certain Mr G. Bale scored the winner in stoppage time.
Hero.
Well, Wales are in a decent spot in Group E - a play-off spot GUARANTEED thanks to their Nations League success.
They now have two home games in Cardiff against Belarus and Belgium to try to secure second place in the group ahead of the Czech Republic.
Second is a seeded spot (i.e. a home tie), which is favourable - and they need four points from these two upcoming games. Three tonight, therefore, would be great.
So three changes for Wales tonight - Bale, back from a hamstring injury and deemed fit enough to start, obviously the biggest one.
Ben Davies and Neco Williams are the others recalled, with Chris Mepham, Sorba Thomas and the suspended Kieffer Moore out.
Big night for Wales too, of course. But individually, a certain Gareth Frank Bale is reaching 100 caps for his country. A remarkable achievement.
Congratulations, Gareth - a century not out!
Turkey were the big winners, thrashing Gibraltar 6-0, while Norway could only draw 0-0 with Latvia.
Finland picked up a creditable 3-1 win away against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Lineups not far away! Stay tuned...
Great question. Primarily we'll be focusing on Wales v Belarus, with lots from France v Kazakhstan.
PLUS - as if that wasn't enough - Belgium v Estonia and Montenegro v Holland. Decent night of football, aye?
Good evening, welcome one and all to tonight's coverage of tonight's World Cup qualifiers!
It promises to be a thrilling one...
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