Updated " Wales begin World Cup qualifying with a win "

FT: Wales 3-1 Kazakhstan

Dan James, Ben Davies and Rabbi Matondo with the goals.

Not perfect, but a win is all that matters.

Had to win the first game to set the tone for the campaign and did that. Things will have to improve though and I'm sure they will.




Updated



Wales begin their World Cup qualifying campaign on Saturday night with a home fixture against Kazakhstan at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Kick off is at 7.45pm. It is live on BBC One in Wales and on BBC Three in the rest of the UK.

This is the first of two games in this international window, with the other being a visit to North Macedonia in another qualifier on Tuesday.

The other teams in the group are Belgium and Liechtenstein.

The full Wales squad for these two fixtures can be seen below.



Wales squad for Kazakhstan and North Macedonia games

Danny Ward (Leicester City)
Karl Darlow (Leeds United)
Adam Davies (Sheffield United)

Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur)
Joe Rodon (Leeds United)
Chris Mepham (Sunderland, on loan from Bournemouth)
Ben Cabango (Swansea City)
Connor Roberts (Burnley)
Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest)
Jay Dasilva (Coventry City)

Joe Allen (Swansea City)
Josh Sheehan (Bolton Wanderers)
Jordan James (Stade Rennais)
Ollie Cooper (Swansea City)
Kai Andrews (Motherwell, on loan from Coventry City)
Sorba Thomas (Nantes, on loan from Huddersfield Town)
David Brooks (Bournemouth)
Tom Lawrence (Rangers)

Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United)
Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur)
Daniel James (Leeds United)
Liam Cullen (Swansea City)
Nathan Broadhead (Ipswich Town)
Mark Harris (Oxford United)
Lewis Koumas (Stoke City, on loan from Liverpool)
Rabbi Matondo (Hannover 96, on loan from Rangers)

JAPAN are 1st non host country to qualify for WC finals!..
Asia group been going for ages even before rest world got started!

JAPAN are 1st non host country to qualify for WC finals!..
Asia group been going for ages even before rest world got started!

South American qualification already well under way too.

Our group will be finished by November so quite a quick process.

The teams in a four team group don't even know one of the teams they'll be playing until the end of this international window because of the Nations League finals.

We're already practically guaranteed a play-off place because of the Nations League - be nice to qualify automatically by winning the group though.

Over 31,000 Tickets Sold

JAPAN are 1st non host country to qualify for WC finals!..
Asia group been going for ages even before rest world got started!

South American qualification already well under way too.

Our group will be finished by November so quite a quick process.

The teams in a four team group don't even know one of the teams they'll be playing until the end of this international window because of the Nations League finals.

We're already practically guaranteed a play-off place because of the Nations League - be nice to qualify automatically by winning the group though.

Well got great chance to do so plus our last game is at home! Got yo win Saturday.

Craig Bellamy's Wales play at home to Kazakhstan on Saturday, 22 March, before a trip to North Macedonia on Tuesday, 25 March.

How does World Cup qualifying work for European nations?

Divided into 12 groups, six have four teams and six have five teams.

Teams will play each other home and away as usual.

The top team from each group qualifies automatically for the World Cup, with the runners-up going into the play-offs with four Nations League teams.

Those 16 play-off teams will be put into pots based on their records in the group and drawn into four paths with single-leg semi-finals and finals.

Belgium aren’t what they used to be, neither are we though.

The other two teams are beatable so we have a good chance at automatic qualification.

Belgium aren’t what they used to be, neither are we though.

The other two teams are beatable so we have a good chance at automatic qualification.

That's exactly how I see it.

We need to win our games against the lower teams unlike of late where we have lost to them. Any type of win will do.

Belgium aren’t what they used to be, neither are we though.

The other two teams are beatable so we have a good chance at automatic qualification.

That's exactly how I see it.

We need to win our games against the lower teams unlike of late where we have lost to them. Any type of win will do.

Agree, games like tonight are games that have to be won.

In an ideal world, it'll be a convincing win but like you say just a win will do. Kazakhstan are a poor team. Recently they've lost against the likes of North Korea, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.

North Macedonia will be a bit more difficult but would still say we should win both of our games against them.

Belgium aren’t what they used to be, neither are we though.

The other two teams are beatable so we have a good chance at automatic qualification.

That's exactly how I see it.

We need to win our games against the lower teams unlike of late where we have lost to them. Any type of win will do.

Agree, games like tonight are games that have to be won.

In an ideal world, it'll be a convincing win but like you say just a win will do. Kazakhstan are a poor team. Recently they've lost against the likes of North Korea, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.

North Macedonia will be a bit more difficult but would still say we should win both of our games against them.

Take a draw away to them on Tues.. is important we don't lose to them 4 points good start.

Easy win tonight 3-0

Tonight's team

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Like the setup very strong bench going forward if needed

Looks like a good crowd and atmosphere at CCS tonight

Nervous start by Wales.

Kazakhstan have been doing the attacking early on.

Wales 1-0 up

James' defected shot goes in

Yes 1 Nil Wales

Just need to give the ball to Dan James.

Kazakhstan don't know how to defend against him.

Penalty to Kazakhstan.

Roberts handball - looked very soft on first viewing.

Penalty to Kazakhstan.

Roberts handball - looked very soft on first viewing.

And I think Dan James should have had a penalty 10 mins ago too!
Typical.

1-1.

Kazakhstan score from the spot.

Wales should have scored a few by now, hopefully it doesn't bite us in the arse and the goals start going in. If we can't be Kazakhstan comfortably then it doesn't look good. Cmon boys!

The referee books Samorodov after being advised to look at the screen by VAR.

It was a high challenge on Connor Roberts.

VAR told him to review it as a possible red card.

The referee books Samorodov after being advised to look at the screen by VAR.

It was a high challenge on Connor Roberts.

VAR told him to review it as a possible red card.

Ned just saw it and it's a red card.... said looking at red card by var so how can ref give a yellow? Change yellow to red and red to yellow by var review never heard of ref giving a yellow after review by var when player wasnt booked in 1st place..onlything can off is ref waited for var before making decision but that never happens in uk

HT 1-1

Wales seemed in control after the early goal and have been the better team.

But a soft penalty scored by Kazakhstan means that it's all to play for.

Some very questionable decisions by this referee so far, a strange performance from him.

The referee books Samorodov after being advised to look at the screen by VAR.

It was a high challenge on Connor Roberts.

VAR told him to review it as a possible red card.

Ned just saw it and it's a red card.... said looking at red card by var so how can ref give a yellow? Change yellow to red and red to yellow by var review never heard of ref giving a yellow after review by var when player wasnt booked in 1st place..onlything can off is ref waited for var before making decision but that never happens in uk

Don't know what this referee is doing being in charge of an international qualifier - had a really poor game so far.

Like you say, strange for him to give a yellow after a VAR check - not seen that before.

Why do we always get sh#t referees from eastern europe?

Disappointing first half in term of goals. Plenty of possession but a lack of end product. Changes needed, although difficult to score against a team that parks the bus and frustrates the play.

The referee books Samorodov after being advised to look at the screen by VAR.

It was a high challenge on Connor Roberts.

VAR told him to review it as a possible red card.

Ned just saw it and it's a red card.... said looking at red card by var so how can ref give a yellow? Change yellow to red and red to yellow by var review never heard of ref giving a yellow after review by var when player wasnt booked in 1st place..onlything can off is ref waited for var before making decision but that never happens in uk

Don't know what this referee is doing being in charge of an international qualifier - had a really poor game so far.

Like you say, strange for him to give a yellow after a VAR check - not seen that before.

Was a red card tackle late just behind knee why wasn't he booked before var intervention?

The referee books Samorodov after being advised to look at the screen by VAR.

It was a high challenge on Connor Roberts.

VAR told him to review it as a possible red card.

Ned just saw it and it's a red card.... said looking at red card by var so how can ref give a yellow? Change yellow to red and red to yellow by var review never heard of ref giving a yellow after review by var when player wasnt booked in 1st place..onlything can off is ref waited for var before making decision but that never happens in uk

Don't know what this referee is doing being in charge of an international qualifier - had a really poor game so far.

Like you say, strange for him to give a yellow after a VAR check - not seen that before.

Was a red card tackle late just behind knee why wasn't he booked before var intervention?

Gets worse? Pen was never pen in UK 1yrd away hit full force but European refs like giving them.....and unlucky not to have one ourselves for tackle on James... should be 3 up need to be quicker going forward ..