Wales Aims for Victory Against North Macedonia in World Cup Qualifier
World Cup Qualifier: Wales vs North Macedonia
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Tuesday, 18 November Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC iPlayer, BBC One Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, Sports Extra, and the BBC Sport website and app, along with live text commentary.
Liechtenstein's Rheinpark Stadion offers one of the most picturesque settings for football, nestled against the stunning, snow-capped Alps along the river Rhine. The stadium provides some unique vantage points, including the nearby Vaduz Castle, where Prince Hans-Adam II might catch a glimpse of the action if he looks closely enough.
During Wales' recent World Cup qualifier on Saturday, head coach Craig Bellamy observed from a gantry opposite his coaching staff due to a suspension. The match ended in a narrow 1-0 victory for Wales against a Liechtenstein team ranked 206th in the world and primarily made up of part-time players.
While the win keeps Wales in contention for a home play-off semi-final in March, the performance lacked inspiration, characterized by significant possession but minimal creativity and quality in front of goal.
Bellamy's suspension prevented him from communicating with players or staff during the match, leaving assistant coach Piet Cremers to address the media. "I didn’t see him during the game. He was calm and composed afterward," said Cremers. "Everyone expected a larger victory, but when we didn’t secure a second or third goal, it became more challenging for the players. However, we were pleased with the three points and can now focus on the next match."
The upcoming match against North Macedonia is crucial for Wales. A victory in Cardiff would ensure they finish second in Group J and secure a home play-off semi-final. If they fail to win, they will still qualify for the play-offs due to their Nations League success, but would have to play away for the semi-final.
Wales will need to improve on their recent performance and will be without Ethan Ampadu and Jordan James, who are suspended after receiving their second yellow cards of the campaign in Vaduz. Despite the lackluster display, the win against Liechtenstein marked a much-needed turnaround after three consecutive losses and four defeats in their previous five matches.
"One game at a time, we knew we had to take care of today, and we did that. Now our focus shifts to North Macedonia," Cremers added. He noted that Wales had performed well during their previous encounter with North Macedonia, a 1-1 draw in March, creating several good opportunities. "It won’t be easy to secure a win against them, as we’ve learned in this group, but playing at home with our supporters should give us an advantage to achieve a positive result."