The Dragons will now have a chance to qualify for next summer’s tournament through the play-offs
Craig Bellamy watched his Wales side deliver an incredible display on Tuesday night.
A 7-1 dismantling of North Macedonia not only secured second place in their World Cup qualifying group but also guaranteed home advantage for March’s play-off semi-final.
The scoreline was headline, but the manner of the performance was even more impressive.
Wales produced a whirlwind of high-tempo, attack-minded football, paired with relentless pressure off the ball that left North Macedonia completely exposed.
A team that had conceded only three goals across their first seven qualifiers shipped more than double that in just 19 chaotic minutes in Cardiff.
“I am not a perfect person, I haven’t come across anyone who is,” said Bellamy. “But maybe I take a little bit of that back because that was as close to the perfect performance as I have seen. That was incredible.
“The way we were able to use the ball, our timing. We didn’t play with a forward, we had three [number] 10s. But they were in the position where you drag someone out and someone runs, then the wide players were connected with it as well.
“We were just so clean with the ball and that allows you to have good chances. It was one of those days where we are able to take them as well.”
The night had been billed as a nervy test for Wales against opponents who had not let in a single goal away from home in their campaign and needed only a draw to maintain second place.
Instead, what unfolded was a one-sided contest that turned the stadium into a celebration long before the final whistle.
For Bellamy, this was the clearest expression yet of the identity he has been trying to embed since taking charge last year.
“I know North Macedonia will feel this one tonight, but they’ve been brilliant in the group,” Bellamy said.
“I do feel there’s been a few games they’ve been fortunate in and I did feel there was a team ready to hurt them, and I thought it could be us.”
The result also acts as a timely reminder for the sides Wales might face in the play-offs. They will be seeded in pot two when Thursday’s draw is made in Zurich, meaning a home semi-final against one of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo or the Republic of Ireland.
Wales have grown accustomed to these high-stakes occasions in Cardiff. Since this format was introduced, they have contested all four of their World Cup and European Championship play-off semis and finals at home, winning three of them.
March’s matches will now represent the most pivotal moment of Bellamy’s time in charge, and Tuesday’s showing suggested his team are ready for the scale of the challenge.
