World Cup 2026 Qualifier | The Official Match Thread | Cymru 2 Belgium 4 | 13/10/25 | The Cardiff City Stadium

[PenlanJack]

We are what we are, you've got the top 10 elites and 10 teams who could give them a game, then us, a relegation battler.. it'd be great to qualify, but we'll get comprehensively beaten out there, we're not the type of team like Macedonia who sit in and counter punch to nick a goal, but you've got teams like Iceland and Macedonia who've got results against England, Belgium and France.. we're a much better team than both of them, Bellamy is still in a learning phase, maybe that 1st half was too open, we've got the pace to play counter attack, it's all a learning experience though

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

Anything apart from second spot in this group could be seen as a failure.

He needs to learn from today and throw everything at the next two games.

I’d agree with that - I wouldn’t be making knee jerk reactions after March either way though.

No matter what happens in these next 3/4 games and Nations League A next Autumn I’d stick with him for the Euros we were pretty much certain to be there as hosts.

I do understand the thinking behind rotating and giving players minutes as we’re always going to have injuries but I’d also like to see him move towards a ‘best XI’ for the key games.

 

[Manselton Jack]

Johnson is not the player he used to be. He doesn’t take anyone on any more.

Should be our main player given who he plays for but he's been consistently poor in a Wales shirt, looks like he doesn't want to be there

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

We are what we are, you've got the top 10 elites and 10 teams who could give them a game, then us, a relegation battler.. it'd be great to qualify, but we'll get comprehensively beaten out there, we're not the type of team like Macedonia who sit in and counter punch to nick a goal, but you've got teams like Iceland and Macedonia who've got results against England, Belgium and France.. we're a much better team than both of them, Bellamy is still in a learning phase, maybe that 1st half was too open, we've got the pace to play counter attack, it's all a learning experience though

A lot of that is spot on but I’m not sure about getting comprehensively beaten out there looking at lots of the teams who are going to qualify from some of the other continents.

The weather will be a factor in some venues but I’d be very surprised if practically all the European teams don’t qualify to the knockouts (I accept I expected us to do better than 1 point in Qatar mind!)

 

[Smurph]

I’d agree with that - I wouldn’t be making knee jerk reactions after March either way though.

No matter what happens in these next 3/4 games and Nations League A next Autumn I’d stick with him for the Euros we were pretty much certain to be there as hosts.

I do understand the thinking behind rotating and giving players minutes as we’re always going to have injuries but I’d also like to see him move towards a ‘best XI’ for the key games.

He's definitely the man for the job. I have no doubt he'll beat himself up about tonight.

We dust ourselves down and go again in November.

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

Should be our main player given who he plays for but he's been consistently poor in a Wales shirt, looks like he doesn't want to be there

I think that’s maybe just his natural body language as he seems to get the same criticism at Spurs.

His impact on games has been extremely disappointing though (almost 50 caps?) and can understand why he was left out tonight.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

Honeymoon period well and truly over for Bellamy after these last few days.

England didn't matter so much as it was only a friendly but that was dreadful tonight.

Playing Ben Davies at LB up against Doku was a death wish, especially with Sorba Thomas not interested in tracking back.

And the ineffectual Harris instead of Johnson or Moore? Just weird.

Such a bad night. Really disappointing.

 

[jackharris]