When Wales plays at Cardiff City Stadium under the floodlights, there is a unique energy that lifts both players and fans. From the a cappella rendition of the national anthem to the supporters’ passionate songs, the atmosphere has a way of pushing players to exceptional performances.

Wales will need this special spirit when they host North Macedonia on Tuesday. A victory is essential for finishing second in their World Cup qualifying group, which would secure home advantage for the playoff semi-final in March. A loss would mean an away tie against stronger teams, such as Italy, making the stakes extremely high.

Head coach Craig Bellamy emphasized the importance of the fans’ support. “Players have been in this situation so many times over the last 10 years, especially Cardiff nights,” he said. “The crowd is used to this environment and these moments.”

He added that patience will be necessary alongside fan encouragement. “We know we need to win, of course, but we have to be patient as well. Fans recognize when we need you the most, but I’m also fully conscious we have to give you something to cheer as well.”

This match presents an opportunity for the current Wales squad to add another memorable Cardiff night to the club’s history.

Historic Cardiff victories

Hungary 2019

The current squad has no members from the Euro 2016 semi-final team, with Ben Davies, Aaron Ramsey, and Danny Ward absent due to injury. Still, some of the present players were involved in the decisive Euro 2020 qualifiers.

Wales started the campaign poorly, taking only three points from their first three games under Ryan Giggs. Momentum shifted in November 2019 when Aaron Ramsey returned from injury.

Ramsey played a crucial role, scoring both goals in a 2-0 win against Hungary, securing automatic qualification. The celebrations at Cardiff City Stadium were emotional, moving Giggs to tears.

Belgium 2021

Tuesday’s fixture has parallels with Wales’ home match against Belgium in November 2021. Having missed automatic qualification, Wales needed a result to secure second place in their group.

Despite conceding first through Kevin de Bruyne, Kieffer Moore equalized, sparking jubilant scenes in Cardiff. A 1-1 draw, combined with favorable results elsewhere, ensured Wales would host their playoff semi-final, a factor that would prove decisive.

Austria 2022

The play-off semi-final against Austria in March 2022 remains one of the most iconic nights in Welsh football history. Dafydd Iwan performed his song Yma O Hyd before kickoff, with over 30,000 fans joining in, including many who did not speak Welsh.

Gareth Bale scored twice, delivering a 2-1 victory that sent Wales to the play-off final against Ukraine. Bale scored again in the final, clinching a 1-0 win that brought Wales back to the World Cup for the first time in 64 years.

Croatia 2023

By October 2023, Wales faced a critical Euro 2024 qualifying match against Croatia after poor summer results. Manager Rob Page’s position was under pressure, but Wales produced one of their best performances, beating the World Cup semi-finalists 2-1 at Cardiff.

Harry Wilson scored both goals in his 50th international appearance. Subsequent draws against Armenia and Turkey meant Wales went into the play-offs again, achieving home semi-final advantage but eventually losing on penalties in the final against Poland.

Iceland 2024

Craig Bellamy began his tenure as Wales manager with nine unbeaten matches, highlighted by the Nations League campaign. The team secured promotion to the top tier thanks to a 4-1 win over Iceland in November 2024.

Wales recovered from an early deficit with goals from Liam Cullen, Brennan Johnson, and Harry Wilson. Fans created a celebratory atmosphere at Cardiff, cheering both Wales and Montenegro, who benefited from the match results.

Bellamy is seeking his first major statement win as head coach. A victory against North Macedonia would mark the first of several important wins on the road to next year’s World Cup and could set the stage for more unforgettable Cardiff nights.

Italië coach Gennaro Gattuso was gefrustreerd nog vóór de zware 4-1 nederlaag thuis tegen Noorwegen op zondag. De nederlaag bevestigde dat Italië nu de play-off route moet bewandelen om een plaats op het WK van 2026 veilig te stellen.

Dit komt nadat Italië de vorige twee toernooien miste, waarbij ze in de play-offs verloren van Zweden in 2018 en Noord-Macedonië in 2022. Voor het aanstaande WK, dat volgende zomer plaatsvindt in Canada, Mexico en de Verenigde Staten, zal het toernooi voor het eerst 48 teams tellen.

Door als tweede te eindigen in hun kwalificatiegroep, moet het Italiaanse elftal nu twee wedstrijden spelen met één duel om hun deelname veilig te stellen. De selectie, viervoudig winnaar van het WK, had zes van de acht wedstrijden in de kwalificaties gewonnen, maar kreeg toch te maken met de onzekerheid van de play-offs vanwege hun tweede plaats.

Gattuso uitte zijn bezorgdheid over het huidige systeem en wees op wat hij ziet als een onevenwicht vergeleken met Zuid-Amerika en Afrika, waar teams meer directe kwalificatieplaatsen hebben.

Gattuso’s kritiek

Tijdens een toelichting op vrijdag merkte Gattuso op dat in zijn tijd de beste nummers twee automatisch konden kwalificeren, een situatie die niet meer bestaat. Hij dacht terug aan het sterke palmares van Italië en trok de eerlijkheid van de regels in twijfel.

Hij noemde veranderingen in de toewijzing en zei dat Afrika nu negen automatische plaatsen heeft, vergeleken met twee in eerdere decennia, en dat Zuid-Amerika zes directe kwalificatieplaatsen heeft voor tien teams, plus de kans voor een zevende team om een intercontinentale play-off te spelen.

Echter, sommige van Gattuso’s opmerkingen bevatten onjuistheden. Slechts drie Afrikaanse landen namen deel aan het WK van 1994, en het Zuid-Amerikaanse zevende team is niet gegarandeerd alleen tegen een Oceanië-land te spelen; het pad omvat meerdere fases. Bovendien kwalificeerden niet alle nummers twee zich automatisch in 1990, zoals bleek uit het feit dat Denemarken toen niet meedeed.

Ondanks deze fouten was Gattuso’s bredere zorg dat de prestaties van Italië onder de huidige regels mogelijk niet voldoende zijn om directe kwalificatie te garanderen.

Kwalificatiesystemen vergelijken

De Europese kwalificatie is complexer geworden door de toename van het aantal deelnemende landen. In 1990 deden 32 UEFA-landen mee; tegen 1994 waren dat er 39. Tegenwoordij dingen 54 teams naar 16 plaatsen. Het vergroten van de groepsgroottes om meer automatische kwalificatie te geven, wordt beperkt door de internationale kalender, die slechts tien speeldagen per jaar biedt.

De groep van Italië omvatte Noorwegen, een snel verbeterende ploeg, en het team verloor beide ontmoetingen overtuigend. Ondertussen omvat de Zuid-Amerikaanse kwalificatie minder landen, maar meer reizen en heen-en-terug wedstrijden verspreid over negen internationale breaks, wat het een fysiek veeleisend proces maakt.

Kijkend naar Afrika, het merendeel van de kwalificerende landen is gevestigd, met zes van de negen automatische gekwalificeerden in de top 50 van de ranglijst. Ter vergelijking: de 54 UEFA-landen omvatten 26 landen in de top 50, maar ook 20 landen die lager gerangschikt zijn dan Afrika’s laagste, Bolivia.

Al met al, hoewel Afrika en Zuid-Amerika een hogere proportionele vertegenwoordiging lijken te hebben, compliceren de kracht van de Europese teams en de competitieve diepgang van de UEFA-kwalificaties elke eenvoudige beoordeling van eerlijkheid. Het palmares van Italië, hoewel sterk, beschermde hen niet tegen de play-off route.

Slotbeoordeling

Bij het evalueren van de vertegenwoordiging van de confederaties in relatie tot hun kracht, is het aandeel van de UEFA in de WK-plaatsen gedaald van 54% in de jaren 90 naar 33,33% vandaag de dag, ondanks het feit dat bijna de helft van haar landen in de top 50 staat. De negen automatische plaatsen voor Afrika vertegenwoordigen een kleine oververtegenwoordiging, terwijl de toewijzing van Azië opmerkelijk ruim is in verhouding tot de ranking.

In deze context weerspiegelt Gattuso’s frustratie echte zorgen over de moeilijkheidsgraad van de Europese kwalificatie en het waargenomen onevenwicht met andere regio’s. Zijn beweringen bevatten echter enkele feitelijke onjuistheden, en het algehele systeem blijft gestructureerd om competitiviteit en speeldruk in evenwicht te brengen.

The Netherlands secured their place at the 2026 World Cup with a convincing home victory against Lithuania.

Entering the final matchday, the Dutch were already in a strong position, leading Poland by three points and boasting a superior goal difference of 13. This cushion ensured that a win at home would confirm their qualification without relying on other results.

By maintaining their unbeaten run, the Netherlands demonstrated consistent form throughout the qualifying campaign, leaving no doubt about their status as group leaders.

Premier League stars dominate scoring

All four goals in the match were scored by players currently playing in the Premier League, marking the first time this has happened in a single game for the Netherlands.

Tijjani Reijnders of Manchester City opened the scoring in the 16th minute, giving the hosts an early advantage.

Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo then converted a penalty, extending the lead, before Tottenham’s Xavi Simons added a third with a powerful finish. Aston Villa’s Donyell Malen capped the scoring with an impressive solo effort, sealing the win.

The performance highlighted the significant impact of Dutch players in England’s top league on the national team’s success.

Poland to enter play-offs despite victory

Although Poland managed a 3-2 victory away against Malta, the result was not enough to overtake the Netherlands at the top of the group.

With the Dutch securing qualification, Poland will now have to compete in the play-offs for a chance to reach the World Cup.

This outcome emphasizes the importance of goal difference and consistent results throughout the qualifying campaign.

Nick Woltemade continued his scoring streak, giving Germany the lead against Slovakia in Leipzig. The Newcastle striker had already netted twice in the previous match against Luxembourg, and his powerful header from Joshua Kimmich’s cross put Julian Nagelsmann’s team in a strong position from the start.

Serge Gnabry quickly followed up, doubling Germany’s advantage with a precise finish into the corner after receiving a perfectly timed pass from Leon Goretzka. The early dominance from the hosts left Slovakia struggling to respond, as Germany showcased their attacking fluency.

Leroy Sane then capitalized on a sublime ball from Florian Wirtz, slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to extend the lead further. Just before the break, the duo combined again, with Sane converting Goretzka’s cross to make it 4-0, confirming Germany’s control heading into halftime.

Second-half dominance and debut goals

The second half saw Germany maintain their composure, though the intensity eased compared to the first period. Ridle Baku added the fifth goal, marking his first strike for the national team since 2021. The goal came after Gnabry moved across, providing the perfect opportunity for Baku to fire home a low, precise shot.

Assan Ouedraogo made an immediate impact on his international debut, scoring Germany’s sixth just two minutes after entering the pitch. He placed the ball into the bottom corner with confidence, adding another milestone to a memorable night for the hosts.

Germany’s defense remained solid throughout, keeping a fourth consecutive clean sheet. The combination of attacking prowess and defensive stability ensured their automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Slovakia’s play-off fate

Slovakia’s hopes of finishing top of Group A ended in disappointment. Their best chance came early when David Duris found the net, only for Oliver Baumann to make a crucial save from close range, denying any momentum shift.

Despite their efforts, Slovakia struggled against Germany’s high defensive line and cohesive attacking moves. The heavy defeat confirmed that they must now attempt to qualify through the playoffs, ending their direct route to the tournament.

Germany’s emphatic victory underlined their strength and readiness ahead of the next World Cup, while Slovakia faces the challenge of regrouping for a crucial playoff campaign.