KEIR RADNEDGE in CARDIFF: The World Cup challenge for Craig Bellamy’s Wales was clear – beat North Macedonia to finish runners-up to Belgium in European Group J and earn the advantage of a home semi-final in the March playoffs.

They did that in style, winning 7-1 at Cardiff City with a hat-trick from Harry Wilson, wearing the captain’s armband for a first time in his 67th international. Wales’ last hat-trick hero had been Gareth Bale in 2021 in a 3-2 win against Belarus,

A draw would have been enough for North Macedonia because of a superior goal difference. That would also have left Wales among the bottom seeds in the playoff draw. In the event Wales not only overtook them on points but reversed the goal difference balance. For the record, Belgium finished top of the table after demolishing Liechtenstein 7-0.

Bellamy had named Fulham’s Wilson as Wales’ third captain in as many games and the fulham midfielder marked the occasion by shooting Wales ahead from an 18th-minute penalty after David Brooks had been tripped by defender Andrej Stojchevski.

Three minutes later and Wales were two-ahead, this time with Brooks the scorer atter a left-wing raid by Brennan Johnson. The Tottenham man also struck a superb third goal to re-establish the two-goal margin after Bojan Miovski had punished a slip by keeper Karl Darlow who lost his footing in advancing to meet the forward.

Darlow redeemed himself with a fine diving save shortly before the internal to a free kick from Enis Bardhi. Wales also had their own near-misses to rue at the interval with Joe Rodon seeing a header deflected against the bar and Neco Williams hitting a post.

An entertaining game grew even more enjoyable for the Red Wall wall as they overwhelmed North Macedonia in the second half with a perfomance of energy and panache.

Daniel James struck a fourth goal in the 57th minute after a right-wing break by the hard-working Brooks and Wilson made it five with a curling free kick. Wilson then completed his hat-trick from another penalty after being floored in the box by Darko Velkovski.

Substitute Nathan Broadhead wrapped up the scoring by jabbing home the seventh after a late right-wing corner. The last time Wales had scored seven was a 7-0 defeat of Malta in Octobe 1978.

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