A win over Belgium could have seen Wales enter next month’s final fixtures top of Group J.
Instead – after a second defeat of the campaign – Wales sit third on 10 points, four points behind Belgium with two games to play.
North Macedonia also had hopes of an unlikely bid for top spot having held Belgium in Ghent on Friday.
But they were frustrated at home in a 1-1 draw with Kazakhstan on Monday to leave them second on 13 points having played a game more. Their final game is in Cardiff against Wales on 18 November.
It means Belgium – who take on fourth-placed Kazakhstan in Astana on 15 November and then group minnows Liechtenstein at home in Liege on 18 November – need just one win to guarantee finishing top. Even if they slipped up in Kazakhstan, it is almost inconceivable they would not beat a Liechtenstein side who have lost their last 20 qualifying fixtures.
And in the unlikely event that Belgium somehow drew both fixtures, Wales would still have to win both of their games and do so with a goal difference swing of 12.
Fanciful stuff.
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