FULL TIME: Turkey 4-2 Netherlands. There’s already been one result tonight, with the match at the Ataturk in Istanbul kicking off early ... and if the rest of the qualifiers are like this, we’re in for one hell of a ride. Turkey were 3-0 up and coasting with 15 minutes to go, before a quick Dutch one-two briefly put the result in doubt. Burak Yilmaz restored a two-goal cushion with an absolute peach of a free kick, curling powerfully into the top right from 25 yards and completing a hat-trick. Memphis Depay missed a very late penalty, and the Dutch, who failed to qualify last time round, have started slowly again.
Serbia: Dmitrovic, Stefan Mitrovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic, Mladenovic, Gajic, Lukic, Racic, Tadic, Djuricic, Vlahovic.
Subs: Rajkovic, Nikolic, Petkovic, Spajic, Gudelj, Kostic, Milinkovic-Savic, Ristic, Maksimovic, Radonjic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Jovic.
Republic of Ireland: Travers, Clark, Coleman, Stevens, O’Shea, Cullen, Browne, Molumby, Doherty, Robinson, Connolly.
Subs: O’Hara, Bazunu, Duffy, Christie, Lenihan, McClean, Brady, Hendrick, Horgan, Knight, Collins, Shane Long.
Dusan Tadic of Ajax, and formerly of Southampton, captains Serbia in new boss Dragan Stojkovic’s first match in charge. Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic takes a seat on the bench.
Some rare good news for the Republic of Ireland and their injury decimated squad. Brighton forward Aaron Connolly is over a rib problem and starts. Seamus Coleman makes his first appearance since October 2019, wearing the captain’s armband, while 21-year-old Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers goes in goal. Stephen Kenny hopes to end an eight-game wait for his first victory as Ireland boss.
Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen, Meunier, De Bruyne, Dendoncker, Tielemans, Mertens, Lukaku, Thorgan Hazard.
Subs: Doku, Batshuayi, Vanaken, Praet, Castagne, Januzaj, Foket, Denayer, Casteels, Benteke, Mignolet, Trossard.
Wales: Ward, Mepham, Jamie Lawrence, Rodon, Connor Roberts, Wilson, Allen, Ampadu, Neco Williams, James, Bale.
Subs: Cabango, Tom Lawrence, Moore, Norrington-Davies, Tyler Roberts, Hennessey, Jonathan Williams, Smith, Adam Davies, Robson-Kanu, Gunter, Morrell.
Belgium make two changes from their November win over Denmark. Thomas Vermaelen and Thomas Meunier replace Jason Denayer and Nacer Chadli. Romelu Lukaku starts after a negative test result following a coronavirus outbreak at Internazionale.
Wales welcome back Joe Allen, who ruptured his Achilles 12 months ago and hasn’t pulled on an international shirt since November 2019. He’s one of two changes from November’s Nations League win over Finland, replacing Joe Morrell, while Neco Williams takes the place of Rhys Norrington-Davies.
The road to Qatar starts here. This evening, Wales and the Republic of Ireland launch their World Cup qualification campaigns. Both sides are looking to end a lengthy barren stretch; the Irish last qualified in 2002, while the Welsh haven’t made it to a finals since 1958. The ghosts of John Charles and Ivor Allchurch - scorer of one of the greatest goals in the history of the World Cup - loom large.
Neither team have an easy task tonight. Stephen Kenny’s side travel to Belgrade to face Serbia, on an eight-game winless streak under the new boss and without a goal in the last seven. Their squad is decimated by injury, and they’re forced to play a 19-year-old keeper who can’t get a game for Bournemouth.
Rob Page’s men meanwhile are slated to play the hardest fixture possible: an away game at the number-one ranked side in the world. Belgium are tough enough at the best of times, but they’ll have some extra incentive tonight: revenge for that Euro 2016 quarter-final.
So that’s our expectations managed. However, in football, you just never know. The Irish floodgates have to open at some point, while Wales are undefeated against the Belgians in four. There’s always hope ... and there’s no better time to dream than just before the opening match of a qualification campaign. Both matches kick off at 7.45pm GMT, and you can follow them here, along with all the other action on a busy opening night.
- Group A: Portugal v Azerbaijan; Serbia v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
- Group D: Finland v Bosnia-Herzegovina; France v Ukraine
- Group E: Belgium v WALES; Estonia v Czech Republic
- Group G: Turkey v Netherlands; Gibraltar v Norway; Latvia v Montenegro
- Group H: Cyprus v Slovakia; Malta v Russia; Slovenia v Croatia
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