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World Cup qualifier: Wales rescue point with late equaliser in 1-1 draw at North Macedonia Northern Ireland beaten 5-1 by Sweden in friendly Real Madrid in talks over finalising the signing of Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer this summer Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via Whats App on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply) Jonty Colman & George Booth North Macedonia 1-1 Wales Kath Morgan Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Wales It was a much better performance, I think, by Wales. I am going to be critical [about their play] in the final third. I think we still have a lot of work to do with accuracy in the final third, but it was against a very technically astute and disciplined North Macedonia team and we must remember that. North Macedonia 1-1 Wales Robert Earnshaw Former Wales and Cardiff striker on BBC radio 5 Live As a coach, he [Craig Bellamy] is quite calm, and I know just from speaking to him he really tries to calm himself down during the games but he's really hyped up. Sometimes you can see that coming out. He'll play the game on the sidelines. He'll play every kick just like he's a player. That fire is still there but I know inside he's trying to calm himself down, to look at all the tactics. He's fired up. He's very proud of his team but he knows that more can come from this young Wales team. North Macedonia 1-1 Wales Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen had a night to forget after his backpass gifted North Macedonia the lead in the 91st-minute. Former Wales captain Ashley Williams, told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast: "When you play

that kind of possession based game, sometimes you are going to make a mistake

in possession, and that's just what it is. " Williams, who played alongside Craig Bellamy for Wales added: "Since Craig has come in, they've done that really well. Every player has paid a massive part in this World Cup qualifier at the moment. "That belief and that togetherness, they work so hard on the ball and so much as well off the ball, and they're so hard to break down at times. "And for me, it's just one of those where hopefully we can build on this now, in the next few months, and get some more results like that. "I think Craig Bellamy coming in as manager has

been unbelievable, excellent. Every time you hear him talk, he impresses you.

The players are impressive. So things are looking really good for Wales at the

minute. " North Macedonia 1-1 Wales Kath Morgan Former Wales captain on BBC Radio Wales Brennan Johnson is not a number nine [he's more comfortable in wide positions] and I actually feel a little bit sorry for him. His touches are poor, his decision-making is poor in that area because he doesn't understand [the position]. We are doing him a little bit of an unjust because us pundits are criticising him for his contribution, but he is just not comfortable there. Craig Bellamy has a problem there - he has to sort out where Johnson can play. North Macedonia 1-1 Wales Robert Earnshaw Former Wales and Cardiff striker on BBC radio 5 Live Wales were the better team. If you look at the intention and possession, which was very high, I think over 60 per cent. What that shows is that this new Wales, Craig Bellamy's Wales is now about how the team is doing and also how they can keep the ball because this is their best way of defending because if the other team doesn't have it, we have it, which says we're going to dictate to you how we're going to play the game. I though that they were much better [than North Macedonia], there wasn't any real clear cut chances as usual but it's a better approach. North Macedonia 1-1 Wales BBC Radio Wales Former Wales international Kath Morgan spoke to BBC Radio Wales about how Joe Allen responded after making a mistake that led to the North Macedonia goal: "When you come on as a substitute, the tempo of the game was frantic at that point and, therefore, he has to get up to speed quickly. "He's mature, so he needs more time, probably, to get into a game. I have done exactly the same mistake myself, it is just natural - you think you have hit it enough and you have under-hit it. "The word resilient, never in a million years did I think that in that 90 seconds we would equalise. That group dug him out of a hole. He was distraught, even after the final whistle - the cameras were on him - but the boys will rally around him. "He has retired once, they brought him back and now he is probably thinking 'oh goodness me, I have made a huge mistake that could cost us'.

But he is invaluable. He has been working with the youngsters in the camp and I think he will be mightily relieved, like we all are. " North Macedonia 1-1 Wales Robert Earnshaw Former Wales and Cardiff striker on BBC radio 5 Live I know that feeling you get when you go into the dressing room, having just got a point from the last kick of the game. It will feel like a win. It's a sigh of relief that we're still unbeaten and we have four points. #bbcfootball, via Whats App on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply) Wales emphatically deserved at least a point. The defence all game was 100% they just needed a little extra up-front, but 1-1 will suffice. Darren, Nottingham That’s why you persevere with football isn’t it? A fairly drab game, but what an end! James, Sheffield North Macedonia 1-1 Wales Dafydd Pritchard BBC Sport Wales in Skopje Wales had dominated for 90 minutes but looked to have fallen for a sucker punch when substitute Joe Allen's backpass was picked off by Bojan Miovski, whose goal had sparked jubilant celebrations among the home players and fans. Then came the bedlam as Wales disposed with Bellamy's modus operandi of patient build-up play and launched the ball to big Kieffer Moore, who nodded the ball down for fellow substitute David Brooks to force the ball over the line from close range. For all the unfiltered joy of that moment, however, Bellamy could not hide his frustration. "To watch it happen was like 'Wow' but, at the same time, to come away with a point actually leaves me disappointed, I have to be honest, due to the performance, " he said. "In the manner, then we have to take it of course. If I look at the game, we were in control but football can find a cruel way sometimes. "Maybe because I haven't suffered defeat in a short reign but I still felt there was something more. " This was Bellamy's eighth game in charge of Wales and he still hasn't lost yet, with four wins and four draws leading to Nations League promotion and a solid start to World Cup qualifying. North Macedonia 1-1 Wales Dafydd Pritchard BBC Sport Wales in Skopje On Saturday, the Wales head coach, Craig Bellamy was described as "Mr Calm" by captain Ben Davies after his half-time speech following a frustrating first half against Kazakhstan. For those familiar with Bellamy the player – a combustible, volatile sort – Davies' moniker will have raised a few eyebrows. But Bellamy the coach is not the young footballer who his former Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson had said could start an argument in an empty room. Now 45 and managing his country, Bellamy has mellowed. After periods of introspection and self-analysis, Bellamy the coach is a different person, one who prides himself on his composure and analytical eye. But in North Macedonia on Tuesday night, when Wales bundled in an added-time equaliser after a conclusion of stupefying drama, that cool veneer disappeared in an instant. As David Brooks' shot crept over the line, an ecstatic Bellamy leapt in the air and roared with delight. His feet had barely touched the ground when he was asked to summarise his feelings. "My main reaction? Probably shock, still, " he said. "Calm? Not at all. Even now, I'm not. I thought it would have been difficult to accept losing today. But you have to accept certain things as much as you don't want to. " Plenty on more on the future of Trent Alexander-Arnold to come later on. First though, let's took a look through Wales' dramatic 1-1 draw in North Macedonia on Tuesday night. .. Metro And finally, Metro have he headline "TAA-ra, then" in their look at the Trent Alexander-Arnold story. They also say that England head coach Thomas Tuchel is "encouraged" after wins over Albania and Latvia in his first two matches in charge. The I The back page of the Ifocuses on quotes from England head coach Thomas Tuchel, who says that players who feature in this summer's Club World Cup are unlikely to get a long break this summer due to the schedule. It also looks at Wales' dramatic draw with North Macedonia. The Guardian The focus on the back of The Guardian is also on Trent Alexander-Arnold and his Liverpool future. They also look at Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire, who was left out of the England squad this month by new head coach Thomas Tuchel. #bbcfootball, via Whats App on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply) Whether Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves or not, the most important priority at the moment is to win the Premier League. LFC have always said “no player is bigger than the club, ” Liverpool have always managed to replace players without a lot of fuss. Jed, Cyprus The Daily Telegraph On the back page of Wednesday's Daily Telegraph, their football focus is on Trent Alexander-Arnold. They have used the headline "Real hopes rise of sealing Alexander-Arnold deal. " The Times On the back page of The Times, the focus is on Harry Maguire's omission from Thomas Tuchel's first England squad. They also discuss Trent Alexander-Arnold's future and a look at former players who are currently training to become referees. Argentina 4-1 Brazil Brazil captain Marquinhos has apologised to the fans after an "embarrassing" display in their 4-1 World Cup qualifying defeat by Argentina in Buenos Aires. Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Giuliano Simeone were on target for Argentina, whose World Cup qualification was confirmed before kick-off by Bolivia's draw with Uruguay. Matheus Cunha replied for the five-time world champions, who suffered their worst defeat in World Cup qualifying and are not yet guaranteed of a place in next year's finals. "What we did here can't happen again, " Marquinhos told Brazilian TV station Globo. "It's hard to talk about it in the heat of the moment. It's embarrassing. " He added: "We started the game badly, far below what we could do and they're on a great run of confidence. They knew how to play smart. I'm sorry for our fans. " The Daily Mail In Scotland, the back page of the Daily Mail is reporting that Rangers could see a stand at Ibrox closed by Uefa if fans reoffend after a "racist and/or discriminatory banner" was displayed. They use the headline "Lockout threat". It also looks at quotes from Neil Lennon following his recent appointment as Dunfermline's manager. Daily Mirror The Daily Mirror looks at those comments from Harry Kane, using the headline "We're being Kaned. " There is also a look at Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire, who was left out of Thomas Tuchel's first England squad. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.