Euro 2016 qualifiers clockwatch – as it happened | Nick Ames

And that, I reckon, is that for tonight. If you’re a fan of Israel, Wales, Czech Republic or Malta I’d wager you’re pretty happy just now. Enjoy what remains of the evening and thanks for the emails/tweets. ‘Night.

We’re into the second of three added minutes in Milan.

Was that Croatia’s big chance? Croatia create that man over at last and Perisic, running in at goal, shoots just wide with his left foot from a slight angle on the left.

Just that Italy v Croatia game going on now. Five minutes to go plus stoppage time. If you’re coming in late, remember that the game was suspended for a few minutes after fireworks were thrown onto the pitch from the crowd.

Iceland have three minutes’ added time to salvage things in Plzen....

Now, in much better news, the players have re-emerged in Milan and the game looks set to restart. Let’s hope that is an end to the stupidity, eh?

In Plzen, and a match whose crowd all seem to like football enough to watch the game and keep it going on, Cech has had to save from point-blank range from substitute Gudmundsson from a second ball that followed a long throw.

Not really the smartest move by whoever in the stands has done this, with the away side playing very well in their biggest match of the group. Not very nice scenes on the terraces now either. This comes just a month after the Serbia v Albania stupidity and it’s just a massive shame, really.

And the referee has now called the players toward him, with missiles appearing to come down from the stand. Some of them are moving towards the tunnel, or the sidelines at least. Buffon remains in his area. Not playing any time soon here.

Not a lot happening on the San Siro pitch, because off it there has been a huge emission of smoke and fireworks from the Croatian end and the match has been halted while visibility improves.

Very close now from Vaclav Pilar, the Czech substitute, who was set up neatly by Rosicky. He curls just over; the Czechs have now had 16 attempts to Iceland’s four.

The Czechs, who have been very good in this half, are allowing Iceland a little more of the ball now but they’re doing little with it. Might need another flash of genius from Gylfi Sigurdsson if anything more is to happen here.

Still 1-1 in Sofia and 2-0 in Istanbul, by the way. About 17 to go.

If I was a betting man, I wouldn’t be giving Bosnia manager Safet Susic a lot longer in the position.

Off the line in Plzen! Kari Arnason, of Rotherham, to the rescue after Halldorsson totally missed the ball and Kadlec headed towards goal. That would probably have put this one to bed.

Graziano Pelle has just come on for Italy, Southampton fans. He’s replace Simone Zaza.

But hear the cautious words of our Croatian corro:

Croatia, to prove the point, have made 401 passes to Italy’s 193!

Croatia are still dominating Italy but Perisic can’t do much with a header from a Modric free-kick. Clear chances are scarce there at the moment.

Then Gylfi Sigurdsson hits the post! He’s been quiet but, as a long throw is headed out to the edge of the box, hits a clean, textbook volley through a crowd of players. It smacks the upright, hits Cech and goes to safety! So close to an immediate response there.

This time Krejci shows what he can do with a super spin on the left touchline to roll his defender, but again the delivery is poor.

In Haifa, Asmir Begovic saves as Israel squander a five-on-three counter.

Rob Marriott seeks to add some welcome atmosphere to matters:

“As I sit here watching the game on Maltese TV, a still-warm evening with the gentle fwooshing of the waves against the cliffs providing a lovely soundtrack to the game, I’d like to announce that a swell of excitement surged around the bay at Malta’s equaliser from the spot.
“But it didn’t. However, I do get to write to the MBM and brag about being in Malta on a warm evening, rather than in the rain and cold of Blighty, so that more than makes up for the lack of cheering. And the local folk would have a good deal to cheer, as Malta have been playing rather better since a few minutes before half time and have deserved their goal.”

Croatia, who have never lost to the Italians, have made a confident start of their own in Milan and Mario Mandzukic has just hung in the air to head at Buffon.

Lafata has a chance for the Czechs – he blocks Arnason’s attempted ball up the pitch, sees the ball returned to him by the head of Rosicky and volleys wide on the stretch when he should at least hit the target.

The pattern for the second half appears set in Plzen, the Czechs doing most of the attacking and much of it coming down the left. Bjarnason is booked for a foul just outside the area on that very flank, and Darida’s near-post delivery is headed over by Sivok.

First salvo from Krejci in Plzen, but he takes the ball from Lafata and misses the target by a mile. He’s not shown a lot of composure, the 22-year-old winger from Sparta Prague.

That Italy-Croatia game will be running a tad behind the others as they played four minutes of first-half stoppage time.

Bosnia have made two half-time subs in Haifa, bringing on Prcic for Everton’s Besic and also Visca for Mujdza. Neither is a striker, because they don’t have any strikers.

Ok, time for the second halves now...

Some obligatory pre-Auld Enemy sledging has been sent my way by Simon McMahon:

“Of course, after European Champions elect Scotland’s thrashing of ROI on Friday, all other results are irrelevant, but it’s nice to see the smaller nations like San Marino, Faroe Islands and England doing well ...”

Rise to it if you want, I don’t care.

Doom and gloom in Bosnia

I have a bit of a weakness for Slaven Bilic but, still, I can’t believe it’s taken this long for someone to get him in as a television pundit. Props to ITV.

Icelandic language confirmation from Kari Tulinius:

“I’m Icelandic and can give you the lowdown on ‘Þ’, or thorn as it is called. The ‘þ’ is indeed pronounced ‘th.’ Specifically like the ‘th’ in ‘thick’ or ‘breath.’ There’s another letter, ‘ð’, called ‘eth’, that’s also pronounced ‘th’, but like the ‘th’ in ‘this’ or ‘breathe’.”

This is SO much more than a football MBM.

That Israel goal, by the way, took a big deflection off Emir Spahic having looked again.

Croatia are having a lot of the play as time ticks down towards the interval in Milan. But they’re finding it hard to get too near to the goal as Italy defend the edge of the box well, and Ivan Rakitic has just slashed well wide from a distance.

Iceland nearly make it two! Bjarnason plays Sigthorsson in and he should maybe score, but is tackled by Kaderabek and the ball dribbles wide! From the corner a header from Arnason is glanced wide too. Then at the other end Dockal crosses from the right and Lafata climbs to head not too far off target.

Goals in all five matches already. Don’t say we never spoil you.

Iceland do look a good unit. “Methodical” might be the word. They are having to defend a lot now but when they do get possession it’s handled with care. Which is what Halldorsson was just asked to do, diving quickly at the feet of Lafata.

Candreva just put in a delicious ball from the right for Italy that Ciro Immobile wasn’t far away from; meanwhile in Haifa, Izet Hajrovic has shot wide for the Bosnians.

And the Italians have been forced into an early change in Milan – off comes Manuel Pasqual and into the fray is pitched Roberto Soriano, of Sampdoria, for his first cap.

The Israelis continue to press the Bosnians and Tal Ben Haim – not that one – makes a nice run into the area from the left but, with the ball bobbling up, laces it far over the bar. A waste.

Chance for the Czechs! David Lafata, who I was about to write about saying he wasn’t a good enough attacking focal point, got in on the left and saw his shot sharply turned away by Halldorsson.

Looking again at that Croatia goal, it was well struck by Perisic but Buffon really, really has to save that. Ouch. And with Cech erring too, not a good night for the big name ‘keepers.

An email from Patrick Hull:

“Good news about the Iceland goal. Their recent good form has been followed with big interest by my brother and me, as we’ve had a soft spot for them ever since Championship Manager 03/04, where a raft of cheap Icelandic league players was enough to propel a team from the Conference to the Premier League in a few seasons. A question for any Icelandic readers; one of the best players was Johann þorhallsson. Is the þ just a P? Or how is it pronounced?”

I am not Icelandic, Patrick, but I believe it is like a “th”.

A few good chances for Israel against the Bosnians, most recently for Damari, who went round Asmir Begovic and looked likely to score but was just forced too wide to covert.

How wasteful from Krejci! He is played in delightfully by Plasil on the left and, all alone in the box, just needs to take a shot. He neither does that nor crosses, and the ball goes harmlessly wide.

Well that should have been one for the Czechs! David Lafata had a free header from Krejci’s left-wing cross and it was straight down the throat of Halldorsson when it really should have been in.

Bosnia, they of the no strikers, have started with some intent in Israel. Good possession but where will the goals come from?

Fairly fast start in Plzen, where both teams look to use the flanks quickly. Tomas Rosicky, captaining the team today and certainly in need of a runout after barely featuring for Arsenal, has just had a shot blocked on the edge of the area.

News from the Holland-Latvia game, by the way, that Daley Blind picked up a tear to his media ligament and is expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks.

Volkan appears to have got over his fit of pique and starts, as planned, for Turkey. Our games are now underway.

If you’re quick, you can swot up on Iceland’s dangerman tonight:

That Italy v Croatia game, at San Siro, could be very close. The Italians have not convinced at home for a while to put it generously – they squeezed past Azerbaijan earlier in the qualifiers, 2-1, and have been held by both Luxembourg and Armenia in recent times. Croatia’s sole away game has seen a 1-0 win in Bulgaria. Still, neither would be distraught with a point here. They both have nine so far.

Israel v Bosnia is an important one too. Bosnia have started their qualifiers poorly with just two points from three; the Israelis have two wins out of two and start the game in second. The Bosnians are also without star attacking duo Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic for this one....looks like a very tough ask indeed for Safet Susic and company.

More trouble for the Turks?

Demirel is – or was – expected to start in goal for Turkey. Let’s see....

There is an argument – and we can actually have an argument, if you like – that Czech Republic v Iceland is the match of the night. Both have three wins out of three; if either wins tonight, they might just have one foot in the Euros already. For Iceland, it would be a simply remarkable achievement. And not so shabby for the Czechs, either, whose lovely team of the early 2000s seems a distant dream. It would be good to see a revival from them.

Anyway, this is the Iceland team for tonight (the match will be played in Plzen):

The Czechs, for whom I shall give you a more orthodox Teams service, look like this:

Cech, Kaderabek, Sivok, Kadlec, Pudil, Plasil, Darida, Dockal, Rosický, Krejci, Lafata.

In fact here are both lineups for that one – with formations!

Here is Italy’s team to face Croatia:

You might think Turkey v Kazakhstan is a strange place to start our 7.45pm build-up. But that might be because you haven’t read this absolutely astonishing story from Emre Sarigul on the incident that has ripped the Turkish side apart. It’s a real cracker, so go on.

More? You want more? You’ll get more. Back in a moment with a look ahead to the 7.45pm fare...

Oh my goodness! Five minutes and 50 seconds into added time, the ball bobbles everywhere from a corner and is then nodded towards goal by Benteke....and Hennessey dives to scramble away before his defender just about hack clear! What a save!

Bale tries to be the hero but blasts over from range. He was the only man forwards. Robson-Kanu, who appeared to have cramp earlier, is replaced by Emyr Huws.

Wales are Taking Their Time here. Hennessey has been booked for timewasting, although I think that largely stemmed from prolonged crowd disapproval.

Low Januzaj cross right in front of the posts and it could go anywhere....but Chester hacks away!

Six minutes of added time in Brussels. And what a big half-dozen for Wales.

Mertens is now stretchered off and, encouragingly, is moving his arms about. He will no doubt need to be assessed now; the game itself has just moved into the 90th minute....

Kolinko, over in Amsterdam, shows commendable 39-year-old reflexes to divert aside a chest-down-and-volley from Huntelaar.

Mertens is surrounded by medical staff and being put on a stretcher. He will eventually be replaced by Adnan Januzaj but his health is the priority here, as that looked very nasty.

But in Brussels, close from Hal Robson-Kanu! He, like Arjen Robben, cuts inside and shoots from the edge of the area! Unlike Robben, he sees his shot fumbled away by Courtois. Then there is an injury as Dries Mertens goes down in a heap after an awful clash of heads with George Williams, who accidentally missed the ball and headed into him. Not nice and you would assume he’ll be taken off now.

A break from Wales, with a low ball from Ramsey evading Bale. But Belgium build again. Long 10 minutes ahead for Coleman’s visitors, and that is demonstrated when Hennessey saves superbly from an unmarked Benteke...who is just offside.

Ladies and gentlemen, Marouane Fellaini

Mertens crosses poorly and Hennessey has nothing between him and a simple catch. Belgium have created little in the second half so far, it must be said. Whistles from the crowd now as Wales play a little possession football at the back – which tell you that things are pretty much going exactly to plan...

It is still Azerbaijan 0-1 Norway, by the way, if you’re pining for news from Baku.

A number of you have the same view as Howard Fishman about that Fellaini challenge; I wonder if we’ll hear more about that later on....

Origi has come off now, Dries Mertens on. Belgium have such depth in attacking areas.

Latvia’s approach against the Dutch has not really changed regardless of the score. They’re just trying to keep it down and are currently succeeding in doing so. A far cry from when they met as equals at Euro 2004.

Eden Hazard tries to rabona a cross and puts it out of play. Erik Lamela is much better than him.

“Was I the only one who saw Fellaini knock Allen with a high & deliberate elbow,” asks Howard Fishman. There was certainly a suggestion of some ‘afters’ from a previous challenge...

Not so close from De Bruyne, for whom space had been created. His 25-yarder is scuffed wide of the near post.

And very close from Robben again, jinking onto his left and shooting just wide. It doesn’t matter how often he does it and how many people think it must be easy to stop: they can’t.

Joe Allen has a bleeding nose, it seems, after a challenge with Marouane Fellaini, so there is a small pause in Brussels. At the moment Wales look reasonably comfortable.

Neil Taylor just had an opening on his right-foot 20 yards out from a Bale pass. The left-back hasn’t got that far forward all night and shot well over.

Yes, Benteke has come on for Chadli with a good 28 minutes still to play. That move comes to a roar of approval from the crowd. Two out-and-out strikers on for Belgium now.

We will soon be seeing Benteke, in good news for Kiran Kulkani.

Bale tries another free-kick from distance but it’s not as close as the one from earlier and is gathered by Courtois, Then Belgium counter and De Bruyne, allowed little space eventually, crosses for Ashley Williams to clear.

Another promising moment from Williams, who is fleet of foot and picks the ball up from Hal Robson-Kanu. He tries to trick into his box and is denied semi-desperately by Alderweireld.

In Amsterdam, Robben has just rattled the bar with a superb free-kick. Nice stuff, but little more to report from there, it’s still 3-0.

Kiran Kulkani is unhappy with Belgium:

“I am completely baffled the Belgians aren’t the dominant side as they should really have been.. Their entire XI can replace the current Liverpool squad yet they aren’t making things happen.

“Why not start both Benteke & Lukaku upfront just to unsettle the Welsh centre-backs psychologically? The sight of these two & Hazard might fancy Coleman bringing himself & ‘Kit’ ON to turn the 18-yard box into a parking lot...”

Close from Bale! That is the threat Wales carry! He runs the ball 40 yards down the left, shimmies into the box and drills a low one across Courtois and inches wide...

Lombaerts gets up to a De Bruyne corner, and heads over. Belgium have won their fair share of headers from attacking set-pieces.

I assume it’s superb anyway. But not as superb as the footwork we saw from the 19-year-old Williams, out on the right, near the halfway line just now though, as he took Jan Vertonghen back to school before failing to find a decent final ball.

Twitter correspondent @SergeNuffler has reminded (ok, informed) me that there is a superb recipe for Welsh rarebit (serve with cabbage and apple salad) by Nigel Slater on these pages today.

A Wales change as we get back underway: David Cotterill off and George Williams, of Fulham, on.

“I’d like to see more than a Welsh rarebit of attacking,” says Mike MacKenzie, who I think can only be referring to Wales’ infrequent forward incursions and tying it in with a popular national dish.

Managerial nickname fun from J.R. in Illinois:

“If you were going to pick a winner in the Belgium v Wales game based on manager nicknames it is no contest. ‘War Pig’ against ‘Cookie’ has to be the biggest mismatch in history.”

Yes. So who will actually win in, let’s say, Azerbaijan (Mahmud Qurbanov) v Norway (Per-Mathias Hogmo)? Give us more nicknames.

Yes, Satya Gunput, Nordtveit and Efrem were indeed youngsters at Arsenal. Your prize is another four hours’ Clockwatch viewing.

Meanwhile, De Bruyne puts in a serviceable free-kick than Hennessey clutched well. Wales are close to reaching half-time unscathed and won’t be unhappy to do so.

So, friends, what do Efrem and Nordtveit have in common? Fastest finger first.

Belgium look like adding to our evening’s tally at the moment. Wales, after a sprightly start in which Bale almost scored from a free-kick and Ramsey nearly found a way through to goal, have been up against it for the last 20 minutes or so.

From the corner, Fellaini gets up for the first header, which deflects off Ashley Williams and floats just beyond Chadli at the back post. It should be a corner and I can’t believe the commentators don’t see that themselves after two replays, but a corner it is not.

....which Eden Hazard hits off the wall.

Wesley Sneijder has just fired high, high over the bar for the Dutch and has been shouted at by Robben. But swiftly to Brussels, where Joe Ledley has been booked and the Belgians have a 25-yard free kick of their own....

In every piece of top-quality comedy lies a kernel of truth, though, and Raymond’s piece of genius there was born of reality. Latvia still don’t look like leaving their own half much, one header wide a few minutes ago aside. It’s one-way traffic.

From Raymond Reardon: “Holland’s one man Van is too nimble for Latvia’s five man Riga-mor-bus.”

Not going there. I. Am. Not. Going. There. You can, though. Send me some jokes.

Belgium are putting their own ‘keeper under pressure more than Wales are. An awful backpass bounces up to Courtois, under pressure from Cotterill, but he coolly unleashes his inner seal, heads it up and volleys it away.

Belgium are stepping things up. Hazard and Origi, in particular have the ability to change the speed and direction of a seemingly-meandering spell of possession in an instant with a flick or a feint. They win another corner through the ever-industrious De Bruyne and then LOMBAERTS HITS THE POST after it’s not cleared! He spins onto a loose ball and thuds one against the metalwork with Hennessey beaten!

Nearly true.

Hennessey saves Wales! Nacer Chadli is slipped in by a lovely Origi flick in the inside left channel as Belgium change the game’s pace in an instant. The ‘keeper is out of goal like a rocket and does just enough to deflect the ball away.

Goalless between Azerbaijan and Norway still, by the way. And remember that Cyprus have hushed any Andorra noise. 1-0 there.

Yes, Blind has gone off. Jordy Clasie (who is a, errr, classy midfielder from Feyenoord) comes on. Louis van Gaal will be worried.

Concern for Manchester United! Daley Blind has just picked up an injury and been led from the field. The Dutch seem to be readying a sub but, at present, it’s unclear whether they’ll be deployed or not...

Thank [insert deity/other here] for that, an email. It’s from John McEnerney:

“A night of hard graft for Wales, they’ll need to hassle Belgium & not let them settle hoping they can nick a goal on the break. The Welsh back 4 will be under pressure, long night ahead!”

Agree? They have started well.

Meanwhile in Amsterdam, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has seen a shot gathered by Aleksandrs Kolinko – the former Crystal Palace goalkeeper who is now 39 (thirty-nine) years old.

Hazard then beats FIVE Welsh players before shooting to Hennessey at his near post. This game has started very promisingly.

....and nearly scores! It’s whipped up and over, it’s parried by Courtois and the ball is just cleared away from Aaron Ramsey as he looks to convert the rebound.

Now Wales have a free kick, a good 25 yards out. Bale, hairband and all, stands over it...

Close for Belgium, a whipped Eden Hazard cross from the right being snicked just away from the looming Marouane Fellaini by James Chester. Then Wayne Hennessey is out quickly at the feet of Divock Origi, who had spun sharply in the box.

Wales have shown a few good signs in the meantime against Belgium, Aaron Ramsey being denied by one last-ditch tackle and Gareth Bale hurrying Thibaut Courtois into a hurried clearance.

And the Dutch come so close against Latvia! Inside two minutes it was Ibrahim Afellay, teed up by Robin van Persie, bending one smack against the far post. They’ve had almost total possession for far.

Belgium the first to show in Brussels, with Anthony Vanden Borre skinning Neil Taylor and putting a deep cross in from the line. He’s fresh from scoring twice in Anderlecht’s improbable comeback against Arsenal, of course.

Commentator’s “Belgium golden generation” bingo: two seconds. I win.

We’ll be starting soon. A stat the Welsh won’t like: Belgium have not lost a competitive match at home for four years.

The Netherlands could do with a win tonight. They’ve won one and lost two, currently sitting third in Group A and six points behind both Czech Republic and Iceland, and went a goal down to Kazakhstan at home last time out. They host Latvia.

Norway, meanwhile, sit third in Group H – three points behind Italy and Croatia, who play each other later. A win over Azerbaijan and they’ll have closed the gap on somebody, at least. They are one of the midfield sides to whom this new qualifying setup gives a lot of encouragement.

A reminder that your 5pm fixtures are:

Belgium v Wales; Cyprus v Andorra; Netherlands v Latvia; Azerbaijan v Norway

Andorra there, looking to continue the success of the minnows this weekend after the heroics of the Faroe Islands (1-0 v Greece), San Marino (0-0 v Estonia) and Liechtenstein (1-0 v Moldova). The least I expect from them is clean sheet.

Yes, Spurs. Yes, you do.

Even if it’s early days, that one’s a really important game. Wales are top of the group although the Belgians have a game in hand – could they keep their run going by fending off a richly talented home side that never *quite* seems to hit the gears it should? Divock Origi, who’s angling for an early move to Liverpool from Lille, leads the home side’s attack with both Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku on the bench, which is worthy of an eyebrow-raising.

Belgium v Wales – the teamsheet:

Nick will be along shortly. In the meantime have a read of Paul Doyle’s preview to Belgium v Wales:

Belief is building that Wales will soon end their long wait for a return to a major tournament. Secure a positive result in Brussels on Sunday and, though there will still be scope for twists and turns in the campaign, Welsh fans will be even more optimistic that their team can join the international elite for the first time since 1958.

The assignment is daunting – Belgium are one of the most fancied teams in the competition and the favourites to win Group B – but it is Chris Coleman’s team that stand atop that group and they could barely be in better shape.

For once Coleman has a near full-strength squad to choose from, with Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen being particularly welcome back from injury along with Sam Ricketts, James Collins and Adam Matthews, three more players who forced to miss last month’s victory over Cyprus and the draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina. Mind you, James Chester and Chris Gunter performed so well in those games that Collins and Matthews may have to be content with a place on the bench at the King Baudouin Stadium.

Read the full preview here.