'Quiet' - Mixed player ratings for Tottenham duo after dramatic international clash

Two Tottenham stars were in international duty on Tuesday night, playing a part in a dramatic finish Wales took on North Macedonia knowing they likely needed to pick up some sort of return, even with this only being their second game of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Wales made easy work of Kazakhstan over the weekend, but with Belgium favourites to win the group, North Macedonia are the Dragons’ main rivals for a playoff spot, at least on paper, keeping in mind that Wales have been a thorn in the side of Belgium over the years.

Craig Bellamy’s side missed a couple of early chances after dominating, and they thought they had been punished, set to leave empty-handed after Girona star Bojan Mivoski took advantage of a huge Joe Allen error one minute into stoppage time. But no less than five minutes later, in the 96th minute, David Brooks produced a dramatic equaliser to snatch what could be a monumental point.

WalesOnline rated the players from the performance, and Ben Davies got himself a seven after captaining Wales in this one. They reasoned: “An understated but reasonably solid showing.” Brennan Johnson had a six after a not too productive international period, with the explanation: “Had a shot blocked on the line in the second half, but was otherwise quite quiet. Subbed.”

Wales boss Craig Bellamy said after the game: "My main reaction? Probably shock, still. 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. As a coach you try to teach the players. I hope they learn from me but, I always feel as a coach, you learn from the players. Today's given me so much, like the character."

He added: "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. 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."

Despite the drama, Bellamy feels his side may have all three points, continuing: "It could have been a very precious one [point]. I feel probably on the performance, I think the way I looked at the game today, I think we needed three. It could turn out to be an important point but time will tell. We know in international football, chances can be limited at times but we had our big chances as well. On reflection of the game, maybe we needed to take three."

Wales will now take on Liechtenstein and Belgium in June before the fixtures start to wrap back around. As is the case in many qualifying groups, the fixtures are currently very uneven in their timing due to the Nations League, and while the rest of the group has played two games, Belgium are yet to play any.

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