Wales pay a heavy penalty as home loss delivers blow to cup hopes

THE dream is still very much alive, but there's an inescapable feeling this was an opportunity missed for Wales.

- TOM COLEMAN

David Brooks tumbles under a challenge by Leandro Trossard

(Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

The main caveat being, of course, that victory against a Belgium side who hadn’t lost a qualifying game for more than 10 years was always going to be a big ask.

Belgium's last qualifying defeat was in fact at this very stadium, where Gareth Bale’s early first-half strike proved enough to seal a pivotal win for Wales on their road to Euro 2016.

Wales don’t have that messianic figure to lean on nowadays, but failure to qualify for next summer's World Cup would clearly be considered a failure given the shift in expectations.

When Joe Rodon headed home to put Wales in front after eight minutes, the road to next summer's finals looked pleasingly sharp.

But Belgium were always likely to try to blur the picture, and ruthlessly hit back with two Kevin de Bruyne penalties and a goal from Thomas Meunier.