Belgium are clear at the top of Group E right now, but second place is still all to play for.

Image source, BBC Sport

Chief executive Noel Mooney wants the Football Association of Wales (FAW) to be among the top two or three achieving countries in Europe, both on and off the field.

Mooney took over as Welsh football chief on 30 August, 2021 and wants the association to be a major force across the board in European football.

• Wales have lost two of their past 16 World Cup qualifiers (winning seven and drawing seven), with their only defeats coming against the Republic of Ireland in 2017 and Belgium in 2021.

• Wales have had 49 shots in their four World Cup 2022 qualifiers so far, with Gareth Bale accounting for 20 of those (41%).

• Patrik Schick has been involved in 13 goals in his past 13 starts for the Czech Republic (11 goals, two assists) and has scored in five of his past six starts for his national team.

• Only Joe Morrell (seven) has created more chances for Wales during the current World Cup qualifying campaign than Dan James (five), with Leeds winger James also playing the most passes into the opposition box (27) and completing the most dribbles (10) of any Wales player in qualifying.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

• Including games against Czechoslovakia, Wales have lost every away match they have played against the Czechs, losing all six in either Euros or World Cup qualifiers, most recently in September 2006.

• Wales have kept clean sheets in three of their past four games against the Czech Republic, though they have only won one of those games (drawing two and losing one), with the two draws ending goalless.

• Wales' last three goals against the Czechs have been scored in the final 10 minutes of games - an Ian Rush equaliser in the 83rd minute in 1987, a Martin Jiranek own goal in September 2006 in the 85th minute and Dan James' winner in the 81st minute in March.

• Czech Republic have only lost two of their past 16 home major tournament qualifying matches (winning 10 and drawing four) and have won six of their past seven since a 2-1 defeat by Germany in September 2017.

It's hard not to warm to this guy!

The closest Sorba Thomas used to get to Aaron Ramsey and other Wales international footballers was by playing as them on video games.

Now the 22-year-old is training alongside them, having been named in Wales' squad for the first time last week.

The call-up represented a remarkable ascent for Thomas, who was playing non-league football at the start of this year.

Sorba Thomas: Huddersfield winger on his stunning rise from non-league to first Wales call-up

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Getty Images

The Principality Stadium is being considered as the venue for upcoming Wales football matches, says Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney.

Since 2011, Wales have mainly used Cardiff City Stadium for home fixtures.

However, the Principality Stadium was used in October 2018, as 50,232 fans attended a 4-1 friendly defeat against former world champions Spain.

"It's something we could well do. Why not?" said Mooney.

"We have an agreement with Cardiff City Stadium and everyone really likes going there.

"But we'll actually speak to the Welsh Rugby Union late next week. Absolutely we're in discussions with them."

Wales to explore Principality Stadium return from Cardiff City Stadium

In case you needed a reminder of just how good Patrik Schick's goal against Scotland was...

Helen Ward
Wales' all-time record scorer on BBC Radio Wales

With what is available that’s pretty strong line-up.

That back five hopefully makes them very solid in defence and allows Aaron Ramsey, Daniel James and Kieffer Moore the platform to show what they are about at the other end of the pitch.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Getty Images

Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick was in exalted company at Euro 2020, ending this summer’s competition as the joint top scorer alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

Schick also scored the goal of the tournament with his sensational long-range effort against Scotland, a first-time strike near the halfway line which sailed over flailing goalkeeper David Marshall.

However, the Bayer Leverkusen forward does not have fond memories of playing against Wales.

Schick was sent off when the Czech Republic lost 1-0 in Cardiff in March, so the 25-year-old may feel he owes his side a performance tonight.

Wales are midway through their bid to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and the play-offs look like their likeliest route to Qatar.

BBC Wales Sport's Dafydd Pritchard explains Wales' various qualification routes in this handy guide.

2022 World Cup in Qatar: Wales' various qualification routes explained

Image source, Getty Images

Wales boss Robert Page is trying to look to the positives, even without his talisman Gareth Bale.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

Wales make four changes from last month’s frustrating goalless draw at home to Estonia.

As captain Gareth Bale is ruled out with a hamstring injury, Aaron Ramsey returns from an injury of his own to lead the side.

Centre-back Joe Rodon and wing-back Neco Williams are also back after recovering from injury, while striker Kieffer Moore is recalled having missed last month’s matches after being deemed a close contact of Adam Davies following the goalkeeper’s positive Covid-19 test.

The others who drop out from the team that drew with Estonia are defender Ben Davies, who is ill, midfielder Harry Wilson and forward Tyler Roberts.

Wales: Ward; Mepham, Rodon, Ampadu; Gunter, Allen, Morrell, Ramsey, N. Williams; James, Moore.

Image source, BBC Sport

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

Czech Republic make nine changes from their 1-1 friendly draw with Ukraine in September.

Euro 2020 joint top scorer Patrik Schick, who was sent off when Wales beat the Czechs in March, is among those recalled.

The only two players who remains from last month’s friendly are West Ham United midfielders Tomas Soucek and Alex Kral.

Czech Republic: Vaclik; Mateju, Celustka, Kalas, Novak; Kral, Soucek; Pesek, Barak, Hlozek; Schick.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, FAW

Good evening, welcome, or ahoj, as they say in Prague, where the Wales players have been having a nice stroll around the city...

So here we are again, Wales are still battling for a place at the World Cup, but things are not going for them in terms of player availability and if we are honest, it's all about a play-off spot now, Belgium are over the hill and far away.

Wales sit third in their group, level on points with the Czechs with a game in hand but nine points behind leaders Belgium.

With only the group winners qualifying automatically, the play-offs look like Wales' most realistic route to a first World Cup since 1958.

They are already effectively guaranteed a play-off place thanks to their success in the Nations League, but finishing second in this World Cup qualifying group could secure Wales a more favourable draw in that knockout stage.

Manager Robert Page has described tonight's game as "a must-win game if we want to guarantee finishing second," and Wales will need to do it without Gareth Bale and a host of others.

Wales have a tough task ahead; but I want to keep this light and breezy, so I haven't even bothered telling you they have lost to Czechoslovakia or the Czech Republic in every away game in history, losing all six in either Euros or World Cup qualifiers, most recently in September 2006.

Let's have a look at those teams shall we?