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Wales showed their best form in Slovakia, avenging their 5-1 home defeat to the Slovaks earlier in the group phase with some style, and they had star man Craig Bellamy to thank, the West Ham striker scoring twice, assisting twice and generally wreaking havoc for the hapless home side.

Wales went behind early on, some terrible defending first from Joe Ledley and Samuel Ricketts allowing Marek Mintal to finish low past Wayne Hennessey in the Wales goal on only 11 minutes.

And John Toshack's beleagured men looked on the ropes in the opening phase, Marek Cech and Marek Sapara both going close.

But the Welsh got back into it - Simon Davies found Bellamy on the left, and his cute ball into Ledley was complemented by Freddie Eastwood's late run, the Wolves striker scoring his second goal in three international matches but refusing to celebrate.

Bellamy then scored twice in eight minutes (32 and 40), both a result of his searing pace allowing him to latch onto balls over the top and finish with aplomb.

Wales were comfortable and, while Slovakia started the second half with intent and pulled one back through Mintal again following good work by Cech, Bellamy struck again when he totally skinned Maros Klimpl on the left and forced Jan Durica to turn into his own net, much to the chagrin of Davies who had an easy tap-in.

But Davies got his goal in the end when Sam Ricketts found him free in the box after a despairing lunge from Martin Petras, the last-minute strike the Fulham man's sixth for his country.

Wales can only hope for third place in the group, however, with Ireland almost out of it too after they went down to the Czechs in Prague.

Reda Maher / Eurosport