John Toshack's side pressed hard in the second half but were unable to find a way past Petr Cech at the Millennium Stadium in the Manchester United winger's final international.

Although a point was not enough for the Welsh, it was sufficient for the Czechs to climb to the top of Group B, albeit having played two games more than previous leaders Germany.

Russia climbed to the top of Group E, England's pool, with a predictably comfortable 4-0 thrashing of Andorra in St Petersburg.

Aleksandr Kerzhakov claimed a hat-trick within 50 minutes before Dmitri Sychev sealed the win.

In Group A, Poland consolidated their position at the top of the pool as they came from behind to beat Azerbaijan 3-1 in Baku.

Below them, World Cup finalists Serbia reignited their qualification hopes with a 2-0 win in Finland which takes them second, above their opponents.

Armenia climbed off the foot of the table, above Azerbaijan on goal difference, with a 2-1 win away to third-bottom Kazakhstan.

Iceland remain bottom of Group F after an embarrassing 1-1 home draw with Liechtenstein, despite Reading's Brynjar Gunnarsson heading them into a first-half lead.