Wales v Iceland: Nations League – live

1 month ago 11

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9 min: That goal had been coming. For two minutes. Iceland suddenly turned up the heat, and Ward’s heroics weren’t enough to save the hosts this time. Meanwhile Peter Oh, of 7.46pm fame, can never resist a quip, and returns with another zinger: “Cheers for the Frost-y reception, Scott!”

GOAL! Wales 0-1 Iceland (Gudjohnsen 7)

Ward makes another stunning save, but this time it’s not enough to prevent Iceland scoring. Gudmundsson wedges in from the left flank. Óskarsson heads from close range. Ward sticks up a strong arm to make an outrageous point-blank save, but the rebound falls to Gudjohnsen, level with the left-hand post. Gudjohnsen swivels and slots a low shot under Ward and in.

6 min: … though the same can’t be said for the resulting corner. We play on.

5 min: Óskarsson holds up a long pass down the middle, then lays off to Johannesson to his right. From the edge of the box, Johannesson sends an absolute pearler towards the top-right corner; Ward is behind it all the way, and tips over spectacularly. All action worthy of the entrance fee.

4 min: The first big set piece of the evening. Gudmundsson sends it into a packed mixer. Wilson hooks it clear with Rodon stooping behind him, preparing to head away in case of fresh-air-swipe.

2 min: The usual high-octane start by Bellamy’s people. Dan James attempts the first Bale-esque burst of energy down the left, but Fridriksson won’t be beaten. No Solvi Ottesen he. Not yet.

Iceland get the ball rolling. “When Bellamy talks about players going back to their clubs does he have his golf-club experiences in mind?” wonders Richard Hirst, because somebody had to say it.

The teams are out! Wales in red, Iceland in second-choice grey. We’ll be off in a minute! “Fiery dragon breath melts ice, so the result of this match is a foregone conclusion,” argues Peter Oh, who clearly spent more time at school on thermodynamics than classic American poetry.

Craig Bellamy speaks to S4C. “The players know the art of defending the box extremely well … we have to keep that tonight … defending deep in the box we are exceptional at … freshness is very important … we’re completely aware of the data … some hit a certain level and it wouldn’t be the wisest decision to play them again today … we always want to do well but I want the players to be healthy … in good positions when they go back to their clubs … I’m looking forward to tonight … a really good game the way the group lies … it will definitely be an exciting game … the danger is everywhere … set plays they’re extremely dangerous … forwards very good … experience everywhere else … a good group of young players … I’m very fond of them … it’s definitely going to be a very difficult game tonight.”

Ten years ago, Gareth Bale scored this goal in a friendly against Iceland …

… which proved to be a dry run for this mirror-image peach, scored one month later in the Copa Del Ray final. For the record, Solvi Ottesen and Marc Bartra were the men left spluttering in Bale’s dust. Valgeir Fridriksson and Alfons Sampsted, occupying the full-back positions for Iceland tonight, will doubtless be thankful Bale is all about the golf these days.

Craig Bellamy makes four changes to his Wales starting XI after the goalless draw in Turkey. Danny Ward, Ben Cabango, Liam Cullen and Dan James are in for Karl Darlow, Connor Roberts, Jordan James and Sorba Thomas.

Iceland make three changes in the wake of their 2-0 win in Montenegro. Victor Pálsson replaces the injured Aron Gunnarsson; Alfons Sampsted replaces the suspended Logi Tómasson; and Isak Bergman Johannesson replaces Stefán Teitur Thórdarson, who drops to the bench.

The teams

Wales: Ward, Williams, Rodon, Cabango, Davies, Wilson, Sheehan, Johnson, Cullen, D James, Harris.
Subs: Allen, Colwill, Darlow, Dasilva, J James, King, Koumas, Mepham, Norrington-Davies, Roberts, Thomas.

Iceland: Valdimarsson, Fridriksson, Pálsson, Ingason, Sampsted, Johannesson, Traustason, Thorsteinsson, J Gudmundsson, Óskarsson, A Gudjohnsen.
Subs: Ólafsson, Petersson, Sigurgeirsson, Willumsson, Thórhallsson, Willumsson, Thórdarson, S Magnússon, J Magnússon, Baldursson, Ellertsson.

Referee: António Nobre (Portugal)
VAR: Fábio Oliveira Melo (Portugal)

Preamble

Will this wild and wonderful international break, packed full of exhilarating drama already – Kerem Aktürkoğlu’s missed penalty, Andrew Robertson’s last-gasp winner – deliver one last fingernail-bothering treat? The way Wales have been dishing up the entertainment since Craig Bellamy took over, all signs point firmly to yes. Wales could win automatic promotion to League A tonight. Or they could drop into a relegation play-off. Or they could secure a spot in the promotion play-offs, which could potentially lead to a March showdown with The Joe Jordan Country. Now that would make for some good watching. But let nobody get ahead of themselves: Wales have a job to do tonight in Cardiff, where a draw would be enough to keep promotion hopes alive … but the second-half runaround Iceland gave them in Reykjavik reminds them that nothing is certain. With Turkey simultaneously looking to seal top spot in Montenegro, a riveting couple of hours stretch out ahead. Kick-off in Cardiff is at 7.45pm. It’s on!