Wales v Iceland LIVE: Nations League updates as Wales win automatic promotion
Wales 4-1 Iceland: A superb second-half performance secures promotion for Bellamy’s side
Wales beat Iceland 4-1 in Cardiff on Tuesday night to finish top of Nations League Group B4 and gain automatic promotion.
The hosts started slowly and went behind early on after Andri Gudjohnsen turned in the rebound from Oskarsson’s header.
But Craig Bellamy’s side eventually settled and managed to fight back, with Brennan Johnson’s cross the catalyst as it was turned in by the head of Liam Cullen at the far post.
From there, Wales were in the ascendancy, and despite riding their luck at times, the dominance paid off as a lightning-quick counter was finished off by Cullen, who tapped in after Dan James’ shot was saved.
The second half started positively for the home side, and though both sides created chances, it was Wales who struck again after Johnson finished off another quick counter.
Soon after, news broke that Turkey were 3-1 down to Montenegro, and it only got better from there, with Harry Wilson latching onto a loose ball and rifling a long-range effort in to seal a memorable night in the capital.
We’ll have all the latest build-up, news and reaction below:
Hareide: “The pressure is on Wales"
Veteran Iceland boss Åge Hareide says that his side have “possibilities” ahead of tonight’s game.
“The pressure is on Wales. They have their home crowd behind them and they’ll expect Wales to beat us.
“But the possibilities are there for us. We have played there before and we are confident we can do it.
“Craig Bellamy has tried to bring a certain style of play to Wales since he has started and he has done a good job. They have had good results, two draws against Turkey, and have conceded very few goals.
“They are hard to break down, but we will have a go to try and do that.
“It will be like a final. Everyone wants to play in a final, so we are pleased we are in a position to fight for it (second place).”
Match stats
Wales have lost just one of their eight meetings with Iceland in all competitions (five wins, two draws), going down 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier in September 1984.
Iceland have lost their past three away games against Wales. This is their first such visit since a 3-1 loss in March 2014.
Bellamy: “All I care about is winning this game"
Speaking ahead of the match, Wales manager Craig Bellamy said that he doesn’t even “know about the group” or the permutations.
“All I care about is winning this game. That’s the honest truth,” Bellamy dded.
“What will be will be. Just win the games, no matter who it is. That’s surely football.
“How can you set up to give you the best opportunity of winning? Home, away, whatever.
“Whatever happens elsewhere happens. If we draw we deal with that, if we lose we deal with that. T
here’s only three outcomes. How can we put ourselves in the best position to win the game? And that is it.”
Head-to-head
Tonight will see the ninth meeting between these two sides, with the first taking place in 1980. Overall, Wales have won five, two have been draws and only one has ended in an Iceland win.
The last match between the two saw a 2-2 draw in Reykjavik, with Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson getting the goals for Wales.
What could happen to Wales tonight?
There are three different potential outcomes for Wales heading into tonight’s fixture.
Bellamy’s side will win automatic promotion to League A if they beat Iceland and Turkey slip up against Montenegro. However, Montenegro have lost all five of their group matches so far and are already relegated, so this is unlikely to happen.
The more likely scenario is that Wales end up with a promotion play-off against a third-placed team from League A in March. This will happen if they finish second – in other words, if they win or draw tonight.
A loss to Iceland would put them back into third spot, in which case they would then face a relegation play-off with a League C runner-up in March.
Team news
Iceland have made just three changes to the side that beat Montenegro last time out.
In defence, Aron Gunnarsson and Logi Tómasson come out for Victor Pálsson and Alfons Sampsted, while in midfield, Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson replaces Stefán Teitur Þórðarson.
Team news
Wales have made four changes to the side that drew in Turkey. In goal, Danny Ward replaces Karl Darlow, while in defence they move to a three-at-the-back, with Ben Cabango coming in for Connor Roberts.
In midfield, Jordan James and Sorba Thomas drop out in favour of Dan James and Liam Cullen, with the latter moving into the three upfront.
Line-ups
Wales XI: Ward; Cabango, Rodon, Davies; James, Wilson, Sheehan, Williams; Harris, Cullen, Johnson.
Subs: Darlow, King, Mepham, Norrington-Davies, Allen, Koumas, Colwill, Roberts, James, Thomas, Da Silva.
Iceland XI: Valdimarsson; Fridriksson, Paisson, Ingason, Sampsted; Johannesson, Traustason, Þorsteinsson; Gudmundsson, Oskarsson, Gudjohnsen.
Subs: Olafsson, Petersson, Sigurgeirsson, Willumsson, Thorhalsson, Willumsson, Thordarson, Magnusson, Magnusson, Baldursson, Ellertsson.
Team news
We’re expecting the line-ups to be released at around 6.30pm, so here’s a quick reminder of the team news...
Craig Bellamy has no new injury concerns after the draw against Turkey, so all that remains to be seen is whether he opts for a tactical change of personnel against Iceland.
The back four will likely remain the same, with Joe Rodon and Ben Davies trusted at centre-back alongside Neco Williams and Connor Roberts. In midfield, Jordan James and Josh Sheehan could anchor again in the absence of Ethan Ampadu.
Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson’s recent performances have likely cemented their places in the side, though Dan James could replace Sorba Thomas on the left wing.
Mark Harris started at centre-forward in the draw last week, though Lewis Koumas and David Brooks will both hope they did enough to playthemselves into contention for a starting place.
Joe Rodon ready for landmark Wales cap after starring in bruising Turkey clash
Joe Rodon will win his 50th Wales cap on Tuesday after being battered, bruised and cut during the Nations League draw with Turkey.
Rodon produced a player-of-the-match performance to shut out the Euro 2024 quarter-finalists in a bruising 0-0 stalemate in Kayseri.
The Leeds defender was left to nurse a couple of cuts above his eyes after colliding with team-mate Mark Harris, playing on with a headband after requiring treatment for several minutes.
Joe Rodon ready for landmark Wales cap after starring in bruising Turkey clash
The Leeds defender was named player of the match after the Dragons held on for a gutsy Nations League draw in Kayseri.
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