Wales let it all slip in Reykjavik last night in the chill and cold of . Two extra points would have seen Wales stay level on points with Türkiye after their 1-0 win over Montenegro.
Despite the game running away from Wales in the second half, and my word it did, at the end of this game the visitors would have been happy with a point. The first half dominance of Wales cheered on by a superb away following saw a 2-0 internal lead. A lead which looked as fragile as new head coach Craig Bellamy’s second half decision making. Unlike the away game in Montenegro Bellamy couldn’t muster his side to defend their way to three away points and on reflection we’re lucky to get anything at all.
Goalscorer, Harry Wilson summed it up. "After the first half we expected a reaction, we spoke about it, we didn’t deal with it, us front guys have to do more, the balls into us need to be a bit better, but to take the positives from the first half, there were some very good moments, the two goals, we have to learn from the second half. We definitely expected a reaction. Montenegro did it to us last month and we weathered that storm and got the win, it was kind of similar tonight but they had a bit more quality, it showed at the end. I’m fuming with Brennan for nicking the first goal, no, I’m only joking, like he showed in the last few weeks for Spurs, he’s in the right position to get those goals and deserved that, the second thankfully I was able to finish it myself "
The many Swans fans in the away end got to see old timer, Gylfi Sigurdsson in the flesh, and even though it was just a cameo he looked very keen to get the points for his country. The thirty five year old midfielder now playing at Reykjavík club, Valur.
Craig Bellamy on the other hand spoke calmly about his side picking up a point. The two Wales goals were well worked and quite similar in their build up. Surely a well spotted weakness before the game and it paid off.
That’s below.
We saw a calm Craig, he spoke of the absence of Jordan James and Brennan Johnson for Mondays home game against Montenegro after picking up two yellow cards in the tournament. "We've had two yellows which will mean a change on Monday, but it's quite predictable due to different styles of refereeing. It was me learning about the players and them learning from us. It's never good to concede, I don't like it (laughs) we'll look at it again. I felt momentum played a big part. It's about us understanding when to take the sting out the game, which will come."
⚽️ Iceland: Valdimarsson; Fridriksson, Gretarsson, Ingason, Finnsson (Tomasson 46); J.Gudmundsson (c) (Trautason 82), S.Thordason, Willumsson (Ellertsson 46); A.Gudjohnsen (Sigurdsson 84), Oskarsson, Thorsteinsson
Subs: Olafsson, Gunnarsson, Sampsted, Palsson, Hermannsson, Willumsson, Anderson, Johannesson
⚽️ Wales: Ward; 5 Roberts 6 (Cullen 77) 5 Rodon 6 B.Davies (c) 7 N.Williams 8 Thomas 6 (Cabango 77) 6 H Wilson 7 J.James 6 Cooper 6 Johnson 6 (Burns 46) 5 Moore 7
Subs: Darlow, A.Davies, Mepham, Norrington-Davies, Brooks, Koumas, Harris, Sheehan, Broadhead
Referee handled the game badly with so many yellow cards and Wales now picking the pieces out of who is available for Monday night at home to Montenegro.