It’s the final game of this Nations League campaign for Wales later tonight in Cardiff (KO:745pm) It’s an interesting tie for a number of reasons.
Wales must not lose that’s for sure. Iceland are two points behind in League B Group 4. If they do defeat Wales they will slip into third place and face a play off to stay out of Group C. If they win then they again face a play off which could lead to League A participation in the next Nations League campaign. It’s a fine balance for manager, Craig Bellamy.
We carried a report on the state of play going into this evenings game on Sunday morning.
That’s here —> ⚽️ Nations League explained
It’s as clear as mud with the prizes awaiting meaning a better pot draw for the World Cup in December, and even the next Euros. But how that goes is not easy to explain at this point. There are more matches to play, despite the mainstream media thinking it’s all over now England have completed their fixtures. The play off dates are in the report above which will mean Wales will have their World Cup qualification stalled to finish their Nations League campaign.
Once tonight’s fixtures are done and the league placing are known there will be a play off draw this Friday. Only then will Wales know their destiny come March.
On the pitch, Craig Bellamy was happy with his sides point in Türkiye on Saturday evening. "I’m definitely happy with the result, but I want more. I want us to be able to go to these top teams and really take the game to the opposition. I want us to be that type of team, where we can have a big say in games. We’re at home, the atmosphere always helps, but we need to be able to play our game. Iceland will be difficult opposition, but can we play our football with and without the ball ? I feel in this campaign our identity has been clear, but I want us to be a top football nation, that’s what I want us to strive for.”
That fighting display in Türkiye (below) will be required tonight.
Age Hareide, is the Iceland manager who took his side to Wembley in June and defeated England. It has to be said despite Wales going 2-0 ahead in the away game in Reykjavik they hung on for a point at the end. This will most certainly now be the most nerve racking and challenging game of Bellamy’s tenure. As we explained defeat will leave Wales in a precarious position in a relegation play off. A win guarantees a play off against third placed team in League A for promotion to the top tier. That will see some cracking games for the public of Wales to watch against the best in Europe.
There is of course another side to this.
Should Türkiye be on the receiving end of a shock defeat in Montenegro later and Wales win they will win the group and go straight through to the quarter finals of the knock out competition. And be promoted to League A automatically. That’s a far off wish as Montenegro have had an awful time in this competition. They are pointless.
However, we look at the league table and a Türkiye draw would leave both top placed countries level, if Wales win. The process for deciding that is complex, however, Wales just have to score three possibly four or more and hope for the best. If Montenegro score a goal the news will fly across Europe to Cymru, it’s a great night of expectation for sure. There’s so many permutations.
Permutations though are the last thing on Bellamy’s mind. "I don’t know about the group. All I care about is winning this game. That’s the honest truth. What will be will be. 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? That’s home or away. Whatever happens elsewhere happens. There’s only three outcomes that’s going to happen, but how can we put ourselves in the best position to win the game. That is it.”
But those permutations are definitely going to change through this evening. We’ve got a Wales football team that are challenging, and going beyond expectations. We have a manager who is undefeated in his first five games in charge, and one more thing.
Twenty seven year old Joe Rodon (above) earns his fiftieth cap tonight. But will he play ? Of course he will ! …
Come on Cymru.