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Iceland football host Wales football in the Nations League this evening in what is a crucial match in Group B4. Craig Bellamy’s side currently sit second in the table but are only one point ahead of tonight’s opponents as they attempt to qualify for promotion to the league above.
Wales have made a strong to life under Craig Bellamy who has introduced a more attacking-minded style of play with players given freedom to get up the pitch. Bellamy’s first match ended in an impressive draw against Turkey which was then followed by a very good performance in a 2-1 away win against Montenegro.
The former Wales captain succeeded Rob Page as manager in July and securing a route to the top flight of the Nations League would be an immediate success.
However, Iceland are no pushovers. They famously beat England at Wembley earlier this year and challenged Turkey before slipping to a 3-1 loss last time out. Freezing temperatures will greet the Welsh squad in Reykjavik and Iceland will be more used to the drastic conditions.
Follow all the Nations League action with our live blog below:
Iceland 0-2 Wales
36 mins: Gudmundsson comes close for Iceland by taking a direct free kick. He goes for goal, strikes the effort well and makes Danny Ward work.
The goalkeeper leaps to the left but the shot is always curling over the top.
Mike Jones11 October 2024 20:22
Iceland 0-2 Wales
Brennan Johnson is booked for a shove on Thorsteinsson after being provoked by the Iceland winger. The yellow card means that Johnson will miss Wales’ next match.
Mike Jones11 October 2024 20:18
Iceland 0-2 Wales
32 mins: Craig Bellamy is beeming on the sidelines. Two goals to the good and very solid at the back…
Andri Gudjohnsen meets a cutback and shoots. The ball is tracking towards the goal but Neco Williams scrambles back to clear the ball off the line!
Mike Jones11 October 2024 20:17
GOAL! Iceland 0-2 Wales (Harry Wilson, 29’)
It’s almost a carbon copy of the first goal!
Neco Williams with the pass over the top, Harry Wilson with the run from deep. He gets in behind the fullback, takes the ball into the box then slots it past the goalkeeper.
Mike Jones11 October 2024 20:15
Iceland 0-1 Wales
29 mins: Wales break through Neco Williams who looks sharp. He drifts into the midfield the gets clattered by Stefan Teitur Thordarson.
He collects a yellow card and will miss the next match for Iceland. Williams is lucky to bounce back from that challenge. It was a cruncher.
Mike Jones11 October 2024 20:14
Iceland 0-1 Wales
26 mins: As things currently stand Wales are heading to the top of Group B4 as they lead by a goal here in Iceland. To be honest, they’ve looked fairly comfortable though Thorsteinsson is causing issues on the left wing.
Close! Harry Wilson cuts onto his left side and shoots. The effort takes a deflection, beats the goalkeeper and bounces off the post!
Mike Jones11 October 2024 20:11
Iceland 0-1 Wales
23 mins: Wales win possession in the middle of the pitch and find Harry Wilson. He spins and links up with Brennan Johnson who carries it closer to the box.
Johnson sends it back to Wilson who flicks a cross, with the outside of his boot, over to the far side of the area but Iceland deal with it easily enough.
Mike Jones11 October 2024 20:07
Iceland 0-1 Wales
20 mins: Wales win a free kick after Kieffer Moore is taken out. Harry Wilson chips the ball to the right side of the pitch where it is poked back towards Moore.
He touches it into the path of Valdimarsson who clings onto the ball.
Mike Jones11 October 2024 20:05
Iceland 0-1 Wales
17 mins: A nice move on the left wing sees Thorsteinsson and Finnsson combine to work the ball into the penalty area. Finnsson attempts to cut it back to a teammate but his cross is blocked.
A second cross sails over the head of everyone and Danny Ward plucks it out of the air.
Mike Jones11 October 2024 20:02