Wales received Nations League promotion as Liam Cullen’s first two worldwide targets helped them to a 4-1 victory over Iceland.
Craig Bellamy’s facet accomplished an unbeaten six-game marketing campaign and overhauled Turkey – 3-1 losers in Montenegro – on the high of the group to safe elevation to League A.
That just about actually handed Wales a World Cup play-off place to fall again on ought to they not mechanically qualify for the 2026 match.
Harry Wilson celebrates scoring the fourth aim for Wales
Promotion was achieved the onerous approach following Andri Gudjohnsen’s early strike, and for 25 minutes Wales have been gazing a relegation play-off towards a League C runner-up.
Swansea striker Cullen, profitable his seventh cap, turned the tide with a first-half double earlier than Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson topped victory with great strikes.
It was Wilson’s fourth aim on this Nations League marketing campaign and his twelfth in complete for Wales.
How Wales earned promotion to Nations League high tier
Harry Wilson celebrates scoring the fourth aim for Wales
Iceland will need to have felt at residence in chilly Cardiff with snow showers through the day and temperatures simply above freezing.
Bellamy had not been afraid to make adjustments for the second sport of those double-headers, making 5 alterations in September and 7 in October.
On this event, following Saturday’s creditable 0-0 attract Turkey, Bellamy made 4 adjustments with Karl Darlow, Connor Roberts, Jordan James and Sorba Thomas making approach.
In got here Danny Ward, Ben Cabango, Cullen and Daniel James as Mark Harris, compelled off at half-time in Kayseri following a nasty conflict of heads with team-mate Joe Rodon, retained his place within the line-up. Rodon additionally began to win his fiftieth cap.
Iceland made a quick begin with Ward tipping over Isak Bergmann Johannesson’s drive and have been forward after seven minutes.
Orri Oskarsson stole behind Cabango to satisfy Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s cross and drive a effective save from Ward.
However Gudjohnsen was on the rebound in a flash and squeezed the ball via the legs of Ward with a end his father Eidur, the previous Chelsea and Barcelona ahead, would have admired.
Iceland’s Andri Gudjohnsen opened the scoring in Cardiff
It was the primary time Wales had fallen behind below Bellamy, they usually have been sluggish to reply as Iceland defended comfortably and sprang energetic assaults.
Cullen despatched a grasscutter at Hakon Valdimarsson and drew Wales degree after 32 minutes by nodding residence Johnson’s cross.
Wales survived as Cabango headed away Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson’s deflected cross from below his personal crossbar and Gudjohnsen flashed over.
However Wales completed the half strongly as Valdimarsson denied Johnson and Harris earlier than Wilson received possession on the stroke of half-time with a sliding problem.
Harris slipped James via and his saveable shot was pushed into Cullen’s path, who nudged the ball previous Sverrir Ingi Ingason on the aim line from three yards.
Cullen celebrates placing Wales forward simply earlier than half-time
Valdimarsson saved from Ben Davies and Wilson, however Iceland continued to threaten Ward’s aim and Welsh uneasiness manifested itself in Bellamy being booked for complaining to the fourth official.
Ward reacted nicely to assist Mikael Egill Ellertsson’s shot over and the unmarked Thorsteinsson lacked composure when the ball fell at his ft within the field.
Wales have been in a position to breathe extra simply after 65 minutes after Cullen added an help to his brace, sending Johnson scampering away to bury his fifth worldwide aim low previous Valdimarsson.
Brennan Johnson scores the third aim for Wales
Cullen was additionally concerned within the fourth after 79 minutes, battling for possession contained in the Iceland half.
Wilson did the remainder with an unerring 20-yard shot to substantiate that Wales will now be starting their World Cup marketing campaign somewhat than coming into the Nations League play-offs.
Wales received Nations League promotion as Liam Cullen’s first two worldwide targets helped them to a 4-1 victory over Iceland.
Craig Bellamy’s facet accomplished an unbeaten six-game marketing campaign and overhauled Turkey – 3-1 losers in Montenegro – on the high of the group to safe elevation to League A.
That just about actually handed Wales a World Cup play-off place to fall again on ought to they not mechanically qualify for the 2026 match.
Harry Wilson celebrates scoring the fourth aim for Wales
Promotion was achieved the onerous approach following Andri Gudjohnsen’s early strike, and for 25 minutes Wales have been gazing a relegation play-off towards a League C runner-up.
Swansea striker Cullen, profitable his seventh cap, turned the tide with a first-half double earlier than Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson topped victory with great strikes.
It was Wilson’s fourth aim on this Nations League marketing campaign and his twelfth in complete for Wales.
How Wales earned promotion to Nations League high tier
Harry Wilson celebrates scoring the fourth aim for Wales
Iceland will need to have felt at residence in chilly Cardiff with snow showers through the day and temperatures simply above freezing.
Bellamy had not been afraid to make adjustments for the second sport of those double-headers, making 5 alterations in September and 7 in October.
On this event, following Saturday’s creditable 0-0 attract Turkey, Bellamy made 4 adjustments with Karl Darlow, Connor Roberts, Jordan James and Sorba Thomas making approach.
In got here Danny Ward, Ben Cabango, Cullen and Daniel James as Mark Harris, compelled off at half-time in Kayseri following a nasty conflict of heads with team-mate Joe Rodon, retained his place within the line-up. Rodon additionally began to win his fiftieth cap.
Iceland made a quick begin with Ward tipping over Isak Bergmann Johannesson’s drive and have been forward after seven minutes.
Orri Oskarsson stole behind Cabango to satisfy Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s cross and drive a effective save from Ward.
However Gudjohnsen was on the rebound in a flash and squeezed the ball via the legs of Ward with a end his father Eidur, the previous Chelsea and Barcelona ahead, would have admired.
Iceland’s Andri Gudjohnsen opened the scoring in Cardiff
It was the primary time Wales had fallen behind below Bellamy, they usually have been sluggish to reply as Iceland defended comfortably and sprang energetic assaults.
Cullen despatched a grasscutter at Hakon Valdimarsson and drew Wales degree after 32 minutes by nodding residence Johnson’s cross.
Wales survived as Cabango headed away Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson’s deflected cross from below his personal crossbar and Gudjohnsen flashed over.
However Wales completed the half strongly as Valdimarsson denied Johnson and Harris earlier than Wilson received possession on the stroke of half-time with a sliding problem.
Harris slipped James via and his saveable shot was pushed into Cullen’s path, who nudged the ball previous Sverrir Ingi Ingason on the aim line from three yards.
Cullen celebrates placing Wales forward simply earlier than half-time
Valdimarsson saved from Ben Davies and Wilson, however Iceland continued to threaten Ward’s aim and Welsh uneasiness manifested itself in Bellamy being booked for complaining to the fourth official.
Ward reacted nicely to assist Mikael Egill Ellertsson’s shot over and the unmarked Thorsteinsson lacked composure when the ball fell at his ft within the field.
Wales have been in a position to breathe extra simply after 65 minutes after Cullen added an help to his brace, sending Johnson scampering away to bury his fifth worldwide aim low previous Valdimarsson.
Brennan Johnson scores the third aim for Wales
Cullen was additionally concerned within the fourth after 79 minutes, battling for possession contained in the Iceland half.
Wilson did the remainder with an unerring 20-yard shot to substantiate that Wales will now be starting their World Cup marketing campaign somewhat than coming into the Nations League play-offs.
