Iceland vs Wales LIVE: Nations League result and reaction as Craig Bellamy’s men hang on for draw
Iceland 2-2 Wales: Craig Bellamy continues his unbeaten run as Wales boss
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Your support makes all the difference.Iceland secured a comeback draw against Wales in the Nations League in a match of two halves played out in the cold conditions of Reykjavik.
Wales started the game as the more aggressive and competant side. They were free flowing and in control of the ball in the midfield areas. This dominance resulted in two eerily similar goals. Neco Williams with a long ball over the top, Harry Wilson with a run from deep in behind the defence.
Wilson’s first effort was cleared off the line by Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson only for Brennan Johnson to tap in the rebound. The second effort was coolly dispatched by the midfielder meaning the Dragons led 2-0 at half-time.
But they never got going again. Substitutions and an intense press from Iceland saw them turn the game around. The hosts were unafraid to shoot from even half-decent positions and Logi Tomasson netted twice to draw level. From there Wales were clinging on and managed to keep out the hosts to earn themselves a good point.
Relive the Nations League action with our live blog below:
Kick off! Iceland 0-0 Wales
Iceland get the ball rolling and work it to their defence. It’s then booted over to the right wing but bounces out of play for a Wales throw in.
Iceland vs Wales
Here come the players.
The teams head out onto the pitch and the national anthems are played. Kick off is up next...
No Allen in Wales squad
Joe Allen overturned his own international retirement but will not be involved tonight despite returning to the Wales squad for this camp.
Regardless, Joe Rodon says the veteran Swansea City midfielder has had a big impact on the players.
Craig Bellamy urges Aaron Ramsey not to take coaching role while still playing
Craig Bellamy has warned his Wales captain Aaron Ramsey against taking up a player-coach role at Cardiff.
Ramsey was recently awarded his Uefa A Licence and has been linked with a Cardiff coaching job following the sacking of Erol Bulut and the interim appointment of Omer Riza.
But Wales manager Bellamy believes combining playing and coaching roles do not mix after watching Vincent Kompany undertake both jobs for Anderlecht when he was working at the Belgian club.
Craig Bellamy urges Aaron Ramsey not to take coaching role while still playing
The injured Dragons skipper will miss upcoming Nations League ties against Iceland and Montenegro.
Iceland vs Wales talking points
Familiar face
A familiar face to Welsh fans in Iceland ranks is the former Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson.
The 35-year-old, who has scored 27 goals in 82 Iceland appearances, spent three years at Swansea between 2014 and 2017 before joining Everton in a deal worth around £45m.
Sigurdsson, now playing club football at Valur in his homeland, is still going strong in an Iceland squad that also features former Burnley midfielder Johann Berg Gudmundsson and highly-rated Real Sociedad forward Orri Oskarsson.
Iceland vs Wales talking points
Absent Ampadu
The loss of Leeds midfielder Ethan Ampadu for the rest of the Nations League campaign is a huge blow to Wales.
Ampadu, who is not expected to return until January after sustaining a knee ligament injury, has become a real Wales leader and a key player in the midfield engine room.
The 24-year-old’s composure and passing vision are real assets to how Bellamy wants to play, and filling that central void will be pivotal as Wales tackle their October and November double-headers.
Iceland vs Wales talking points
Allen returns
After 20 months in international retirement, Joe Allen is back and ready to represent Wales once again.
The 74-times capped 34-year-old is among Wales’ greatest-ever midfielders and has played at two European Championships and a World Cup.
Injuries have taken their toll on the Swansea veteran but his experience in the dressing room will be invaluable for Bellamy, who believes Allen still has enough left in the tank to make his mark for Wales.
Iceland vs Wales talking points
Johnson in form
Every Wales supporter will hope Brennan Johnson can transfer his Tottenham form to the international stage.
Johnson has scored in six successive Spurs games to underline Bellamy’s assertion the winger is worth at least £80m.
The 23-year-old has yet to spark consistently for Wales, scoring three times in 30 appearances, but he has never joined up with the Dragons before in such a rich vein of form.
Iceland vs Wales talking points
Bellamy’s rebuild
Wales boss Craig Bellamy will be determined to build on a promising start that saw the players instantly take on board his ideas.
Bellamy said a lot of information was delivered by him and his coaching staff in a short space of time before September’s opening two Nations League fixtures.
The aim now is that Wales will be even better this month after more time spent on the training pitch and in the meeting room.
Wales players receiving support over Baldock’s death
“It really hit home last night. It was really sad news and your feeling goes to the family first,” Bellamy said at his press conference ahead of Friday’s Group B4 clash in Reykjavik.
“I was speaking to his brother Sam (an academy coach at Brighton) the other day at a game. A lot of our players have played against him and, of course, we have players who have played with him and been close to him for a number of years. We have staff who have been with him for a number of years as well.
“You look at your group of players and we’ve been in communication with them. We have a good support network here with the FAW (Football Association of Wales).
“We’ve been on hand with that and we’ve spoken this morning about it. Their clubs are able to lend a hand as well.
“I love football, but it isn’t the most important. It really isn’t. The players’ well-being is the most important, and that’s where my mind was and it is now.
“I’ll speak to one or two players again. As long as they are OK, that’s the most important thing in such difficult circumstances.”
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