Wales v Iceland LIVE: Nations League updates as Wales win automatic promotion
Wales 4-1 Iceland: A superb second-half performance secures promotion for Bellamy’s side
Wales beat Iceland 4-1 in Cardiff on Tuesday night to finish top of Nations League Group B4 and gain automatic promotion.
The hosts started slowly and went behind early on after Andri Gudjohnsen turned in the rebound from Oskarsson’s header.
But Craig Bellamy’s side eventually settled and managed to fight back, with Brennan Johnson’s cross the catalyst as it was turned in by the head of Liam Cullen at the far post.
From there, Wales were in the ascendancy, and despite riding their luck at times, the dominance paid off as a lightning-quick counter was finished off by Cullen, who tapped in after Dan James’ shot was saved.
The second half started positively for the home side, and though both sides created chances, it was Wales who struck again after Johnson finished off another quick counter.
Soon after, news broke that Turkey were 3-1 down to Montenegro, and it only got better from there, with Harry Wilson latching onto a loose ball and rifling a long-range effort in to seal a memorable night in the capital.
We’ll have all the latest build-up, news and reaction below:
Liam Cullen leads Wales to thrilling victory and Nations League promotion
Wales won Nations League promotion as Liam Cullen’s first two international goals helped them to a 4-1 victory over Iceland.
Craig Bellamy’s side completed an unbeaten six-game campaign and overhauled Turkey - 3-1 losers in Montenegro - at the top of the group to secure elevation to League A.
That almost certainly handed Wales a World Cup play-off place to fall back on should they not automatically qualify for the 2026 tournament.
Liam Cullen leads Wales to thrilling victory and Nations League promotion
Northern Ireland earn Nations League promotion despite draw with Luxembourg
Northern Ireland saw a two-goal lead disappear in the space of three minutes but a 2-2 Nations League draw with Luxembourg was still enough for Michael O’Neill’s side to earn promotion as winners of Group 3C.
Northern Ireland looked to be in control after Isaac Price fired them ahead in the 19th minute and Conor Bradley doubled the advantage early in the second half, but Seid Korac got Luxembourg back into it in the 72nd minute and moments later Gerson Rodrigues fired in an equaliser.
It set up a tense finish at the Stade de Luxembourg but Northern Ireland hung on and the point, coupled with a 1-1 draw between Bulgaria and Belarus, saw them top the group by two points.
Northern Ireland earn Nations League promotion despite draw with Luxembourg
Scotland finish Nations League with late twist as Andy Robertson has final say
Andy Robertson marked his 80th cap with a sensational stoppage-time winner in Poland to retain Scotland’s hopes of staying in the top level of the Uefa Nations League.
A 2-1 victory in Warsaw sent Scotland above Poland into third place in section A1 and set up a two-legged play-off in March against one of the runners-up in the second tier for the right to stay among the elite.
John McGinn put Scotland ahead inside three minutes with his 20th international goal – putting the midfielder ahead of Ally McCoist in fifth place in the all-time Scotland goalscorers’ list.
Scotland finish Nations League with final late twist as Andy Robertson has final say
England’s night of firsts reveals true value of Lee Carsley’s tenure
Sir Alf Ramsey remains the only England manger to win a World Cup, a status he may retain for another few decades, but Lee Carsley can bow out as the interim with a unique distinction of his own. Carsley is the only England manager to win promotion. And if that reflects both the newness of the Nations League and the reality that, in an otherwise successful reign, Gareth Southgate contrived to get relegated, Carsley has at least spared Thomas Tuchel a play-off in his first fixtures and can step down with an 83 per cent win rate. This was the most emphatic. The former Republic of Ireland midfielder oversaw England’s biggest victory over the country he represented 40 times.
Ireland were beaten in the space of eight minutes, when their earlier obduracy became irrelevant as they were reduced to 10 men and conceded three times. Uninspired before the break, Carsley’s team then showed a ruthlessness to capitalise as Ireland capitulated. “I wanted the England team to be exciting to watch and be attacking,” he said. So a November of 3-0 and 5-0 wins, even as the number of withdrawals entered double figures, ranks as a personal triumph.
For Harry Kane, it has been an international break with a difference but it brought a successful end. Dropped for the Greece game, crowded out and frustrated in a first half when he got a booking for wrestling with Jayson Molumbuy, he fashioned the opener with a wonderful pass and scored it from the penalty spot. This, he may have pointed out to the players who stayed away, is the reward for reporting for England duty.
England’s night of firsts reveals true value of Lee Carsley’s tenure
Nations League draw: Date, time and how play-offs work as Scotland and Ireland to learn fate
The Uefa Nations League has undergone changes this season, with the addition of quarter-finals to the knockout stage as well as promotion/relegation play-offs at the conclusion of the first phase.
England have already secured automatic promotion back to League A, through winning Group B2, but there is still plenty to play for elsewhere, with further matches to be played across March and June.
That, incredibly, includes Scotland, who rescued themselves from automatic relegation with back-to-back wins over Croatia and Poland to end the campaign in third place of Group A1.
Andy Robertson’s dramatic winner in Warsaw means Steve Clarke’s side will play one of the runners-up from League B over a two-legged play-off in March, in a bid to preserve their top-tier status.
Meanwhile, Spain are the defending Nations League champions and will be out to defend their crown against the likes of France, Portugal, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands in the Nations League finals.
The draw takes place this week and here’s everything you need to know.
Nations League draw: Date, time and how play-offs work as Scotland learn fate
Johnson reacts
Wales forward Brennan Johnson was also speaking to Sgorio.
“I think it just shows the togetherness from the lads that we’ve showed for a couple of years now,” he said.
“With the game plan and the style of football, I really feel like none of the lads dropped their heads when we went 1-0 down.
“We didn’t really get started which was disappointing, but once we got in our flow, I felt like everyone was really confident, and all of the goals were taken really well.”
Wilson reacts
Harry Wilson is also speaking to Sgorio, and he says that “it’s another great night”.
“We didn’t start to well with conceding but we knew if we stuck to the game plan and kept playing the football that we’ve been showing we can play over the last few games, we knew we could get back in the game.
“To do that so quickly after conceding helped, and from there, I felt like we dominated the game.
“They still had chances, but with the quality we’ve got at the top end of the pitch, we were confident we could get back in the game.”
Cullen: “It’s a dream come true"
Liam Cullen is first to react, speaking to Welsh channel Sgorio, and he says that “it’s a dream come true”.
“Going into this game knowing I was starting, I thought it was about time I got my first international goal. Nicely I got two and an assist for Brennan [Johnson] in there.”
On promotion, he said “it’s something we set out to do”.
“We knew we couldn’t control what was going on in the Turkey game, but we really wanted to put our stamp on this game and win convincingly, so really happy that we’ve done that.”
On Craig Bellamy, he adds: “I think it’s a credit to him and his staff, the amount of work they put in day to day and in between camps, it’s nothing more than they deserve. They make it so enjoyable for us.”
Next up
That result means Wales do not have to play a play-off match in March, so they will start their World Cup qualification that month instead.
They do not yet know their opponents in that campaign of course – the draw for the qualification campaign is in December.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments