Craig Bellamy remained upbeat after Wales surrendered a two-goal interval lead to draw their Nations League tie in Iceland.
Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson rewarded some incisive first-half approach play to put Wales in command on a freezing night in Reykjavik.
But Wales were hanging on for grim death at the end after Logi Tomasson scored and then forced Danny Ward into an unfortunate own goal at his near post inside three second-half minutes.
🇮🇸 2-2 🏴 SGÔR TERFYNOL
Our third match of the Nations League ends with a draw.
Montenegro next 🔜
💻 https://t.co/Ee3GvSzrRg #NationsLeague | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/Qr8DfmQy38
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) October 11, 2024
Orri Oskarsson smashed the crossbar from 20 yards and Jon Thorsteinsson struck a post as Wales rather fortuitously extended their unbeaten Nations League start to three games.
Wales boss Bellamy said: “I was really pleased. I enjoyed it. I’m a big fan of Iceland so I knew it was going to be a difficult game.
“Of course we were 2-0 up by half-time but my words were: ‘This is going to be a long half’. A very good manager (Age Hareide), we knew being 2-0 down they were going to throw more men at the press because they had to.
“How were we going to find the solutions? Because the solutions were there, but it’s being able to find them at the time.
“There’s a lot to benefit us, especially the second half. It allows us to coach more, it builds a library in the players’ head: ‘Remember this situation, remember when we found this period difficult’.
“They can memorise it. This is our third game together.
“In the long run, I’m really happy. This is not me trying to sugar-coat drawing after being 2-0 up, it really isn’t.
“What I’m telling you (reporters) I told the players. This was really good.”
Bellamy began his Wales reign last month with a 0-0 draw against Turkey in Cardiff and a 2-1 victory in Montenegro.
Iceland’s comeback deprived Wales of joint top spot in Group B4 as Turkey beat Montenegro 1-0 at home.
Turkey now lead the way by two points with Wales hoping to close the gap on Monday when Montenegro, bottom of the group and without a point, visit Cardiff City Stadium.
Johnson and Jordan James will miss out through suspension, adding to a worrying absentee list with skipper Aaron Ramsey, Ethan Ampadu and Daniel James sidelined by injury.
Bellamy said: “We’ve had two yellows which will mean a change on Monday, but it’s quite predictable due to different styles of refereeing.
“It was me learning about the players and them learning from us. It’s never good to concede, I don’t like it, we’ll look at it again.
“I felt momentum played a big part. It’s about us understanding when to take the sting out the game, which will come.”
Iceland are a point behind Wales at the halfway stage of the campaign and host Turkey on Monday.
Manager Hareide said: “Football is a crazy sport sometimes. I have to praise the team that we lifted ourselves and came back in the second half and played really good football.
“We should have won it, and that is the only disappointment at the end.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. The reason why Man City lost 5 matches in a row Erling Haaland lol Cucuruku Cook that thing… This The Man United cycle. This Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, originaltrollfootball, FootballLaughss, PL__OOC)...
The Portuguese has promised to not sign any Sporting CP stars in the winter window.However, all bets are off in the summer, with A Bola stating that Geovany Quenda is the main target.United are said to be preparing an offer of £50M plus bonuses to secure the young winger.Amorim can use Quenda in either wing-back position, while he is also capable of playing in the front three.Another player U...
The Algerian's contract expires in the summer of 2026 and he is believed to be eyeing a move away from Molineux.Rayan Ait-Nouri is wanted by Man UtdThat has put United are on red alert for a player as Amorim has made signing a left-back a priority.He wants to boost his options give Luke Shaw's injury record.Shaw could also eventually move into the back-three once the former Sporting Lisbon manager...
Mohamed Salah has said he is yet to receive a formal contract offer from Liverpool, adding that he is "more out than in" regarding whether he will stay at the club next season.Salah, whose contract is set to expire next summer, has enjoyed an impressive individual campaign, having scored 12 goals in all competitions this term, including a brace in Liverpool's 3-2 comeback win over Southampton on S...
Real Madrid monitoring Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite🚨👀 #Branthwaite is attracting the attention of 🇪🇺 top clubs.📃 #RealMadrid included the CB in their list of potential January targets, while 🏴 teams continue to monitor him ahead of June.💰 #Everton would like to keep him but are also open to evaluating bids >€70m. 🐓⚽ pic.twitter.com/5lpoomMdyp— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) Novem...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. EPL Week 12 Ipswich 1-1 Man Utd Southampton 2-3 Liverpool LOL OUCH Cristiano Ronaldo now has 500 more Goals than Henry When a taxi driver asked Messi to take photo of him with Mascherano... Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Just toon it, trollfootball, The Football Arena, AZR Organization)...
Leicester City open talks with Van Nistelrooy over head coach job🚨🗣️ #Leicester have approached Ruud #vanNistelrooy to explore the negotiation margins to replace Steve Cooper on their bench.📃 David #Moyes and other names are under evaluation, but #LCFC would like to convince the 🇳🇱 manager as a priority. 🐓⚽ #Transfers pic.twitter.com/xsz3TT9q7P— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) November 24, 2024H...
Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe was happy scoring in their win at Leganes.Real won 3-0 on Sunday, with Mbappe opening the scoring on the night.He later told RMTV: "I started well, with rhythm with my teammates, in a different position. As I said the first day I arrived here, I can play in many different positions and I will play to give my best, it is the story of my career, I play on the right,...
Leicester City have confirmed they have sacked manager Steve Cooper. The 44-year-old took charge for the final time on. Saturday, with the Foxes beaten at home by Chelsea in the Premier League.He leaves with Leicester 16th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone after being promoted under Enzo Maresca last season.Steve Cooper after Leicester's 2-1 loss to Chelsea.In a released stat...
Ruben Amorim said Manchester United will have to "suffer for a long period" before his methods help the club enjoy success again after a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town denied the new head coach a debut win in his first game in charge.Marcus Rashford's opening goal after 81 seconds had given United a dream start at Portman Road, but Omari Hutchinson's equaliser sealed a point for Kieran McKenna's team an...
- 1 I am not a lunatic – Craig Bellamy glad to show different side in Wales dugout
- 2 Roy Keane’s daughter pictured with Taylor Harwood-Bellis for first time
- 3 Johnnie Jackson bemoans refereeing decisions after dramatic Dons draw
- 4 Liam Cullen leads Wales to Nations League promotion
- 5 Ex-Prem ace asked Liverpool star for his sister's phone number
- 6 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 7 Mascherano nears Miami; Martino exits
- 8 Mia Khalifa slams rumours of 'affair with ex-Prem star Julian Alvarez'
- 9 Daily Laugh - Antony and his latest ManUtd session
- 10 Chloe Kelly sends fans wild in daring outfit at GQ Men of the Year