Can Cymru Stop Haaland and Kick-start Their Nations League Campaign?
THE Red Wall is back in Cardiff – and Wales could probably do with its help.
After opening their latest UEFA Nations League campaign with difficult away matches against Portugal and Denmark, Craig Bellamy’s side finally return to the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday night when they face a Norway team containing one of the most feared goalscorers on the planet.
And there is already more than a little pressure attached.
Wales lost 1-0 to reigning Nations League champions Portugal in Lisbon before going down 2-0 against Denmark in Copenhagen, leaving them still searching for their first point – and their first goal – of the campaign.
Norway, meanwhile, arrive in Cardiff with three points from their opening two matches after beating Denmark 3-2 and then losing 2-1 at home to Portugal.
So can home advantage help Cymru get their League A campaign moving?
Why is Wales v Norway such an intriguing match?
Partly because this is no ordinary Norwegian team.
Norway returned to the World Cup stage this summer and produced one of the most eye-catching results of the tournament, beating Brazil 2-1 in the last 16 before taking England to extra time in the quarter-finals and eventually losing 2-1.
At the heart of their attacking threat is, of course, Erling Haaland.
The Manchester City striker scored twice in Norway’s opening 3-2 Nations League victory over Denmark and entered this international window with an extraordinary 65 goals from just 57 appearances for his country.
Stopping Haaland will be one of the toughest assignments Wales face all year.
But Norway are not simply a one-man team.
Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard provides creativity in midfield, while Oscar Bobb, Antonio Nusa, Sander Berge and Jørgen Strand Larsen are among a squad containing considerable experience of football in Europe’s major leagues.
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What has happened to Wales so far?
The bare statistics – played two, lost two, scored none – do not tell the entire story.
Wales produced an encouraging performance against Portugal and came close to an equaliser, with Brennan Johnson hitting the bar during a frantic second-half opportunity.
Denmark proved a different proposition.
Bellamy made six changes in Copenhagen but Wales struggled for long periods before an own goal from captain Ben Davies and a Gustav Isaksen strike gave Denmark a 2-0 victory. Connor Roberts twice tested the Danish goalkeeper, while Sorba Thomas also went close, but Wales returned home without a point.
Bellamy did not attempt to disguise his disappointment afterwards, while midfielder Ethan Ampadu admitted Wales had not reached the standards they expect of themselves.
That makes Thursday night particularly interesting.
We have seen throughout Bellamy’s time in charge that he wants Wales to be brave with the ball rather than simply retreat when faced by high-quality opponents. Doing that against Haaland, Ødegaard and company could provide one of the biggest tests yet of his developing team.
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Wales have been hit by absences
This international window was always likely to test the depth of Bellamy’s squad.
Joe Rodon and Dylan Lawlor were among those unavailable through injury when the original squad was announced, while Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead and Karl Darlow subsequently withdrew.
Joe Taylor, Charlie Savage and goalkeeper David Cornell were brought into the squad as replacements.
Wilson’s absence is particularly significant. He has become one of Bellamy’s most influential attacking players, and Wales have yet to find the net without him during this Nations League campaign.
There are opportunities, though.
Lewis Koumas impressed against Portugal, Sorba Thomas provided one of Wales’s brighter attacking outlets in Denmark and Savage was handed his first competitive international start in Copenhagen.
Brennan Johnson remains perhaps Wales’ greatest individual attacking threat, while Bellamy must decide whether the physical presence and experience of Kieffer Moore is required from the start against Norway.
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How does Group A4 stand?
After two matches, defending champions Portugal have six points, while Denmark and Norway each have three. Wales are fourth without a point.
That does not make Thursday a must-win match in the literal sense – there are still four games remaining – but a positive result would dramatically change the mood surrounding the campaign.
The top two teams progress to the Nations League quarter-finals, while the positions further down the table also matter because of UEFA’s promotion and relegation arrangements.
And Wales have another home match almost immediately afterwards.
Denmark arrive at Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday, meaning the next few days could have a huge influence on how Wales’s return to League A ultimately develops.
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When did Wales last play Norway?
Here is where the Red Wall can find a rather more encouraging statistic.
The countries have not met since November 2011, when Wales beat Norway 4-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium.
And there are some very familiar names attached to that afternoon.
Gareth Bale opened the scoring, current Wales manager Craig Bellamy made it 2-0 and substitute Sam Vokes struck twice in the closing minutes.
Wales’ overall record against Norway is remarkably even: three wins, four draws and four defeats from their 11 previous senior meetings.
More intriguingly, Wales have never lost to Norway at the Cardiff City Stadium.
They won that 2011 encounter 4-1, while an earlier World Cup qualifier at the Millennium Stadium in 2000 finished 1-1.
Thursday’s Norwegian side, however, may be the strongest Wales have faced.
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Who should Wales watch?
There is an obvious answer beginning with H.
Haaland’s strength, movement and extraordinary finishing ability mean Wales cannot afford lapses of concentration around their penalty area.
But preventing the supply may be every bit as important as marking the striker himself.
Ødegaard’s ability to find space and unlock defences, the pace and direct running of Nusa and Bobb, and Norway’s willingness to attack quickly make them dangerous from several areas of the pitch.
Wales will need a major defensive performance – but simply sitting deep and hoping to survive hardly seems likely to fit Bellamy’s philosophy.
That could make this a fascinating evening.
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What time is Wales v Norway and how can I watch it?
Wales face Norway at the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday, October 1, with kick-off at 7.45pm.
S4C’s Sgorio Rhyngwladol coverage starts at 7.20pm, with the match available on S4C, S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer.
The fixture is followed just three days later by Wales v Denmark, again at the Cardiff City Stadium at 7.45pm on Sunday, October 4.
For Wales, these are the nights they worked to earn.
Bellamy’s unbeaten first Nations League campaign took Cymru out of League B and back among Europe’s elite. Now comes the difficult part – proving they belong there.
Portugal and Denmark have demonstrated the standard.
Norway – Haaland, Ødegaard and all – provide the next examination.
But this time Wales have the Red Wall behind them.
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Did Ewe Know?
Erling Haaland is already the highest goalscorer in the history of the UEFA Nations League. UEFA confirmed this week that the Norwegian sits at the top of the competition’s all-time scoring list – meaning Wales will not merely be trying to stop one of world football’s most prolific strikers on Thursday, but the most prolific striker the Nations League has yet seen.