Key events
Full-time: Wales 0-1 Denmark
GOAL! Portugal 2-1 Norway (Goncalo Ramos, 80)
GOAL! Wales 0-1 Denmark (Hojlund, 75)
GOAL! Netherlands 2-1 Serbia (Zirkzee, 72)
GOAL! Rep of Ireland 1-1 Israel (Dor Peretz, 47)
Half-time recap
Half-time scores
GOALS! Portugal 1-1 Norway (Ajer, 36 | Cancelo, 38)
GOAL! Rep of Ireland 1-0 Israel (Parrott, 39)
VAR overturns a goal! Greece 0-0 Germany
GOAL! Netherlands 1-1 Serbia (Cvetkovic, 35)
GOAL! Greece 0-1 Germany (Burkardt, 32)
GOAL! Netherlands 1-0 Serbia (Koopmeiners, 31)
Team news: Republic of Ireland v Israel
Team news: Netherlands v Serbia
Team news: Greece v Germany
Team news: Portugal v Norway
Team news: Wales v Denmark
Preamble
Full-time: Wales 0-1 Denmark
Boos ring out around Cardiff as the final whistle sounds.
Spare a thought for Ward. It was his howler that led to the Danish penalty, but let’s not forget that he made two outrageous saves to keep his team in it before then.
Francisco Conceição has been shown a second yellow and is off!
Portugal will have to hold onto this lead with 10 men.
90+1 min: The referee lost his footing in Cardiff, which brings about the biggest cheer from the crowd in this second half. Sums it up.
90 min: A long throw looks like Wales’ best hope here. But another one from the right comes to nothing. They get the chance to hoof a cross from almost the halfway line, but that is easy pickings for the keeper who got a good long sight of it. There’ll be four minutes of added time. They could play for another four hours, I’m not sure Wales would score playing like this.
GOAL! Portugal 2-1 Norway (Goncalo Ramos, 80)
Who needs Ronaldo? With ten minutes left in Porto, Goncalo Ramos finishes off Joao Felix’s assist. Some really neat interplay in the build up with the ball pinging between playters. The dink into the box, the deft touch back and the simple finish. Really neat.
84 min: Getting desperate for Wales now. A long throw from the right comes to nothing. They don’t look like scoring, though their high press – absent before this – has created a change in possession. It’s recycled back but then they lose it again. Just not enough quality on show tonight I’m afraid.
80 min: Ooooh… That was close from Denmark’s keeper. A bouncing ball lost momentum just around the edge of his area. But Hermansen grabbed it on the right side of the line.
Hojlund is off. Bellamy is waving his arms around. He needs a response from his team.
77 min: About ten minutes ago, Haaland was subbed off for Norway (they’re still locked at 1-1 with Portugal). That’s not something that normally happens. Is he injured? Nothing confirmed (or denied) yet. Still, one to keep an eye on.
GOAL! Wales 0-1 Denmark (Hojlund, 75)
A stutter, a delay, and a cool dink into the net after sending Ward the wrong way! Denmark take the lead and their main man celebrates with barely a smile. Ward has had a howler there. Football can be so cruel sometimes.
73 min: Oh Danny Ward! What have you done?! A nightmare for the keeper. A tame pass back is shovelled on and he has no idea that Isaksen is right there, inside his box. Ward tries to make the covering tackle but instead he slams into the Dane and gives away a super soft penalty. Could that be a red card? No. He’ll get the chance to redeem himself.
GOAL! Netherlands 2-1 Serbia (Zirkzee, 72)
Netherlands take the lead! Zirkzee, on as a half-time sub, taps his team ahead. Some neat play around the box had the ball worked to the back post on the left before it was cut back. Zirkzee just couldn’t miss from less than a metre out.
70 min: Denmark break and Hojlund is released down the left. He’s really quick and seems to ghost past the defenders frantically chasing back. He’s on the angle so a shot isn’t on. Instead he fires a low ball across the face of goal. Would have been a tap in. If anyone in white was there.
70 min: Like Germany, Netherlands are bossing the ball, and have had far more attempts at goal, but they can’t break the deadlock with Serbia.
63 min: Johnson, at the back post, lashes over. Brilliance from Williams down the left as he beat Isaksen and delivered a cross from deep. It went over everyone and found Johnson free. It took a while for him to bring the ball under control and perhaps he had more time than he thought. With the ball still coming down he swiped at it but that was always going to be difficult to keep down.
57 min: Germany have had 64% possession, have had 16 attempts at goal to Greece’s two, and have completed almost three times as many passes, but they still can’t break the deadlock.
Meanwhile Wales play their best footy of the night. A long ball switch from Thomas, after brilliant skill, finds Johnson. The winger, running at pace, links with Cullen inside the area who tries to flick the ball on for himself before shooting, but the cover tackle sees it out for a corner.
56 min: WARD MAKES ANOTHER STUNNING SAVE! This one was even better than the first. Brilliant Danish play creates an opportunity for Isaksen on the edge of the area, who times his late run to perfection and meets the dinked cross with his head at pace. He couldn’t have played that better, directing it to the bottom left corner as he was looking at it. But Ward, at full stretch, dived across and tipped it onto the post to keep it out. Brilliant goal keeping.
55 min: Williams darts down the right flank but runs into a corner. So they switch to the left where Thomas whips in a lovely ball at pace. Cullen, inside the area, meets it, but does that come off his shoudler? His back? It’s not his head. At least not enough of it to trouble the keeper. Half a chance goes begging.
GOAL! Rep of Ireland 1-1 Israel (Dor Peretz, 47)
Israel equalise.
50 min: WHAT A SAVE! How has Ward kept Wales level? From about a metre away, Højlund slides in and meets a cross across the ground from the right. He gets it on target – how could he not from there – but the stiff left left leg of Ward kept it out. Great stop!
Just had another look at Kristoffer Ajer’s stunner for Norway.
45 min: We’re back in Cardiff. Wales need a bit more zip on the ball. Ampadu flies into a tackle on the impressive Daramy close to the touchline. There’s no faulting Wales’ energy off the ball. Time to see a bit of quality on it.
Half-time recap
Just had a whip around and taken stock of the games.
Portugal v Norway
Norway struck first through Kristoffer Ajer, but Portugal answered almost immediately with Joao Cancelo. The quick exchange has turned a game that looked poised to settle into a tactical battle into a more open one.
Netherlands v Serbia
Teun Koopmeiners put the Netherlands ahead, but Serbia responded within four minutes through Mihajlo Cvetković. That makes for a lively first half where the Dutch found a breakthrough, but could not make it stick.
Greece v Germany
Germany thought they had taken the lead through Jonathan Burkardt, only for VAR to rule it out. Greece have had to absorb pressure, with Kostas Tzolakis called into action early; the disallowed goal will feel like a reprieve, but Germany are finding openings and seem to be the more dominant side.
Republic of Ireland v Israel
Troy Parrott’s penalty has given Ireland the lead in this closed-door match in Serbia.
Wales v Denmark
Wales began brightly, with Brennan Johnson getting on the end of a Daniel James cross and the hosts finding space down the left. Denmark grew into it and threatened through Rasmus Højlund and Gustav Isaksen, but Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s early injury withdrawal has disrupted their midfield. A goalless first half is just about fair.
Only mitigating factor in the penalty shout is that Isaksen did get the shot away just before he was cut down.
But only just.
Andy Flintoff has been in touch (no, not that one, as he says in his email signature):
That Ben Davies tackle on Isaksen was a foul anywhere else on the pitch – if it’d been the other way round (Isaksen on Davies), the ref would have given it. So why wasn’t it a penalty? It was a late tackle, on Isaksen’s standing leg, after the ball had already gone.
Defenders seem to get away with a lot more if the attacker is in the process of shooting.
I think I agree. He was certainly clattered from behind. Of course they must have checked it. Surprised we didn’t see that overturned.
Half-time scores
44 min: Denmark have a free kick right on the edge of the Welsh box. Isaksen takes it, but he ca’t clear the wall. But he has it soon after and is dinking a cross to the far post where he picks out Provstgaard. Sure, he had company, but he got enough of his head on that and probably should have hit the target from so close, rather than balloon the effort over the bar.
Not sure how Denmark aren’t in front here.
GOALS! Portugal 1-1 Norway (Ajer, 36 | Cancelo, 38)
Bang, bang! Norway opened the lead in Porto after Ajer struck a lovely half-volley (I’ll let you all debate that amongst yourselves), but the hosts hit back almost immediately and levelled up through Joao Cancelo, who struck a lifter on the angle high into the net.
GOAL! Rep of Ireland 1-0 Israel (Parrott, 39)
Who else?! From the penalty spot, Troy Parrott slots home and gives his nation the lead.
39 min: Ampadu needs to step in and make a smart tackle inside his box after a jinking run from Denmark’s Daramy wriggled past a couple of defenders and burst towards the byline. It’s out for a corner. But a big header from Davies sends the ball flying away.
VAR overturns a goal! Greece 0-0 Germany
VAR has the final say in Thessaloniki! Germany are pressing, but they have to wait for their opener.
GOAL! Netherlands 1-1 Serbia (Cvetkovic, 35)
It’s raining goals now! The Dutch held their lead for four minutes before the Serbs came roaring back. Cvetkovic missed – not quite a sitter – a little earlier. But now he’s on the scoresheet.
GOAL! Greece 0-1 Germany (Burkardt, 32)
And another! Sunday night Nations League goals are like London buses, it seems.
GOAL! Netherlands 1-0 Serbia (Koopmeiners, 31)
We have an opener! Netherlands take the lead over Serbia.
But alas! Still no goals across the five games!
Can someone get a move on?
A lovely ball from the right from Isaksen can;t find Hojlund at the back post.
Shortly after Cullen is booked. Bellamy looks perplexed he things, and a few others do too, that the booking should have gone to Mæhle after the pair came together in a hefty 50/50.
28 min: Things have opened up a bit in Cardiff. Denmark definitely enjoying the ball a touch more.
Over in Serbia, Israel work a short corner, but Azoulay’s is blasted over.
Back in Cardiff, Hojlund’s charge towards the box seems to part the Welsh defence. He passes on to Isaksen who can’t work his feet out, and the shot is scuffed wide. But was he clattered from behind? Ref says no and there is no penalty despite the requests.
20 min: Wales get a corner after brilliant work from Johnson down the left gets him to the byline. His cutback just about finds Koumas, but the shot on the swivel is blocked. The corner comes up with nothing, but they’re back on the ball and building from deep.
18 min: Denmark enjoy their longest spell on the ball, but it’s a long way from the Welsh goal. They zip the ball around before forcing a corner that Isaksen takes to the back post. Dasilva did brilliantly to take the ball away from five Danes on this edge of his own box, but he just couldn’t release the ball in time to spark a counter. Very cagey start.
12 min: Still no goals across the five matches. Though Germany have forced Tzolakis into making a save.
12 min: Wales are getting great joy down the left and the cross from that channel to the back post on the right is promising to break the game open.
9 min: Sad news for Denmark’s skipper Pierre-Emile Højbjerg who hobbles off with an injury.
Wales definitely the better of the two sides early doors. James loops a cross to the back post where Johnson meets it first time with a volley, but the angle is tight and in the end it’s neither a shot on target or a cross across the goal mouth to a mate. Thumbs up all round though as the men in red start to find their groove.
On the pitch, Ampadu lets fly for Wales from distance after a great break saw James dash onto a long ball.
Nothin’ doin’ though.
No goals across the five games after around six minutes.
“Hi Daniel,”
Hi Norrie Hernon. Hope you’re well. What’s on your mind?
”The accusation that any Irish player called any Israeli player a “monkey” is completely unfounded, and the FAI are itself investigating whether “monkey” chants were directed at Adam Ida by Israeli supporters at the game last Sunday.
“Not sure if it is deliberate misdirection, but it seems more than a coincidence. Thanks.”
Absolutely. I don’t believe it for a second. If there was any credence in this the players themselves would have reported it. This was simply a ‘journalist’ trying to create a story. Which they did successfully, I suppose.
The Welsh anthem is being sung on my TV.
That’s always a lovely thing to report. If you haven’t heard it live in a sports stadium as thousands of Welsh people – who all seem to have the voice of an angel – then you simply have to rectify that.
Five minutes before it all kicks off.
Here are some quick stats and facts:
Greece v Germany
Greece’s 1-0 win in the reverse fixture was their first victory over Germany in 11 meetings. Dimitris Kourbelis scored the only goal.
Greece lead the group on seven points from three games; Germany are third on four.
Germany arrive after a 2-0 win over Serbia, their first victory under Jürgen Klopp.
Netherlands v Serbia
The Netherlands won 2-1 in Belgrade last month, with Mexx Meerdink scoring twice, including the winner.
Meerdink’s brace came on his first international start, in only his second senior appearance for the Netherlands.
Serbia have lost all three group games so far, while the Netherlands are unbeaten after a win and two draws.
Portugal v Norway
Portugal have won all three group games and lead Group A4 on nine points.
The sides have already met once in this Nations League: Portugal won 2-1 in Oslo, with João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos scoring.
Norway’s Erling Haaland has scored three goals in the group so far.
Wales v Denmark
Denmark beat Wales 2-0 in Copenhagen last month, with Ben Davies turning in Mikkel Damsgaard’s cross before Gustav Isaksen scored.
Wales bounced back with a 2-1 win over Norway on Thursday, their first victory of the group campaign.
Denmark have won eight of the teams’ 12 meetings, with Wales winning four; they have never drawn.
Republic of Ireland v Israel
Ireland won the first meeting 3-0 last week, scoring all three goals in the first 25 minutes.
Troy Parrott has scored three times across Ireland’s last two games: once against Israel, then twice against Austria.
The match is being played behind closed doors at a neutral venue in Bačka Topola, Serbia, after being moved from Dublin.
Ronaldo may have thrown his toys out the cot and stormed off in a huff, but he remains the greatest player his country has ever produced.
Bruno Fernandes says the tantrum doesn’t dilute big Ron’s legacy:
Our first correspondence of the evening is an important caveat from Colm Dowling:
The 2 “journalists” who asked the Irish manager these questions are reported to have been barred by UEFA from the post match press conference by the Irish independent and it would seem one was not happy and came down from the press box to confront the UEFA official.
Three games have already concluded from the Nations League today.
They are:
Azerbaijan 1-0 Lithuania
Kosovo 1-1 Austria
Malta 1-0 Andorra
Not exactly leaping off the page, are they?
Of course, football has played second fiddle in the narrative around the Ireland v Israel game.
Yesterday, a truly remarkable press conference was cut short when one Israeli journalist questioned Ireland’s coach, Heimir Hallgrímsson, on his thoughts around the attempted hijacking of a flydubai flight from the UAE to Israel.
Another Israeli journalist then accused Ireland’s players or calling the Israeli players “monkeys” during their last meeting. An FAI official repeatedly insisted that the claim was “completely untrue” before the microphone was taken away from the reporter.
Team news: Republic of Ireland v Israel
A week after beating Israel 3-0, Ireland meet them again in a match that has been moved to Serbia and will be played behind closed doors.
Troy Parrott and Adam Idah both start, with Jack Moylan behind them. Ireland captain Dara O’Shea is absent after the birth of his child.
Republic of Ireland 3-5-1-1: Caoimhín Kelleher; Jake O’Brien, Jimmy Dunne, Liam Scales; Ryan Manning, Jayson Molumby, Conor Coventry, Jack Moylan, Jason Knight; Adam Idah; Troy Parrott.
Replacements: Max O’Leary, Josh Keeley, Liam Kitching, Joel Bagan, John Egan, Mohammed “Bosun” Lawal, Finn Azaz, Rocco Vata, Killian Phillips, Thomas Cannon, Owen Elding, Chiedozie Ogbene.
Israel make changes of their own, with Assaf Tzur in goal and Dor Turgeman leading the attack. Manor Solomon and Oscar Gloukh are among the attacking options on the bench.
Israel 4-3-2-1: Assaf Tzur; Ilay Feingold, Nikita Stoinov, Idan Nachmias, Roy Revivo; Dor Peretz, Ethane Azoulay, Eliel Peretz; Liel Abada, Oscar Gloukh; Dor Turgeman.
Replacements: Niv Eliasi, Omri Glazer, Eli Dasa, Raz Shlomo, Guy Mizrahi, Omri Gandelman, Manor Solomon, Yarin Levi, Gabi Kanichowsky, Yarden Shua, Tai Baribo, Saied Abu Farchi.
Team news: Netherlands v Serbia
The Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 in Belgrade last month, but the hosts had to work for it: Mexx Meerdink scored twice, the winner arriving late.
Xavi’s side make changes again, with Noa Lang and Teun Koopmeiners starting.
Netherlands 4-3-3: Bart Verbruggen; Denzel Dumfries, Virgil van Dijk (c), Teun Koopmeiners, Micky van de Ven; Ryan Gravenberch, Joey Veerman, Tijjani Reijnders; Crysencio Summerville, Mexx Meerdink, Noa Lang.
Replacements: Robin Roefs, Mark Flekken, Jeremie Frimpong, Jorrel Hato, Nathan Aké, Jurriën Timber, Quinten Timber, Guus Til, Kenneth Taylor, Gjivai Zechiël, Joshua Zirkzee, Ruben van Bommel.
Serbia are still chasing their first points and are hoping the return of 37-year-old Dušan Tadić could inspire an uptick in the team’s fortunes.
Serbia 4-4-2: Vanja Milinković-Savić; Kosta Nedeljković, Srđan Babić, Strahinja Pavlović, Aleksa Terzić; Nemanja Gudelj, Saša Lukić, Aleksandar Stanković, Lazar Samardžić; Mihajlo Cvetković, Dušan Tadić.
Replacements: Djordje Petrović, Filip Stanković, Ognjen Mimović, Filip Kostić, Nikola Simić, Strahinja Eraković, Nemanja Maksimović, Stefan Džodić, Vasilije Kostov, Luka Jović, Dejan Joveljić, Andrija Živković.
Team news: Greece v Germany
Greece have already made history against Germany this Nations League, claiming their first win over them in the reverse fixture.
Now they’re back in Thessaloniki, with a chance to strengthen their grip on a group they surprisingly lead.
Greece 4-4-2: Kostas Tzolakis; Manolis Saliakas, Ntinos Mavropanos, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Kostas Tsimikas; Giorgos Masouras, Dimitris Kourbelis, Christos Zafeiris, Alexandros Kyziridis; Vangelis Pavlidis, Fotis Ioannidis.
Replacements: Odysseas Vlachodimos, Christos Mandas, Triantafyllos Tsapras, Panagiotis Retsos, Giannis Michailidis, Giorgos Kyriakopoulos, Dimitris Pelkas, Thanasis Androutsos, Christos Mouzakitis, Charalampos Kostoulas, Tasos Douvikas, Konstantinos Karetsas.
Jürgen Klopp’s Germany arrive buoyed by their first win under him, but the young side face a tougher test in a raucous Toumba Stadium with 18-year-old Lennart Karl starting for the first time.
Florian Wirtz captains a side with an average age of barely 24. Jonas Urbig keeps his place in goal, with David Raum coming in at left-back.
Germany 4-2-3-1: Jonas Urbig; Philipp Treu, Malick Thiaw, Waldemar Anton, David Raum; Aleksandar Pavlović, Tom Bischof; Lennart Karl, Florian Wirtz (c), Derry Scherhant; Jonathan Burkardt.
Replacements: Finn Dahmen, Noah Atubolu, Finn Jeltsch, Ridle Baku, Maximilian Mittelstädt, Yannik Engelhardt, Said El Mala, Mika Baur, Bambasé Conté, Felix Keidel, Vitaly Janelt, Nick Woltemade
Team news: Portugal v Norway
Is this a new dawn for Portuguese football?
For the first time since he burst onto the scene 22 years ago, a fit Cristiano Ronaldo is not part of his nation’s squad.
That means Manchester United’s skipper, Bruno Fernandes takes the armband. Maybe we’ll see all 10 outfield players do more than jog?
Portugal 4-1-3-2: Diogo Costa; João Cancelo, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; João Palhinha; Francisco Conceição, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes; João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos.
Replacements: Rui Silva, Samuel Soares, Diogo Dalot, Tomás Araújo, Nuno Tavares, João Neves, Rúben Neves, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leão, Francisco Trincão, Pedro Neto, Fábio Silva.
Norway can at least rely on their superstar upfront, but will Elring Haaland be thinking about the troubles facing his club?
Norway 4-3-3: Ørjan Nyland; Marcus Pedersen, Kristoffer Ajer, Leo Østigård, David Møller Wolfe; Sander Berge, Patrick Berg, Martin Ødegaard; Oscar Bobb, Erling Haaland, Antonio Nusa.
Replacements: Sander Tangvik, Egil Selvik, Fredrik Sjøvold, Sondre Langås, Fredrik Aursnes, Thelo Aasgaard, Jørgen Strand Larsen, Ole Didrik Blomberg, Kristian Thorstvedt, Andreas Schjelderup, Erik Botheim, Odin Bjørtuft.
Team news: Wales v Denmark
Three changes for Wales from the side that lost 2-0 to Denmark last month.
Neco Williams, Ben Cabango and Kieffer Moore come into Craig Bellamy’s starting XI. Moore leads the attack, with Brennan Johnson and Sorba Thomas offering support from the flanks.
Wales 4-2-3-1: Danny Ward; Neco Williams, Ben Cabango, Ben Davies (c), Jay Dasilva; Ethan Ampadu, Jordan James; Sorba Thomas, Liam Cullen, Brennan Johnson; Lewis Koumas.
Replacements: David Cornell, Tom King, Chris Mepham, Connor Roberts, Jayden Lienou, Cian Ashford, Daniel James, Joshua Sheehan, Joel Colwill, Wes Burns, Kieffer Moore, Mark Harris.
Denmark 4-3-3: Mads Hermansen; Rasmus Kristensen, Joachim Andersen, Oliver Provstgaard, Joakim Mæhle; Victor Froholdt, Morten Hjulmand, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg; Gustav Isaksen, Rasmus Højlund, Andreas Skov Olsen.
Replacements: Andreas Jungdal, Filip Jørgensen, Lucas Høgsberg, Victor Nelsson, Anton Gaaei, Thomas Jørgensen, Mads Bidstrup, Mohamed Daramy, Mathias Kvistgaarden, Adam Daghim, Kasper Høgh.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
In a normal world, a jumped-up friendly – sorry Nations League diehards – between the teams placed 54th and 77th on Fifa’s rankings wouldn’t be worth a fuss.
But in this world, where bombs fall on hospitals and children starve to death, the meeting of the Republic of Ireland and Israel carries a significance beyond the trite confines of a football match.
What can we say about it that hasn’t already been said? Should it even be happening? Do athletes have a moral obligation to take a stand when their country’s politicians have done little to protect them? Is a footballer tethered to war crimes committed in their name? Or is it possible to set aside mass graves and human rights abuses for a moment and wonder how Dinamo București’s Nikita Stoinov will handle Troy Parrott’s runs?
Football can be an escape from the madness, but sometimes it shines a light on it. To lean into another cliché, this afternoon it will be a bit of both.
There are other tasty games, too. A Ronaldo-less Portugal begin a new era, while Wales have the chance to strut their stuff in front of their home fans. Perhaps those matches will provide enough narrative to avoid difficult conversations elsewhere.
7:45 pm kick-offs:
Do write in with any thoughts, gargantuan or minute. I’ll read every email that comes my way and do my best to keep the chat civil.
