In the week, Wales’ head coach Craig Bellamy admitted to having sleepless nights in the lead-up to facing Liechtenstein on Friday evening. Still, after an underwhelming opening 45 minutes, that was all put to bed after a rampant second half.
The small landlocked principality sits 176 places below Wales, and as expected, the hosts extended Liechtenstein’s winless run to 36 competitive matches at the Cardiff City Stadium.
However, it won’t be as smooth sailing come Monday evening in Brussels as they take on Belgium, who only began their 2026 World Cup Qualifiers this evening, as they drew with North Macedonia 1-1 in Skopje.
Wales were without Daniel James due to illness, but he has not been ruled out for Monday’s crunch match in Belgium. Bellamy made five changes to his team that drew 1-1 with North Macedonia back in March.
Whilst Liechtenstein’s national anthem ‘Oben am jungen Rhein’ was being sang, there were some boos (as expected). This was perhaps because the anthem had a similar tune to ‘God Save the King’. With all that said and done, Ferhat Saglam got proceedings underway in the Welsh capital.
It was a fast start from Bellamy’s men, as they piled immediate pressure on the visitors’ back five, with chances coming from both Harry Wilson and Neco Williams in the opening 10 minutes. Sorba Thomas was utilised well down his left wing as he put in some dangerous crosses, but the hosts were unable to capitalise on these chances.
Something that Wales boss Bellamy didn’t want from the game was any injuries heading into the clash with Belgium, but on 23 minutes, Neco Williams was stretchered off and replaced by Jay Dasilva. Shortly following this, Brennan Johnson had a shot on goal, but was expertly saved by Benjamin Buchel prior to the half-hour mark.
Buchel was tested again after an attempted bicycle kick from Ethan Ampadu was diverted off target by Liechtenstein’s keeper. Connor Roberts did hit the back of the net minutes later, but he was denied as he was deemed to be offside.
The deadlock was then broken before halftime as Joe Rodon, on his 50th start for Wales, scored his first senior international goal from a corner. The Leeds United defender has now made more starts than any other player since his debut in 2019.
HT: Wales 1-0 Liechtenstein
Like the opening 45, Wales started on the front foot, but both Wilson and Kieffer Moore missed their chances. With the trip to the Belgian capital in mind, after the hour mark, Bellamy brought on David Brooks, Joshua Sheehan, and Lewis Koumas. They all replaced Johnson, Ampadu, and Thomas respectively.
Then the hosts made a breakthrough as they claimed their second of the contest. This came from replacement Dasilva who made a brilliant cross from the left for Fulham’s Harry Wilson to score.
Quickly following this, the hosts’ lead grew even more substantially. Replacement, Brooks had his shot initially saved, but Moore reclaimed and scored his 14th international goal. With the game won and in the closing exchanges, Wales were unable to add to their tally as they now sit in pole position in Group J with the daunting trip to Brussels on the horizon.
FT: Wales 3-0 Liechtenstein
Player of the Match: Liam Cullen
Attendance: 30,646
Words By Harry Tovey
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