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Live ReportMatch Summary
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Following the match, Gemma Grainger’s frustration with the result was evident: “Initial feelings are frustration. I think that we’ve dominated the game but what we’ve learned tonight is that when you play against the best teams, fine margins normally matter and for us today conceding the set play is a disappointing way to lose the game.
“The way we wanted to play is how we played today but we failed to get a goal. We’ve got our style and the way we want to score goals. It’s fine margins.”
Grainger certainly recognises the positives to take from the game and added: “We go home, recover and then all focus is on the Denmark game Tuesday and we will prepare the best we can to put a performance in.”
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Full-time verdict: Cymru enjoyed the better of the possession throughout but were unable to ask enough of Iceland goalkeeper Telma Ivarsdottir when they got into the final third. Iceland rarely troubled Olivia Clark’s goal but were happy to sit deep after Glodis Viggosdottir’s header broke the deadlock inside the 18th minute. Carrie Jones’ effort in the first half was the best Cymru enjoyed in front of goal while they also asked questions late on, but the home side held firm to frustrate the visitors. It wasn’t the start Grainger’s side would have hoped for in the competition but there were positives for Cymru to take into Tuesday’s game as they welcome Denmark, who beat top seeds Germany, to Cardiff on Tuesday.
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Four additional minutes are indicated by the fourth official at the end of the half.
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Substitution
HUGHES Elise replaces JONES Carrie
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Substitution
SVAVA GUDMUNDSDÓTTIR replaces HLÍN EIRÍKSDÓTTIR
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Substitution
MORGAN Ffion Alys replaces FISHLOCK Jessica Anne
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Substitution
BERGLIND ÁGÚSTSDÓTTIR replaces AMANDA ANDRADÓTTIR
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Jones has enjoyed Cymru’s best chance of the game so far. Will Grainger’s side get a better opportunity to level the score?
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Cymru have continued to enjoy long spells of possession but they have struggled to test Ivarsdottir so far in this second half.
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Yellow card
HILDUR ANTONSDÓTTIR
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Substitution
GUDNY ÁRNADÓTTIR replaces DILJA ZOMERS
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Substitution
ROWE Rachel replaces GREEN Kayleigh
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The first card of the evening is shown to Jones as she takes down Magnusdottir with Iceland looking to forge a counter-attack.
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Yellow card
JONES Carrie
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No changes for either team at half time as the second half gets under way.
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Half-time verdict: Cymru will feel frustrated to be behind after the break after enjoying opportunities in front of goal throughout the first half and falling behind from to a corner. Iceland were, expectedly, physical in the opening 45 minutes but – aside from the goal – have rarely troubled Clark.
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Another opportunity for Cymru to draw level at the end of the first half as the ball drops kindly to Jones, who forces a save out of Ivarsdottir.
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Seven additional minutes have been indicated at the end of the first half.
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Woodham has delivered plenty of dangerous balls into the Iceland penalty area but Cymru are yet to capitalise on them.
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The Cymru line-up…
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There’s a stoppage in play for what appears to be an injury for referee Katalin Kulcsár. She is replaced by the fourth official Eszter Urban.
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Holland advances forward and finds space before firing an effort wide of the target.
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Goal. Cymru look as though they should have been awarded a goal kick after good defensive work from Evans, but the referee signals for a corner. The hosts take it short and Magnusdottir finds Viggosdottir, who is on hand to head home. A frustrating goal for Cymru to concede after a positive opening quarter of an hour.
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Goal
GLÓDÍS VIGGÓSDÓTTIR
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A neat touch from Green sees her lay the ball into the path of Jones, whose shot deflects off a defender and rolls into the hands of Ivarsdottir.
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An early opportunity for Cymru as Roberts earns the away side a corner. Woodham delivers and finds Green, who heads over the crossbar.
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The Red Wall are in attendance on a cold Friday evening in Reykjavík.
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The anthems are done and Fishlock gets the game under way at Laugardalsvöllur.
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Live on BBC Two Wales 📺
🇮🇸 Iceland v Wales 🏴
KO 19:00
Commentary on @BBCRadioWales and @BBCSounds 🔊
Follow on the @BBCSport website and app 📲#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/5b3kvWc83f
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) September 22, 2023
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There is action elsewhere in Group A3 this evening with Denmark hosting Denmark in the opening game of the group. The home side, who Cymru welcome to the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday, are leading 2-0 with 20 minutes left on the clock.
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👀 Byrjunarliðið gegn Wales!
🕰 Leikurinn hefst kl. 18:00.
‼ Allir á völlinn!
🎟 https://t.co/JZTo7DLnV2#dottir pic.twitter.com/aRSpLDRMdZ
— Knattspyrnusambandið (@footballiceland) September 22, 2023
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Gemma Grainger has named her line-up for this evening’s fixture. There are two changes from Cymru’s last outing against the USA with Sophie Ingle and Jess Fishlock replacing Josie Green and Hannah Cain respectively.
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👋🇮🇸🏴#TogetherStronger https://t.co/9vHmDoIopp
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 22, 2023
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Lliwiau Cymru ⛰️😍#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/8qHtjFXmmb
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 22, 2023
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Mynd am dro 🚶♀️#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/uP6oQEV4D7
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 22, 2023
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🎙 "We've all played pre-season games with our clubs and we're all injury-free which is the main thing. This is probably the best time to play international football because everyone's fit and ready to go."
The captain ahead of Iceland. 👊#TogetherStronger
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 22, 2023
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"It's a credit to the team that we're in the top tier"
Wales boss Gemma Grainger is excited for the challenge of the inaugural Women's Nations League, with Wales getting their campaign underway in Iceland tonight ⚽
⏰ KO 1900
📺 BBC One Wales 1850#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/6WEukxafwa
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) September 22, 2023
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Cymru captain Sophie Ingle spoke to the media on Thursday ahead of Friday’s game.
“We want to compete against these other three teams. Obviously, on rankings, they are higher than us but we don’t really care about that. We just want to prove to ourselves that we are good enough to compete against these teams and we’re developing as a nation.
“They’re a very physical side and a lot of our girls are small so we have to learn how to battle with them firstly. They are quite a direct team and they’ve got fast wingers so we have to be ready for that as we were in Pinatar.
“We’ve all played pre-season games with our clubs and we’re all injury-free which is the main thing. This is probably the best time to play international football because everyone’s fit and ready to go.”
Watch Sophie Ingle, Angharad James and Gemma Grainger’s pre-match press conferences on RedWall+.
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Ready in Reykjavík ✌️#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/wbjpQ39qFh
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 21, 2023
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DIWRNOD Y GÊM 🇮🇸🏴
Ready to start our #UWNL journey!
KO 7pm BST#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/d8WMUwBlhL
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 22, 2023
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Cymru manager Gemma Grainger spoke to the media after her squad arrived in Reykjavík on Wednesday ahead of the UEFA Women’s Nations League opener against Iceland in the capital on Friday evening.
“We had a really good day travelling yesterday and it’s great to be here.
“Iceland have a very clear style of play and the game we had against them in Pinatar was very competitive. We always want to play as much as we can against the higher-ranked teams, so to begin the Nations League in League A is exactly where we want to be.
“We’ve both played different opposition since our last game in February, so I think this game will be very different. The way we prepare for this game will be exactly how we prepared in February. Whether we’re playing in Pinatar in February, the USA in July or now in the Nations League our preparation is exactly the same.
“Success in the Nations League is us performing and competing. We’re the fourth seeded team in the group so I’m sure externally if we finish fourth we’ll meet everyone’s external expectations, but internally they are very much not our expectations. Our expectations are to perform and, ultimately, we want to qualify for the European Championships so being in League A gives us the best opportunity to do that.”
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Travel to Reykjavík with @lily_woodham_ and @CharlieEstcourt 🤳#TogetherStronger
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 21, 2023
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Gwlad yr Iâ 📍#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/mGp06ANMH8
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 20, 2023
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Next stop, Reykjavík ✈️#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/mFiukpTqHG
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 20, 2023
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Braving the conditions 🌧️#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/YH1attcIRM
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 20, 2023
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💬 "We're looking forward to something new for all of us. With qualification for the Euros being a potential, there's a lot of excitement in the group."#TogetherStronger
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 20, 2023
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💬 “It’s very exciting to be back with the team heading into a new tournament, so we’re all really excited.”#TogetherStronger
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 19, 2023
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Tywydd diflas ☔️#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/FIiLnzr6l2
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 19, 2023
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Spanish lessons with @RazzaRoberts 🗣️#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/8YQG3u9TXe
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 19, 2023
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🎯 @kayleighgreen22 #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/MnNmBOo5Xt
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 19, 2023
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Cymru and Iceland played out a goalless draw when the two sides last met in the Pinatar Cup in February. Iceland have played four games since the tournament, earning victories over Switzerland and Austria, drawing with New Zealand and losing against Finland.
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Cymru returned to camp yesterday and trained this afternoon ahead of the opening UEFA Women’s Nations League opener against Iceland on Friday. Gemma Grainger’s side will train at Hensol before flying to the capital city Reykjavík on Wednesday.
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Back on camp 😁#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/rHw4EAWCQQ
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 18, 2023
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Cymru assemble 🫡#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/XBP7WuzMbY
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 17, 2023
There is no live report available for this match
Cymru captain Sophie Ingle was equally as frustrated and added: “We’re frustrated. We had a lot of the ball, they had one corner and scored from it. I thought we dominated the game. We’ve got belief and I think we can take the positives from the game and put that into Denmark.”