Reply With QuoteJust had a load of pictures through on WhatsApp. Looks sunny but apparently thunderstorms forecast today. Ground looks a bit ropey. Big running track around it. I hate that. They are an abomination at football grounds.
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Venue: City Stadium, Niksic Date: Monday, 9 September Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Live on S4C and BBC iPlayer
Wales will look to build on their promising start under Craig Bellamy when they face Montenegro in the Nations League on Monday.
In Bellamy’s first game at home to Turkey on Friday, Wales thrilled with their adventurous, aggressive new playing style even as they were held to a goalless draw by the 10-man Euro 2024 quarter-finalists.
The next test for that bold approach is an away game against a Montenegro side who lost their opening match in Iceland 2-0.
“Different opposition, different threats, different qualities, different weaknesses, so we'll definitely look to adapt,” said Bellamy.
“I watched a lot of Montenegro leading into this, the game against Iceland, and we’re quite clear about what we want to do.
“If we can follow on from Turkey about how we are without the ball, we cannot let that go.
“When I talk about non-negotiables, that's where it is, and then it will allow us to be able to hopefully have a big impact in the game.”
Bellamy’s appointment in July had already revitalised Welsh football even before his tenure had started in earnest, with fans, players and Football Association of Wales staff all intrigued to see how the deep-thinking former captain would fare.
The game against Turkey fanned the flames of that excitement, with Wales unrecognisable from the team that failed to qualify for Euro 2024.
They were equally impressive in possession – tactically fluid and eager to attack at every opportunity – as they were without the ball, pressing their opponents relentlessly.
Bellamy described the performance as “outstanding” but said there was “much more” to come from his side, stating that would be the worst Wales would play under his leadership.
Monday’s game was meant to be played at the Podgorica National Stadium but, because the pitch there was deemed unplayable, the fixture had to be switched to Niksic, 53km away from the Montenegrin capital.
Speaking in Podgorica before travelling to Niksic on Monday, Bellamy was not bothered by the change.
“There are really no excuses. Where does it get you? It's just so what? It's normal. Nothing's supposed to go straightforward,” he said.
“That's what it is. Can we go out there and be the best we can be? That is it.
“I've watched a lot of them [Montenegro], people have been here to have a look at everything. We're aware of where we're going.
“There’s a running track around the pitch, which is a little bit different. Hopefully we'll have ball boys on the side because we could lose 20 to 30 seconds for every throw-in. It does happen.
“We'd really like the game to go quick, quick, quick. But we'll have to wait and see on that. They might want the game to go really quick and we might want to slow it down. It's just adapting. All different challenges, every challenge you learn more about individuals and as a group.”
Bellamy also confirmed he has a fully fit squad to choose from, with striker Kieffer Moore available having sustained a cut to his head after coming on as a substitute during the game against Turkey.
Match facts
- This will be the third time Montenegro have hosted Wales with the Brave Falcons winning the previous two, 2-1 in August 2009 and 1-0 in September 2010.
- Wales will meet Montenegro for the first time since September 2011, a 2-1 win at Cardiff City Stadium.
- Montenegro have won their past two competitive home internationals and are aiming to win three such games in a row for only the second time, after also doing so in October 2010 when the second of those wins came against Wales.
- Wales have won just one of their past nine away matches in all competitions (three draws, five defeats) – the Dragons last recorded just one away win over a 10-game period back in 1991 under Terry Yorath.
- Montenegro have lost their past three matches in a row, losing to Belgium, Georgia and Iceland. They have not had a worse run of defeats since losing four consecutively between October 2015 and March 2016.
- Wales have gone four consecutive internationals without a goal for the first time since September 2012. They have not had five games in a row without a goal since between March and September 2005.
- Having won each of their first three games against home nations (Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland), Montenegro have since failed to win any of their past seven against such opposition (three draws, four defeats), losing each of the past three.
- Aaron Ramsey had five shots in his first game under Bellamy against Turkey, more than he managed in any appearance under either Ryan Giggs or Rob Page; it was his most in a Wales game since September 2017 against Moldova (10 under manager Chris Coleman).
Just had a load of pictures through on WhatsApp. Looks sunny but apparently thunderstorms forecast today. Ground looks a bit ropey. Big running track around it. I hate that. They are an abomination at football grounds.
I'm on the coast in Croatia at the moment. Weather been 30 degs every day for the past week or so that we've been here and sunshine all the way. Today a storm has hit. I'm not far from Montenegro and if it's anything like it is here it's going to be very wet and very windy. Although still warm.Originally Posted by Citizen's Nephew
Is this game on YouTube?
Bellamy described the performance as “outstanding” but said there was “much more” to come from his side, stating that would be the worst Wales would play under his leadership.
A bit naive for him to say that it will be the worst they play under his leadership.
If not, we're in for unbelievably good times ahead.
Our waiter’s just said the game will be cancelled
S4C 👍🏻
Wonky Sheep had to cancel a flight from Cardiff and some fans decided to fly from London instead. If the game’s cancelled because of the weather then that’s gotta sting. I hope it’s all OK. Crazy weather.
The venue had to be changed too I think. What is it about Montenegro and us?!! 😮
The Cardiff flight was cancelled because the plane was hit by a bird! Nothing to do with the weather. A replacement plane was arranged but no crew available so the whole trip was cancelled 😮…I’m reporting live with my iPhone from a sofa in Grangetown! 💪🏴
Can’t figure out why the original crew couldn’t staff the replacement plane. My mates were told to wait at home rather than go to the airport. They were informed of the cancellation around 4ish yesterday afternoon. The original plane must have collided with an ostrich!!!!
maybe it wasn't in Cardiff when it hit the bird
That’s a point, ostriches are thin on the ground in Rhoose.
I'd take a shit performance and 3 points tonight.
Gonna be interesting to see if we can maintain Friday's tempo. Quick turnaround from then and there's not much squad depth. Happy to proven wrong on that.
Is the game only available to watch with Welsh language comms?
You'll be pleased to know that you can get it in Montenegrin as well
Excellent, I'll understand that just as muchYou'll be pleased to know that you can get it in Montenegrin as well
I used to put the radio comms on and mute the TV (well, my old man loved doing it) but the radio is a ahead of the TV, or the other way.Excellent, I'll understand that just as much
No one really needs a commentary do they?
Team news from FAW
Cymru Head Coach Craig Bellamy has made five changes to his starting line-up for the UEFA Nations League match against Montenegro this evening.
Ben Davies captains the side while goalkeeper Karl Darlow makes his Cymru debut. Kieffer Moore returns to the starting line-up while Oli Cooper and 18-year old Lewis Koumas both make their first senior international starts.
Captain Aaron Ramsey, Jordan James, Sorba Thomas, Brennan Johnson and goalkeeper Danny Ward are all named on the bench after starting in the 0-0 draw against Türkiye in Cardiff on Friday night.
How we getting on?
TV can be as much as a minute behind the actual game, radio not so much. I usually wait for s break in play, like a goal kick or throw in and pause the TV. Restart it when the radio commentary catches up. Just be careful though if you have any goal notifications turned on as you'll get that before seeing the actual goal 😊
Not keen on the line up!
If the TV is behind the radio and you pause it then surely it will be further behind. Don't you need to pause the radio while the TV catches up?
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