Liam Cullen leads Wales to Nations League promotion

Wales won Nations League promotion as Liam Cullen’s first two international goals helped them to a 4-1 victory over Iceland.

Craig Bellamy’s side completed an unbeaten six-game campaign and overhauled Turkey – 3-1 losers in Montenegro – at the top of the group to secure elevation to League A.

That almost certainly handed Wales a World Cup play-off place to fall back on should they not automatically qualify for the 2026 tournament.

Promotion was achieved the hard way following Andri Gudjohnsen’s early strike, and for 25 minutes Wales were staring at a relegation play-off against a League C runner-up.

Swansea striker Cullen, winning his seventh cap, turned the tide with a first-half double before Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson crowned victory with wonderful strikes.

It was Wilson’s fourth goal in this Nations League campaign and his 12th in total for Wales.

Iceland must have felt at home in chilly Cardiff with snow showers during the day and temperatures just above freezing.

Bellamy had not been afraid to make changes for the second game of these double-headers, making five alterations in September and seven in October.

On this occasion, following Saturday’s creditable 0-0 draw in Turkey, Bellamy made four changes with Karl Darlow, Connor Roberts, Jordan James and Sorba Thomas making way.

In came Danny Ward, Ben Cabango, Cullen and Daniel James as Mark Harris, forced off at half-time in Kayseri following a nasty clash of heads with team-mate Joe Rodon, retained his place in the line-up. Rodon also started to win his 50th cap.

Iceland made a fast start with Ward tipping over Isak Bergmann Johannesson’s drive and were ahead after seven minutes.

Orri Oskarsson stole behind Cabango to meet Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s cross and