Second string Wales side fall to unlucky defeat in UEFA Nations League opener

A largely second string Wales side put in a good performance in Wroclaw but eventually succumbed to a narrow defeat in their 2022 UEFA Nations League opener. Poland took the spoils 2-1 at the Tarczynski Arena but Robert Page's men will be heartened by their display, ahead of the vital World Cup play off this Sunday.

Wales took the lead in the 52nd minute as a Jonny Williams strike put the visitors ahead but late goals from Kaminski and Swiderski secured the victory for the Poles. Page, as expected, didn't risk the majority of his star players with Sunday's historic play off on the horizon.

This match was the first of a busy schedule for Wales, as they play three home games in a week before finishing with a trip to Rotterdam on June 14. After Sunday's play off, Wales will face the Netherlands on June 8, Belgium on June 11 before the return game against the Netherlands on the 14th.

Wales looked to keep the ball on the floor in the opening exchanges but were guilty of surrendering possession a couple of times. The hosts nearly capitalised on one such occasion when a loose Jonny Williams pass ended with Poland crossing the ball in and Piotr Zielenski headed wide when he should have scored.

The game then settled down and Wales had some decent spells in possession without ever really threatening. Kieffer Moore did have a half chance in the 17th minute after Daniel James broke from midfield before feeding the Bournemouth striker but he couldn't get a good enough shot away and the chance was gone.

Danny Ward then kept the scores level when Robert Lewandowski worked his way through the Wales defence but his effort was palmed wide by the Wrexham-born stopper. It was Wales' turn to go close in the 30th minute as that man James once