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Poland: Szczesny; Bednarek, Glik, Kiwior; Bereszynski, Krychowiak, Zurowski, Zalewski; Zielinski, Lewandowski (C), Swiderski. Subs: Skorupski, Dragowski, Gumny, Kedziora, Wieteska, Milik, Piotrowski, Grosicki, Skoras, Kaminski, Szymanski, Piatek.
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Thursday’s defeat to Belgium, their habitual opponents, showed the size of the task that may await Rob Page in Qatar. The second-half display, which raised the hackles of Roberto Martinez so much he got himself sent off, at least suggested that all is by no means lost. These Nations League matches, competitive as they technically are, are warmups for what comes in November, but like the English the Welsh are set to be relegated from the top tier unless they beat the Poles tonight. Page’s men have not won their last four matches, not ideal preparation for the World Cup but Gareth Bale is likely to be involved from the start.
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As for the Poles, they are readying themselves for a World Cup group involving Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Argentina, and coming off a 2-0 loss to the Netherlands on Thursday.
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There’s some other big matches played this evening to keep you updated on, with Denmark taking on France, and the Netherlands taking on the Belgians. The Nations League: it’s relentless.
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Key events
Ben Fisher is our man in Cardiff tonight, and he’ll be filing the full-time report later.
He’s been in the Wales camp, and listening to what the likes of Rob Page and Gareth Bale have to say.
Page: “We’ve got a job in hand that we’re fully focused on. As soon as the final whistle has gone we’ll be preparing for the World Cup.”
Bale: “I am closer than I have been in the last few years, for sure,” Bale says. “It’s about playing minutes and games and I’m starting to do that a lot more often now. The more I play, the fitter I’ll get. Hopefully, I can start to peak and get stronger and stronger as quickly as possible.”
for the record, Big Vinny Janssen has scored six in five for Royal Antwerp.
Some Premier League legends in herenot least Spurs icon Vincent Janssen, and that Belgium team features Jan Verthongen and Toby Alderweireld.
𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗕𝗢𝗬𝗦 vs Belgium! 💥🇧🇪#NationsLeague #NEDBEL pic.twitter.com/RdFcNg2Zd6
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) September 25, 2022
n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/OnsOranje/status/1574085579603673088?s=20&t=PhhR7jFvfjOfKAK-cPz6pA”,”id”:”1574085579603673088″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”: “inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”cb8f736c-8089-4ee1-9f7d-b143e224a7de”}}”/>
The 1️⃣1️⃣ Devils for the Derby der Lage Landen! ⚔️ #SelectedbyPwC #NEDBEL #DEVILTIME pic.twitter.com/do0z28FA7E
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) September 25, 2022
n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/BelRedDevils/status/1574086222078742528?s=20&t=PE1K1VGZlcApYhjseT09Mw”,”id”:”1574086222078742528″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline “,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”ce0db7a9-6f57-48bb-8f71-bd0a28721c33″}}”/>
Denmark v France features some rather exciting players, Arsenal fans can either enthuse or look through their hands as William Saliba starts. Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni of Real Madrid in partnership.
🇩🇰 433 it is – Denmark’s starting lineup vs. French:#ForDanmark #NationsLeague https://t.co/aML2P35Kjw pic.twitter.com/DMfbCKzvkX
— DanishFootball (@DanishFooty365) September 25, 2022
n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/DanishFooty365/status/1574088035955666944?s=20&t=twzhDggpcf8AxAZqg7Vb7w”,”id”:”1574088035955666944″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline “,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”5e7d672c-b7d8-4c18-b856-a23f1ec8a417″}}”/>
The 1️⃣1️⃣ who debuted face au Danemark! @AntoGriezmann capitaine ce soir 🔥
Coup d’envoi at 8:45 p.m. south @TF1 📺#DANFRA | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/Y7zvTVV4Pk
— Team of France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) September 25, 2022
n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/equipedefrance/status/1574089844174856195?s=20&t=8AAy81048Vv6oPcne9GBPw”,”id”:”1574089844174856195″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline “,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”fedf6be1-345c-42df-96db-fe6f3fb69f5b”}}”/>
Four Welsh changes from the team that lost to Belgium. Mepham, Ampadu, Smith and Moore out. Cabango, Morrell, Levitt and Bale in.
Three Polish changes but the same back three from the loss to the Netherlands.
It’s Bale v Lewandowski in the battle of the captain’s armbands.
Per PA Mean:
Skipper Gareth Bale was back in the Wales starting line-up for their Nations League relegation decider with Poland in Cardiff
Bale, who was a second-half substitute in Belgium on Thursday after arriving late due to his playing commitments in the United States, was one of four changes alongside Ben Cabango, Dylan Levitt and Joe Morrell.
Suspended pair Chris Mepham and Ethan Ampadu, as well as Matt Smith and Kieffer Moore, dropped out with Wales knowing only victory was enough to keep them in League A.
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski captained a Poland side who needed to draw or win to stay in the top tier of European football.
The teams – Bale starts
wales: Hennessey; Cabango, Rodon, Norrington-Davies; C Roberts, Morrell, Levitt, N Williams; Johnson, Bale (C), James. Subs: Gunter, Colwill, Smith, Roberts, Ward, Moore, Burns, Williams, M Harris, King, Thomas, James
Poland: Szczesny; Bednarek, Glik, Kiwior; Bereszynski, Krychowiak, Zurowski, Zalewski; Zielinski, Lewandowski (C), Swiderski. Subs: Skorupski, Dragowski, Gumny, Kedziora, Wieteska, Milik, Piotrowski, Grosicki, Skoras, Kaminski, Szymanski, Piatek.
Preamble
Thursday’s defeat to Belgium, their usual opponents, showed the size of the task that may await Rob Page in Qatar. The second-half display, which raised the hackles of Roberto Martinez so much he got himself sent off, at least suggested that all is by no means lost. These Nations League matches, competitive as they technically are, are warmups for what comes in November, but like the English the Welsh are set to be relegated from the top tier unless they beat the Poles tonight. Page’s men have not won their last four matches, not ideal preparation for the World Cup but Gareth Bale is likely to be involved from the start.
As for the Poles, they are readying themselves for a World Cup group involving Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Argentina, and coming off a 2-0 loss to the Netherlands on Thursday.
There’s some other big matches played this evening to keep you updated on, with Denmark taking on France, and the Netherlands taking on the Belgians. The Nations League: it’s relentless.
www.theguardian.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism