Liechtenstein v Wales: World Cup 2026 qualifier – live | World Cup 2026 qualifiers

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Four of Wales†starters risk missing the North Macedonia game with a booking tonight – Neco Williams, Joe Rodon, Jordan James and Ethan Ampadu.

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Piet Cremers talks to BBC Sport: “Consistency, habit – against these kind of teams, thatâ€s really important. Can we be the best version of ourselves? As long as we can, we should put on a good performance.â€

On Johnson and Brooks starting on the bench, he says: “They [Liechtenstein] are going to sit deep, they concede more goals in the second half, so we want players on the bench who can come on and make an impact.â€

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“Iâ€ve said it before, but I was absolutely not behind the appointment of Bellamy,†writes Matt Dony. “At the time, I was gutted that Osian Roberts didnâ€t want the job. But I was very, very wrong. Bellamy has been brilliant; a huge improvement tactically over Page, the players all seem to love him, heâ€s handled the media well, I couldnâ€t have hoped for any more.

“Unfortunately, heâ€s got the weakest Welsh squad of the last 15 years or so. Thatâ€s no oneâ€s fault, itâ€s just the way it goes. National teams for small countries will have natural ebbs and flows. Two wins to finish this group would definitely count as ending on a high. Iâ€d take that all day. And then, the playoffs will be what the playoffs will be. No point stressing over that yet. Task in hand, one game at a time and all those other cliches …â€

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Wales have a few high-profile absentees, with Ben Davies, Ben Cabango, Aaron Ramsey and Kieffer Moore all out due to injury, while Harry Wilson is suspended. Brennan Johnson and David Brooks are on the bench, with Oxfordâ€s Mark Harris and Wrexhamâ€s Nathan Broadhead potentially starting as a front two.

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Some pre-game thoughts from Craig Bellamy, taken from Fridayâ€s press conference.

We need to win two games. Liechtenstein, we expect to win and Iâ€m not going to shy away from that. North Macedonia is a different game, [but] theyâ€re games I believe we will have a lot of possession in, and we have to be able to create chances from having that. If we finish second [in the group] we could avoid a couple of top teams at their grounds [in the playoffs], and thatâ€s a motivation for us.

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Team news

Liechtenstein (3-5-2): Buchel; Meier, Malin, Göppel; Nicolas Hasler (c), Luchinger, Alessio Hasler, Sele, Zünd; Notaro, Salanovic.
Subs: Foser, Justin Ospelt, Schlegel, Weissenhofer, Oberwaditzer, Saglam, Kranz, Luca Beck, Fabio Wolfinger, Sandro Wolfinger, Pizzi.

Wales (4-4-2): Darlow; Williams, Rodon, Lawlor, Dasilva; Thomas, Jordan James, Ampadu (c), Daniel James; Broadhead, Harris.
Subs: King, Adam Davies, Norrington-Davies, Brooks, Rubin Colwill, Koumas, Cullen, Johnson, Isaak Davies, Kpakio, Joel Colwill, Sheehan.

Referee: Juxhin Xhaja (Albania)

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Updated at 11.17 EST

Craig Bellamy missed Wales†last trip to Liechtenstein in 2009 as a player after being booked for dissent. This time, the head coach has made it to Vaduz, but is banned from the touchline after being, yep, booked for dissent during last monthâ€s defeat to Belgium.

Bellamyâ€s assistant, Piet Cremers, will be in the dugout while his boss watches from the stands. The 31-year-old Dutchman has some impressive behind-the-scenes experience, having worked as a chief analyst for Manchester City and assistant manager under Vincent Kompany at Burnley.

“I might enjoy it more, being upstairs where I can see the game from new viewpoints,†says Bellamy (not to mention those exceptional mountain views). “So itâ€s going to be a little bit different, but the workâ€s done, weâ€ve gone through the scenarios.â€

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Preamble

A strange bit of scheduling means that the Welsh football and rugby union teams are playing at the same time today – and while the rugger boys are under pressure to get a result against Japan in Cardiff, the stakes feel a little lower for Craig Bellamyâ€s men in this quiet corner of the Alps.

Belgium have missed the chance to seal top spot in Group J after a 1-1 draw in Kazakhstan, but their final game is at home to Liechtenstein, so Wales†realistic target is second in the group. Three points against the groupâ€s bottom side tonight would set up a final showdown at home to North Macedonia on Tuesday, with the winner securing a playoff spot.

If Wales can win by six goals tonight, they would only need a draw on Tuesday to finish second in the group – but even if they fall short, their Nations League performance offers a back door into the playoffs. Entry through the front door would be preferable, as it offers a seeded place in the draw for Marchâ€s scrap for the final World Cup spots.

While many of Europeâ€s minnows have improved in recent years, Liechtenstein are not one of them; their only home win since 2018 came last year, in a friendly against Hong Kong. Failing to beat the side ranked 206th in the world wouldnâ€t end Welsh hopes, but would be a significant blow to their burgeoning belief. Kick-off is at 5pm GMT.

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Updated at 11.00 EST

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