Weather report. The latest from Nikšić, brought to you by a friend of Football Weekly.
Wales away in Montenegro, this was the scene a couple of hours ago. The rain has now reduced from ‘Biblical’ to ‘classic Welsh winter.’ Who knows if the game will go ahead. That said, a very drunk local just guessed my age as 26 so I’ve never felt more alive pic.twitter.com/XZIMmguKYI
— Elis James (@elisjames) September 9, 2024
FULL TIME: Cyprus 0-4 Kosovo. The Kosovans hit the front early doors with a Vedat Muriqi penalty and never relinquished that ninth-minute lead. Muriqi added a second on 21 minutes, Albion Rrahmani made it three just after the break, and Lumbardh Dellova completed the scoring at the AEK Arena on 55 minutes. A fine response by Kosovo to Friday’s 3-0 defeat by Romania; Cyprus had won their first game 1-0 in Lithuania. Romania are hot favourites to win Group C2, but otherwise the division looks like developing into an interesting scrap.
The early signs suggest Craig Bellamy won’t be a manager who will die wondering. His first selection acquitted themselves well against Turkey last Friday, but he’s made five changes for tonight’s game in Montenegro nonetheless. In come Karl Darlow, Chris Mepham, Lewis Koumas, Kieffer Moore and Ollie Cooper, in place of Danny Ward, Aaron Ramsey, Brennan Johnson, Jordan James and Sorba Thomas. Leeds keeper Darlow is making his international debut at the age of 33.
CYMRU XI 🇲🇪🏴
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 9, 2024
5️⃣ changes
🧢 1 first cap
🫡 2 first starts#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/DiHkjuMTOW
Today’s Nations League card looks like this …
A2
France v Belgium
Israel v Italy
B3
Slovenia v Kazakhstan
Norway v Austria
B4
Montenegro v Wales
Turkey v Iceland
C2
Cyprus 0-4 Kosovo (L)
Romania v Lithuania
… with all games kicking off at 7.45pm BST, except for the one that plainly didn’t. News of what happened in that, plus the teams from the Wales game, is coming right up.