Nations League: Wales v Iceland
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Tuesday, 20 November Kick off: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: Live on S4C, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, live text and commentary on the BBC Sport website and app
Wales head coach Craig Bellamy believes justice was served as Turkey missed a controversial late penalty in their goalless Nations League draw.
Turkey were awarded an 89th-minute penalty in Kayseri as Yunus Akgun fell under a challenge by Neco Williams, who appeared to get a touch on the ball.
But Kerem Akturkoglu hit his penalty wide via the outside of the post to leave Wales second in Nations League Group B4 – two points adrift of leaders Turkey – before Tuesday’s final round of fixtures.
“I’m not sure that was a penalty. Just look at it. Did he go from behind? No, it was from the side. Did he touch the ball? Yes,” said Bellamy.
“VAR ? Did I believe they would overturn it or get the referee to look at it? No. Uefa are very good at not imposing themselves on it. I felt that was justice.
“I don’t believe Turkey deserved to win it that way. Maybe different parts of the game [Turkey deserved to win], yeah. I don’t believe that was a penalty.”
Akturkoglu’s missing of penalty award by referee Juan Martinez Munuera provided late drama in an eventful goalless draw on Saturday.
Although Turkey controlled most of the match in front of their hostile home crowd, Wales provided a threat of their own with a disallowed Jordan James goal and Harry Wilson hitting the post.
It was a creditable display in testing circumstances, maintaining Bellamy’s unbeaten start as Wales boss after five matches.
The former captain said beforehand that Wales would “know a lot more” about themselves and their 2026 World Cup qualifying credentials after this match in Turkey, and events in Kayseri confirmed that view.
“[I learned] a lot [about the team],” Bellamy said. “Defending the box, we’re exceptional, so that’s credit to previous managers. We’re really strong putting bodies on the line.
“I knew there would be a bit of pain today, it was a difficult game against really good opposition. Can we improve on the ball? Can our angles, can our timing be right? That’s what we need to improve on.”
Bellamy added that he also learned some valuable lessons about himself as a manager.
“I was trying to stay calm and it was difficult, especially at the end. You don’t want to be riding that rollercoaster [of emotion],” he said.
“I felt maybe once or twice I was and I don’t like it, so I need to learn from that, improve from that. I was saying to the players I need to improve as well. The test of the atmosphere Turkey were able to create, it’s hopefully going to benefit me along the line and the players as well.”
‘I’m very greedy. I’d like more’
Bellamy also assessed where he feels Wales – and Turkey – rank in terms of their current form in the Nations League.
“I believe we’re a Group A team, I definitely believe Turkey are a Group A team as well. These are the games we want, the teams we want to compete against all the time. By that, surely we’re going to keep improving all the time,” he said.
“You can tell by my manner I want to dominate everything and we didn’t dominate today so I’m a little bit…is it realistic to dominate a team like Turkey in this present moment? Probably not but I’m very greedy. I’d like more.”
A second successive stalemate between these sides means Turkey stay top of Group B4 with 11 points, while Wales are in second place on nine points and Iceland third on seven.
To win the group, Wales must now beat Iceland at Cardiff City Stadium in their final group game on Tuesday and hope Turkey drop points in Montenegro.
Failing that and unless they lose to Iceland, Wales will face a Nations League promotion play-off in March, meaning their World Cup qualifying campaign will be pushed back to June or September next year.
