Nations League: Poland 2-1 Wales - reaction as late comeback sees Poland claim victory

1. Late turnaround secures victory for Poland in the Nations League opener
2. Jonny Williams strike from outside the area gives Wales the lead after 52 minutes
3. Replacement Jakub Kaminski draws Poland level 20 minutes later with a smart right-foot finish
4. Another substitute, Karol Swiderski, puts Poland ahead for the first time with less than 10 minutes left

Tonight's match stats

• Captain Robert Lewandowski holds Poland's records for most caps (129) and goals (75).
• Poland are unbeaten in their past seven matches against Wales in all competitions, winning five and drawing two since losing their first encounter in March 1973.
• Wales have never won away against Poland in all competitions, drawing two and losing two of their four away trips, while also failing to score in each match.
• Wales have gone unbeaten in each of their past nine games, winning four and drawing five since a 4-0 defeat to Denmark at Euro 2020 in June 2021. Only between October 2001 and March 2003 (10 games) have they recorded a longer unbeaten run.
• Poland have suffered just one defeat in their past nine games in all competitions, winning six and drawing two with the lone loss coming against Hungary in November 2021.
• Both teams have found the back of the net in each of Wales' past four games (nine for, four against).
• Harry Wilson provided 20 assists in all competitions for Fulham in 2021-22, the most by any player in England's top four divisions.
• Wes Burns had a hand in 18 league goals for Ipswich Town in 2021-22 (12 goals, six assists), his best return for goal involvements in a single campaign in England's top four tiers.

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Bale 'adamant' on meeting up with Wales after Champions League win

Wales coach Robert Page said Gareth Bale was "adamant" he wanted to meet up with the national squad as soon as possible after Real Madrid's Champions League win on Saturday.

Bale joined up with his international colleagues in Portugal ahead of a flight to Poland on Monday.

Gareth Bale 'adamant' to meet up with Wales

Danny Gabbidon

Former Wales defender on BBC Radio Wales

It's difficult for Rob Page to pick his team tonight to get the team right for Sunday.

If I was a Joe Rodon or a Neco Williams I'd probably want a 45 minute run out tonight to get myself up to speed for Sunday.

Hopefully you then come through the game unscathed and get the job done on the weekend.

Burns' night? Wes hopes to make it third time lucky

Wes Burns is hoping he will be third time lucky and will finally pull on a Wales shirt having been so close in the past.

Burns, 27, has been drafted into the Wales squad for the World Cup play-off final and Nations League games.

The Ipswich Town player has been called up twice previously but is yet to make a senior appearance.

Burns scored six goals in 18 appearances for Wales Under-21s

"2016 was the last time I was in a senior camp but obviously did not get a chance get a cap," Burns said.

"But hopefully with the number of games we have coming up over a short period of time, I can get that cap now."

Read more: Ipswich Town winger hoping to make belated senior Wales bow

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Brooks eager to get playing again

Wales and Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore says teammate David Brooks cannot wait to be back in action following his all-clear from cancer.

David Brooks eager to 'get back at it', says Wales and Bournemouth teammate Kieffer Moore

Hero to forgotten man - Bale exits Real via 'cat flap'

Gareth Bale, once the world's most expensive footballer, is now a free agent after club and player confirmed his departure from Real Madrid.

Bale leaves as a five time Champions League winner and having had a stellar career in Spain, with much speculation about his future.

BBC Sport has taken a look at how the relationship between club and player soured over time.

Read more: How Gareth Bale went from hero to forgotten man

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Nathan Blake

Former Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

Undoubtedly it's the biggest game in Welsh history [on Sunday].

People talk about 1958 but modern days we've missed out on so many occasions, broke the duck at Euro 2016 so hopefully fingers crossed we can do the same this time with the World Cup.

Wales players know magnitude of Sunday - Ward

Goalkeeper Danny Ward says Wales' players do not need to be told what is at stake in their World Cup play-off - because they are all fans at heart.

Ward has returned from injury as Wales look to qualify for a World Cup finals for the first time since 1958.

"It's massive, but as a group we don't need to discuss the magnitude of it," said the Leicester City stopper.

"Before we were Welsh footballers we were Welsh fans and we still are. So we understand what the nation wants.

"It's about the opportunity to get to the World Cup and to put ourselves in this position is great.

"We want to get over the line and provide the country with something we have not had for so long.

"If we are the group that can do that, everyone will be as proud as punch."

Read more: Wales aware of 'magnitude' of game, says keeper Danny Ward

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Football above rugby in Wales?

Football has overtaken rugby as the number one sport in Wales, according to a new study presented to the Football Association of Wales (FAW).

The independent research claims football is both the most popular and sees more participants across the country than any other team game.

Some 47% of respondents to a Wales-wide survey said they followed football, compared to rugby's 45%.

The report also suggests some 40% of children in Wales play football.

That figure is more than any other sport or form of exercise.

Read more: Report claims football is number one sport in Wales

FAW

Brooks' World Cup carrot

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Bournemouth's David Brooks is targeting a return to the Wales team in time for a potential World Cup appearance after recovering from cancer.

Brooks, 24, has announced he is cancer-free having been diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma in October 2021.

He has not played since but, if Wales win their World Cup play-off final next month, he will have until November to regain his place in the squad.

"We have had those conversations already," said Wales boss Robert Page.

"Even months ago when he was diagnosed, the bigger picture was, all being well, to do this and his doctor was top class with it all.

"We spoke to the specialists involved and they told us what the pattern has been with recent cases.

"We have already had those conversations with him. Dangling that carrot and incentive is great motivation for him."

Read more: Rob Page on David Brooks' Wales future

Promotion. Proposal. Qualification.

Wales striker Kieffer Moore is hoping to add World Cup qualification to what has already been a whirlwind end to the season.

Moore scored the winning goal which saw Bournemouth promoted to the Premier League, and celebrated by getting engaged to girlfriend Charlotte Russell in Dubai.

The 29-year-old now wants to end Wales' 64-year wait to play at a World Cup.

Read more: Wales striker targets perfect hat-trick ahead of World Cup decider

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Team news - Bale, Ramsey and Allen rested

Dafydd Pritchard

BBC Sport Wales in Wroclaw, Poland

As expected, Wales rest the vast majority of their first-team players with Sunday’s World Cup play-off final against Scotland or Ukraine in mind.

Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen and Ben Davies are all left out of the squad to keep them fresh for Sunday.

Ipswich Town’s Wes Burns makes his debut at wing-back, with Jonny Williams on the other flank, while Chris Gunter captains the side.

Leeds United winger Daniel James starts, though he would be expected to start the play-off final as well.

In total, Wales make eight changes from the 1-1 friendly draw with the Czech Republic in March.

Wales: Ward; Gunter, Mepham, Norrington-Davies, Burns; Smith, Levitt, Morrell, J Williams; James, Moore.

BBC Sport

Team news - Lewandowski starts for Poland

Dafydd Pritchard

BBC Sport Wales in Wroclaw, Poland

Unlike Wales, Poland have named what is effectively their strongest available line-up, with one new face in goal as keeper Kamil Grabara makes his debut.

All-time leading scorer and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski captains the team.

Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash misses out through injury but is expected to be fit to face Belgium next Wednesday.

Poland: Grabara; Bereszynski, Glik, Bednarek, Puchacz; Klich, Krychowiak, Goralski, Zielinski; Buksa, Lewandowski.

BBC Sport

Good evening, are you ready for your starter?

Good evening all,

So here we are again, a thrilling domestic season finished and with the Nations League back in our lives.

Wales, now a top tier side in the Nations League, make their bow in group A4 tonight, as they face a Poland side that should prove a tough test on paper (sorry).

But let's be honest, this contest feels a tiny bit like a warm-up doesn't it? For Wales this is preparation ahead of a huge, huge game on Sunday.

But even in the context of today's football, tonight's contest in Wroclaw feels a little like a starter ahead of tonight's main course, Scotland versus Ukraine for the right to face Wales for a place at the 2022 World Cup.

But as prawn cocktails have been proving since the 1970s, starters can be fantastic and tonight is an important game for Wales in its own right.

Let's have a look at that team news, shall we?

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