UEFA Nations League A, Group 4
Ullevaal Stadion
14th November 2026
International football is back after a break for club football, as Cymru travelled to Oslo to take on Norway. Even with a Cymru victory in the reverse fixture in Cardiff, it was still a massive task ahead for Craig Bellamy’s men.
Embed from Getty ImagesCymru made four changes to the side that took on Denmark in Cardiff last month. Harry Wilson, Joe Rodon, Karl Darlow and Liam Cullen all back in the starting lineup with Sorba Thomas, Ben Cabango, Danny Ward Jordan James going the other way. Norway also made four changes from the side that lost to Portugal. Oscar Bobb, Thelo Aasgaard, Julian Ryerson and Torbjorn Heggem all start replacing Leo Ostigard, Fredrik Aursnes, Patrick Berg, Andreas Schjelderup.
Noway who are 19th in World Rankings (20 places above Cymru) were strong favourites at the start of the match but having just witnessed Wales beat New Zealand in rugby for the first in 73 years, betting odds mean nothing in sport.
Embed from Getty ImagesCymru held strong in the first half keeping Haaland quiet again and frustrating Ødegaard. Craig Bellamy would have been the happier of the two managers going in at half time.
The second half started in the same way with Cymru having more of the play but just not making the break through they needed. Unfortunately Cymru were only able to hold on till just before the hour mark when a Norwegian corner was only cleared to the edge of the penalty area where it was taken down brilliantly on the chest of Antonio Nusa and with a great finish from outside the box made it 1-0 to Norway.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt took less than 10 minutes for Norway to double their lead. The ball was worked down the left hand side by Norway, and then on to Haaland who picked up the ball in the box and passed the ball across the area to the waiting Andreas Schjelderup at the far post to knock it in for 2-0
With just over 10 minutes left Cymru staged a brief comeback when Dai Brooks battled his way into the box and with a beautiful finish flicking past the keeper. Y Wal Goch erupted in the stands on what was a bitterly cold night in Oslo, but that finish would have warmed them all up.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe comeback didn’t last long, less than seven minutes later Conner Roberts give away a penalty with a foul on the goal scorer Schjelderup. It was Haaland who stepped up to take the penalty and ended Cymru’s hopes of getting anything from this game.
Cymru had held their own until the first goal but in the end the world class players of Norway proved the difference. Cymru’s chances of staying in League A and getting a favourable draw for the Euros took a big knock tonight, with Tuesday’s home game against Portugal taking on massive importance.
A lot could happen between now and the Euros draw next month. Which Pot will we be in? Also will Craig Bellamy still be our manager? Never boring supporting Cymru!