Cymru will take on Turkey in their Nations League opener at the Cardiff City Stadium tonight (September 6), marking the beginning of Craig Bellamy’s tenure as Cymru manager. Bellamy, a former Cymru captain, was appointed in early July and is keen to start his reign with a strong performance as he prepares the team for their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. The Nations League presents an early opportunity for Bellamy to shape his side and gauge their abilities against competitive opposition.
The challenge ahead
Cymru face a formidable challenge in Turkey, who enter the match after an impressive run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. Turkey’s squad boasts talent such as Real Madrid’s Arda Güler and Inter Milan’s Hakan Çalhanoğlu, making them a tough opponent for the Welsh side. Despite a narrow defeat to the Netherlands in Germany, Turkey, under the guidance of head coach Vincenzo Montella, will be looking to build on their strong summer showing and kick off their Nations League campaign with a win in Cardiff.
Match details
- Kick-off time: 7.45pm BST, Friday 6 September
- Venue: Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Cymru
How to watch
The match will be broadcast live on S4C in the United Kingdom, with coverage starting at 7.20pm. It will also be available for streaming via BBC iPlayer online and through the app.
Team news
Craig Bellamy’s inaugural squad includes many familiar faces, such as Ethan Ampadu and Aaron Ramsey, with the latter confirmed to retain the captaincy. However, injuries have ruled out Ipswich duo Nathan Broadhead and Wes Burns, Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks, and winger Dan James.
Bellamy has brought in 33-year-old Karl Darlow as goalkeeping back-up, while recalling Mark Harris and Oli Cooper, who last featured for the national team over a year ago. Sorba Thomas, who joined Ligue 1 club Nantes on loan from Huddersfield last summer, has also been recalled.
Turkey’s squad remains largely unchanged from their Euro 2024 campaign, with the exception of new Brighton signing Ferdi Kadıoğlu, who is absent. Former Leicester City defender Çağlar Söyüncü returns after missing the summer tournament through injury, while key players like Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Orkun Kökçü, Arda Güler, and Barış Alper Yılmaz retain their places.
Predicted line-ups
- Cymru XI: Ward; Williams, Cabango, Rodon, Davies; Ampadu, James; Wilson, Ramsey, Johnson; Moore.
- Turkey XI: Günok; Muldur, Söyüncü, Akaydın, Bardakcı; Özcan, Kökçü; Güler, Çalhanoğlu, Yıldız; Yılmaz.
Odds
- Cymru: 6/4
- Draw: 8/5
- Turkey: 6/4
