Wales’ World Cup send-off ended in a 1-0 defeat to Poland and relegation from the Nations League’s top tier.
Karol Swiderski, just as he had done when the two sides met in Wroclaw in June, came up with a second-half winner to seal Wales’ demotion to League B. Wales needed victory in Cardiff to secure their place in the top flight of European football and relegate Poland to the second tier.
But Poland stood firm after Swiderski’s strike and Wales could not find a way through, with Gareth Bale going the closest when heading against the crossbar in stoppage time.
This was Wales’ final game before their first at a World Cup for 64 years, their Qatar opener against the United States coming on 21 November.
Bale returned to the starting line-up to win his 108th cap, just one short of Chris Gunter’s men’s national team record. Bale was a second-half substitute in Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to Belgium after arriving late on camp from America due to his playing commitments at Los Angeles FC.
The 33-year-old completed his first 90 minutes since the World Cup qualifier against Estonia last September. Wales were depleted, with suspended pair Chris Mepham and Ethan Ampadu joining injured quartet Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies, Harry Wilson and Joe Allen on the sidelines.
Poland, 26 on the Fifa rankings and seven places below Wales, were led by Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowksi and in need of a World Cup tonic themselves following some stuttering form.
There was a fast tempo to the opening exchanges but few openings in a lively first half notable for the amount of time Poland players spent on the floor. The visitors’ willingness to go to ground, and stay there, angered home fans and raised the temperature inside the Cardiff City Stadium.
Swiderski almost pounced as Joe Rodon let the ball run back towards his own goal. But the first goal attempt took 25 minutes to arrive when Lewandowski met a cross with his shoulder, rather than his head, and Wayne Hennessey safely gathered.
Wales’ first chance came when Ben Cabango’s clearance allowed the speedy Daniel James to sprint into space. James’ effort was blocked by Wojciech Szczesny, and the Juventus goalkeeper kicked away the winger’s follow-up cross with an outstretched leg.
The contest was suddenly opening up and Szczesny was out from his goal to smother after Connor Roberts’ long throw had found Bale. Hennessey almost suffered embarrassment after letting a back pass roll under his foot. The goalkeeper had to stretch a long limb on the goalline before clearing under pressure from Lewandowski.
Piotr Zielinski’s 20-yard shot caused fewer alarms and Wales came close to taking the lead when Brennan Johnson’s effort struck James and fell inches wide of the post with Szczesny beaten.
The deadlock was broken after 57 minutes, and it owed as much to the brilliance of Lewandowski as the expert finishing of Swiderski. Lewandowski’s sublime flick freed Swiderski for a controlled shot that went through Hennessey’s legs.
Wales almost replied instantly as Johnson wriggled free for a shot which Szczesny tipped around a post. Kieffer Moore and Rubin Colwill were sent on as Wales went for broke.
Szczesny showed his agility again to deny James and Rodon headed over, and Wales knew their luck was out when Bale’s header bounced back off the bar.
