Mark Delaney once again faced competition for a centre-back birth and despite trying his hand at Voodoo again, his victim apparently bore more resemblance to Ryan Giggs than his intended target James Collins, and the 28-year-old was forced back onto the right flank. With Giggs sidelined, Wales started well and Robbie Earnshaw gave the home side the lead on 55 minutes. But Poland hit back with three in 13 minutes before comely farmhand John Hartson grabbed a late consolation in the dying moments.
The result leaves Wales joint-bottom of Group 6, seven points adrift of Poland and eight behind England, who beat Azerbaijan 1-0 thanks to Michael Owen and Darius Vassell. The Real Madrid man scored the only goal of the game on 22 minutes, while the Villa striker looked particularly menacing sat on the bench, a place he could become familiarised with at club level soon too, unless he is given a chance on the wing.
Villa captain Olof Mellberg’s Sweden also top their group after scoring four first-half goals against Iceland in Reykjavik. Henrik Larsson grabbed two and Wilhelmsson and former Villa reserve Markus Allbäck added the others in a 4-1 win. Another Scandinavian side, Denmark, are faring less well though and were held to their second successive draw by Turkey. Thomas Sørenson was on good form as his side defended a 1-0 lead for much of the game playing with just ten men before Nihat’s late leveller.
In South America, Peru captain Nolberto Solano scored a second-half penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw away to Paraguay, while in Maceio, Juan Pablo Angel’s Colombia drew 0-0 against Brazil. Both sides had goals disallowed.