Craig Bellamy’s unbeaten streak ends but with heads held high for FAW

National World - LocalTV

Craig Bellamy’s streak-ending defeat didn’t dim his positivity. Despite the 4–3 loss to Belgium, he praised his squad’s spirited response, saying “how you lose is more important” and that he’s “beyond proud” of their belief and effort. He highlighted their evolution from hoping to compete into genuinely believing they could, and insisted he’d rather “try and fail than not try at all”.

Transcript

00:00For Wales, their unbeaten run in international football came to an end in dramatic fashion

00:07as they were beaten 4-3 by Belgium in Brussels on Monday evening.

00:12Wales had gone 3-0 down early in the game and yet managed to get themselves back to a level footing,

00:20drawing 3-3 with Belgium.

00:22But then Kevin De Bruyne struck towards the end of the game to break Welsh hearts.

00:27However, the Welsh team still are in a strong position in their World Cup qualifying group.

00:31And before that, they had beaten Liechtenstein 3-0.

00:35And as I say as well, Wales have been on this long unbeaten run under Craig Bellamy.

00:39So things are still looking rosy in the Wales camp despite that late loss to Belgium.

00:45But what impact will that have on Wales going forward in this World Cup qualifying group?

00:49Because of course, they want to make successive World Cups that they've qualified for.

00:53And as I say, they are still in a strong position.

00:55But, well, you'd hope at least that this result against Belgium wouldn't affect them too much.

01:01And I think they have to draw the positives of the fact that they managed to get the game back to 3-3

01:06and perhaps ignore the fact that they went 3-0 down in the game and also ended up losing late on.

01:12But let's go now to Charles Hague-Jones, our Wales sport correspondent.

01:16Charles, obviously frustration for Wales and disappointment of losing so late on.

01:20But there's a lot of positives to take in that game.

01:23But also, what can they learn from the negatives of going down early 3-0 and losing late on as well?

01:29Yes, so the streak of Craig Bellamy has come to an end as well as boss.

01:37Now, you know, there's so many factors that go into it.

01:40Obviously, there was some testing games in there as well.

01:42But, you know, Wales unbeaten in, you know, 10 games, his first loss is pretty incredible, really.

01:48For, you know, a nation that had really suffered under the last few managers,

01:53Bellamy came in and has just instilled this belief, this whole feel of rejuvenation around the nation.

01:59So it's so, so impressive to do that, especially as a former player as well.

02:03He's showing he knows what it means to wear the shirt.

02:06He's trying to instill that to his group of players and really ensure that they know how important it is

02:10to represent Wales with the best of your ability, to give it your all.

02:13Obviously, with modern football and the fixture schedules, it's so tough to, you know,

02:18really, really go on from the long, long seasons they have now domestically

02:22and then go to national football with that same pride.

02:25But Wales are a nation where that's, you know, no debate.

02:29Every player needs to give it their all and really make sure that they are there

02:32and representing their team.

02:34And, you know, 10 games in charge, his first defeat, 4-3.

02:40You know, it wasn't just a loss as well.

02:42It was a bit of a statement of progress, obviously going 3-0 down.

02:46After 27 minutes, you thought, oh, no, this is the Wales of old.

02:50This is the Wales that had been so cowardly at a major tournament

02:53and really fallen short and disappointed.

02:56But then a tactical change, a tactical switch up.

02:59You know, the likes of Brennan Johnson, Harry Wilson, both scoring as well.

03:03Sober Thomas got his first goal as well.

03:06And that was a massive moment for him.

03:07I mean, they drew the scores level before Kevin De Bruyne scored to finally, you know,

03:12break Welsh hearts in Brussels.

03:15But in terms of the game, I mean, it was a fantastic outfit, seven-goal thriller.

03:20And Bellamy came out and said, you know, it's not how you lose.

03:22You know, he's beyond proud of his group.

03:26He's got to reflect on a culture shift from sort of survival to belief.

03:30It's a massive process.

03:31It's a huge sort of building block that Bellamy and his group of players are going under.

03:36So to come away and, you know, level the tie at 3-3, you thought, wow, this is an incredible fight back.

03:42And it did just show a bit of a look into the optimism, the belief, the talent throughout this Wales side.

03:50You know, Sober Thomas obviously getting his debut goal.

03:52He said, you know, we showed the Welsh fire and we had it in our own hands at one point as well.

03:57You know, Belgium, a top eight nation in the world, that they're going to be assured

04:01in the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, who sealed that as just a top, top world-class player,

04:05has been for the next, you know, 10 years or so.

04:09And you've got to look towards the future and what's next for Bellamy and this group.

04:13Obviously, the qualification, it puts them, you know, near the top two points, I believe.

04:18Split them with others having a game in hand.

04:21They've got that massive return fixture against Belgium in October in Cardiff.

04:25Yes, his streak's over, but, you know, optimism hasn't left Wales at all.

04:31I mean, the character that they have is unbelievable.

04:34You know, minor setbacks, I think, and major comebacks is the way this side is going

04:40into Bellamy and long may continue.

04:42Okay.

04:43You know, let's see.

04:43Let's see.

04:44You know, we've got this guy in the middle of the street.

04:45Yeah.

04:45Here we go.

04:46You know, here is a place where you can get your interest in the state of the country.

04:47If you can get your interest in the country, you can get your interest in the country.

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