Craig Bellamy has expressed strong optimism about the future of Wales’ national team. He believes the current crop of young players has the talent and mentality to succeed on the international stage. Bellamy praised their technical ability and commitment, highlighting a renewed sense of identity within the squad. He’s confident that with the right guidance, Wales can compete consistently at major tournaments.
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 had 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 a 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.
01:22But also, what can they learn from the negatives of going down early 3-0 and losing late on as well?
01:30Yeah, I mean, it's so important to just give Craig Bellamy some credit.
01:34Obviously, we've mentioned him a number of times during the start of his reign, what was possibly to come, the optimism that he instilled.
01:41But, you know, you have to look back to that first ever press conference when he joined the media, the world media, the Welsh media, the home nation media to sort of say, this is what we're going to do.
01:52And, you know, there was a lot of critics coming in and thinking he's biting off a bit more than he can chew.
01:57He then goes, you know, 10 games unbeaten, four shorts against Belgium and Brussels in a massive game.
02:03But he showed he can compete and this side can compete.
02:07You know, you have to really respect international managers in terms of the limited amount of times they have with their players.
02:14You know, I really sort of admired the fact that he evaluated the group before these games and said, look, you know, some of them are coming off the back of a Europa League win.
02:24The likes of Brendan Johnson, a lot have been promoted to the Premier League with Leeds.
02:28There's a lot of highs in the group, but there was also some lows, there was also some, you know, players in the group that didn't have amazing seasons personally.
02:36So it's about getting the balance right.
02:38I really love that from Bellamy, trying to admire that sort of understanding of players.
02:44He's just clearly shown that he'd been a player before his time.
02:47And I think that's perfect in this, you know, generation we're in now.
02:51So many players become managers and it doesn't quite work out.
02:54But I think Bellamy's got his, he's found his sort of perch, he's really, really comfortable at the moment on such a grand stage.
03:01And I mean, you know, their first major display of progress, you know, came with promotion to the Nations League.
03:09You have to look at that.
03:10So there's been tactical shifts, you know, there's been player call-ups that you weren't expecting.
03:15They obviously got the promotion to the Nations League A, which was incredible.
03:19Their home form has been fantastic.
03:21Wales have just been this formidable beast.
03:24The goals they've scored, the tactical knowledge they've shown throughout games has been fantastic.
03:31This is still a young side.
03:32You've got to remember that as well.
03:34But, you know, you also have to then go into it and look at Bellamy's vision.
03:38It extends way beyond the immediate with a four-year contract through to Euro 2028.
03:45You know, he's committed to building sustainable culture, focus on youth development, tactical discipline and competitive courage.
03:53These are all words he said.
03:55I mean, the reintroduction of experienced players like Joe Allen, the emergence of young talent such as Lewis Kumas and Charlie Crewe as well.
04:02It's highlighted that blend that he's got to get right on the international stage.
04:06I mean, he's not just won matches and Wales fans will be really keeping this a bit quietly at the moment because, you know, as I said multiple times before, Wales football is certainly on the rise.
04:18That goes for the women's game as well.
04:21You know, be sure for them to look out and have a good Euro 2025 tour.
04:24I'm very surprised if they don't.
04:26But, yeah, loads of momentum, loads of positivity and it all is still rising for Bellamy and Wales.
04:34So, yeah, so much positivity going on around the nation at the moment in terms of their football scene and, you know, loads to hope for in the coming months.
