Cymru head coach Craig Bellamy is targeting UEFA Nations League success this month and believes the competition provides perfect preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday morning after announcing his squad for the decisive Group B4 fixtures against Türkiye and Iceland later this month, Bellamy highlighted how his squad has benefited from the competition. “I really enjoy the Nations League,” said Bellamy. “Every game we set out to win, but the key aspect of this campaign was how adaptable can we be in these six games? How many shapes can we change into with and without the ball?
“The players build up more of a library and an idea if they go to this then we go to that, so it becomes automatic. That gives us a head start when we go into the World Cup qualifying campaign. I believe the best teams are those that are able to adapt. There’s games where haven’t adapted quick enough to the situation, which is normal, but with these six games we will have a lot of it ironed out to be able to go into an important qualifying campaign.”
For the first time since his appointment, Bellamy is able to call-up Dan James to the squad, and there is an excitement over his potential to excel in the style of play that Bellamy has already instilled into his group of players. “He’s an outstanding player who will really add to the group,” he explained. “He’s a player I really like. He’s been unfortunate with his injury but we’re really excited to have a player with his quality and his speed to add to what we’ve already got.
“I’ve always enjoyed watching him play for Wales, but I believe that the way we play will really suit him. He’s a real menacing player with speed and high-intensity, so he definitely adds to the mixture of players we have in that area. He allows us to keep our intensity, keep making runs in behind, and he gives us another option which means we don’t have to change the way we play.”
Harry Wilson has proven himself to be a key player for Bellamy in that attacking third with three goals in four undefeated games for Cymru during this campaign. On Monday night he extended his international form to the Premier League as he came off the bench and scored two injury-time goals for Fulham in their 2-1 win over Brentford. Bellamy was in attendance at Craven Cottage as Wilson grabbed the headlines and was keen to add to the plaudits.
“He’s a player I’ve always been really impressed with,” said Bellamy. “I love watching him without the ball, his smartness in the press, his intensity, that really tells you how good a player he is. I’m a huge fan. It probably hasn’t been easy for him because every player wants to play, but you can tell he’s been working hard still because players don’t have that type of impact if they’re not ready or they’re not professional, so credit to him.
“Those moments don’t happen by luck. You have to knuckle down, work hard and believe it will turn, and in football it will turn. I was there when he made his debut [for Wales – October 2013]. It was my last game and I felt he was a kid who would come through and have a big future for Wales. I believe he’s done that over the last number of years, and at this present moment for Wales he’s been absolutely outstanding.”
Injuries to Ethan Ampadu, Ollie Cooper and Aaron Ramsey will restrict Bellamy’s midfield options for these final two games of the campaign as Cymru head to Türkiye on Saturday, 16 November (5pm) before completing the group against Iceland at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday, 19 November (7.45pm). Türkiye currently have a two point lead of Cymru at the top of the group while the only points they have dropped were in the 0-0 draw in Cardiff as Bellamy took charge of the team for the first time.
“You’re never as good as they say you are and you’re never as bad as they say you are,” explained Bellamy when asked about the progress of his team over his first four games. “You just try not to ride that roller coaster and keep that middle ground. We’re progressing. The type of coach I want to be, does it look clear when you’re watching from the side?
“I think we’re second in the whole Nations League for creating chances behind Germany. When we talk about possession, it’s to create chances, it’s to win the ball back and create those opportunities. That’s what I wanted for the players and that’s why I talked about identity very early on. They were the key messages from us as a coaching staff. We’re consistent with the messages we give them, and that’s to maintain that and improve it.”
