Craig Bellamy marked his tenth match as Cymru head coach with a dramatic 4-3 defeat against Belgium. It was a match that characterised everything about the identity of Bellamy’s team as preparations for the final four games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign begin.
Cymru currently occupy second place in Group J, just one point behind North Macedonia, and now head to Astana to take on Kazakhstan on Thursday, 4 September. Bellamy’s side opened the qualifying campaign with a 3-1 victory over the same opponents in Cardiff back in March, a result that was followed by a draw with the current group leaders and a comfortable victory over Liechtenstein.
Undefeated in the opening three qualifiers and after nine competitive games under Bellamy, Cymru then headed to Brussels in June and Bellamy made his intentions clear ahead of taking on the top seeds in the group. “We go there and I’m not camping,” he explained. “I’m not sitting back. It’s not in my make-up. I’ve got a little bit more in my head, but I’m really excited about it.”
The match would prove to be the most memorable of Bellamy’s tenure to date as Belgium picked apart the Cymru defence in the opening half to take a three-goal lead before Harry Wilson pulled a goal back from the penalty spot before half-time. Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson restored parity as Cymru purred after the restart, but Kevin De Bruyne would grab the headlines to make it 4-3 to the hosts with his late winner.
It was an incredible match that represented every aspect of this team under Bellamy during his first ten games in charge. The high-tempo intensity he promised from his team exposed both their defensive fragilities and their attacking prowess, while the combination play between Wilson, Johnson and Thomas for both second half goals showed how much confidence and belief Bellamy has instilled.
Clear intentions
Bellamy wore his heart on his sleeve as a player for club and country and was just as open and honest when he addressed the media at his unveiling as Cymru head coach back just over a year ago. It was clear that his team would match his character, but the only unanswered question was how long it would take to change the mindset of a squad of players at their lowest ebb having missed out on EURO 2024.
“Playing-wise we will be very much front foot,” Bellamy explained at the time of his appointment. “I love pressing and I’m excited about pressing and counter-pressing without the ball. It’s a real passion for me, and I love to dominate the ball. I see the game as like a puzzle at times and you’re just trying to put the pieces together. So, by the time the game comes, you’re able to put it all together.”
Bellamy inherited a team that had clearly lost direction following the EURO play-off final defeat to Poland, with a frustrating draw against Gibraltar and heavy defeat to Slovakia in a friendly double-header last summer that marked the end of the Rob Page era. Talk of transition no longer justified underperformance, and it was clear that major changes were needed to bring the best out of a talented group.
The new UEFA Nations League campaign would precede World Cup qualification and allow Bellamy the opportunity to experiment and push his new ideas onto his team. A clean sweep of the backroom staff ensured this would be very much the start of a new era, and there was a visible change in the side from the attacking freedom offered to them.
Although Bellamy’s first match didn’t produce any goals as Cymru played out a 0-0 draw with Türkiye at the Cardiff City Stadium last September, there was a clear shift towards the attacking approach that had been promised in the build-up. This was now a team to get the fans on their feet, a team embracing the freedom to play to their strengths in the final third and take the game to their opponents without fear.
Players on-board from day one
A successful Nations League campaign followed as Bellamy put his fundamental principles in place from the start. Finishing above Türkiye, Iceland and Montenegro to achieve promotion to League A was a bonus in a campaign that allowed Bellamy to tune the finer details ahead of World Cup qualification. The significant shift in approach did bring some inconsistency in performance, but the players delivered on the non-negotiables demanded by their new head coach.
“You can see there is a new energy around the place,” said defender Connor Roberts following the first training session. “Everyone is excited to see what a Craig Bellamy team looks like, how they play. I think he’s a fantastic coach. He absolutely loves football. He lives and breathes it. We all love playing for Wales and we all have to impress the boss by tuning into his ideas and show him we want to be part of something successful.”
Bellamy’s press conferences continue to offer insight into his thought process. In addition to his unpredictable starting line-ups, the Nations League fixtures offered him the chance to experiment with tactical shapes and his side went into the World Cup qualifiers equipped with an arsenal of answers for their opponents.
Exposing his players to new situations ensured effective changes could be made during each match, with the comeback against Belgium being a great example of how simple tweaks can be the difference at the very highest-level.
Of course, Bellamy experienced periods of significant change during his own Cymru career. Playing under Bobby Gould, Mark Hughes, John Toshack, Gary Speed and Chris Coleman between 1998 and 2013, Bellamy has a vivid understanding on how influential a change in the mindset and mentality of the national team can be. He will have learnt valuable lessons from those contrasting eras, but his own persona is the overriding characteristic imprinted on this current Cymru squad.
The big calls
Bellamy has also shown over his ten games that he is not afraid to make big decisions. Goalkeeper Karl Darlow has taken his chance to make himself the preferred choice, while the elevation of teenagers such as Kai Andrews, Dylan Lawlor, Charlie Crew, Lewis Koumas and Ronan Kpakio to the senior squad is testament to the strength of the Welsh football pathway and Bellamy’s investment into the long-term future of this Cymru team.
“The future of Welsh football if they keep developing should be very exciting,” said Bellamy earlier this year. “It’s not just about this team, it’s about the next team, and the next team after that. We have to have a team competing for every tournament now. I’m in charge at the moment, but I have to make sure the next manager is in a healthy position as well. The country is most important, so I have to keep looking at young players and exposing them as well.”
The established names have also made headlines since Bellamy’s appointment. From Joe Allen’s return to international football and subsequent second retirement to Harry Wilson’s emergence as the attacking talisman with his six goals, new stories continue to be written about this new era. Rabbi Matondo, Joe Rodon, Liam Cullen and Sorba Thomas have all registered their first Cymru goals, while Ben Davies has captained his team by example in the absence of the Aaron Ramsey.
One exciting shift for Cymru in this qualifying campaign is how their ten goals from the opening four games have been scored by nine different players. For a team that relied for so long on Gareth Bale to make the difference in front of goal, the stat represents how Bellamy has implemented his tactical plan to involve more players in the final third and how he isn’t afraid to experiment with his forward line.
Injuries have also pushed Bellamy’s plans to the limit during his tenure, with the influential Ethan Ampadu and Wilson joining Ramsey on the sidelines during the last year. However, their unavailability has provided the opportunity for others to impress. Bellamy has set unwavering standards for his players from his first day, and those who deliver on his demands will be rewarded.
World Cup ambition
Although Cymru made it to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, an underwhelming tournament saw the side exit at the group stage. Now with four World Cup qualifiers remaining ahead of the finals next summer, the ambition is clear. “We want to go to a World Cup,” explained Bellamy in November last year. “We’ve got to get that ticked off. If we get there, we want to then be competing. These players deserve to be there competing because of their buy-in.”
Between games, Bellamy has used his time to connect with the Red Wall at events across the country, taking the opportunity to share his vision with the fans. His commitment to the role is fuelled by his passion to see his country compete at major tournaments and succeed on the world stage.
Cymru have made significant strides forward under Bellamy during his ten games as head coach. The players and fans share in the belief that his approach has generated and there is a real unity within the group that can push this side over line.
The good and the bad of the Belgium defeat will be used to ensure the team are ready when the competitive action returns against Kazakhstan next month, and the culmination of this campaign is one that you will not want to miss.
