WALES BOSS BELLAMY AIMING TO KEEP WORLD CUP DREAM ALIVE
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By: Fasasi Hammad
Manager Craig Bellamy told AFP on Friday that he “feels a responsibility” to lead Wales to this summer’s World Cup, ahead of a crucial home play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina later this month.
The former Manchester City and Liverpool forward has impressed since taking charge of Wales in July 2024, putting the North America World Cup within reach.
Wales previously qualified for the 2022 Qatar World Cup under coach Rob Page, marking the country’s first appearance in 64 years for a nation of just over three million people.
Bellamy, a former international, said guiding his native Wales back to football’s biggest stage would “definitely have to be up there” among his career achievements.
He added, “It keeps that momentum. For us, where we’ve reached now, we have to keep striving to qualify and remain in major tournaments because it allows us to grow. Football in Wales has grown a lot over the past 10 to 12 years. The excitement around our game has been huge. You want to keep hold of that.”
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Bellamy, who earned 78 caps and scored 19 goals for Wales, emphasized, “So I feel a responsibility to keep this going.”
The 46-year-old was in Hong Kong to launch the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens, a tournament featuring two of his former clubs, West Ham and Newcastle, but his focus remains firmly on Wales’ match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in front of a home crowd in Cardiff on March 26.
A win would see Wales face Italy or Northern Ireland for a spot at the finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In the Premier League, where Bellamy scored 81 goals, set pieces—especially corners—have become a key tactic, particularly for leaders Arsenal.
While some have criticised the league’s reliance on dead-ball situations, with Liverpool manager Arne Slot calling it unappealing, Bellamy believes there is no “right or wrong” in playing styles.
However, he wants to see the ball in play more often to preserve the speed and spectacle that makes the Premier League the world’s top league. “If you take too long on set plays, it becomes a problem,” he said. “The best part of our game is its speed; that’s why it’s the biggest and best league. We can’t slow it down.”
Bellamy also rejected tactics like goalkeepers faking injuries to waste time. “It’s a coach’s responsibility to use every trick he can,” he said, “but I’m not a fan. We have discussed it—you have to, but to me it doesn’t sit well.”
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