Wales is absolutely staring down a brutal run right now, sitting dead last in League A Group 4 of the Nations League after kicking off their campaign with back-to-back losses to Portugal and Denmark. That’s not just a rough start, folks; it’s part of a bigger slump, marking three successive losses for the squad and a whopping six games without a single win since they crushed North Macedonia in World Cup qualifying last November.
You’d think there’d be some serious talk about unfair pressure on manager Craig Bellamy, especially with Norway coming to Cardiff this Thursday, followed by Denmark on Sunday. But Bellamy? He’s not having any of it. When asked if it was unfair to suggest they’re under the gun for results given the caliber of opposition, he shot back, “No, I don’t see it [as] unfair. I see it [as being] as it should be. You don’t win and you lose a few games in a row, you should be asked questions. You’ll get some people who maybe will see it and understand a bit, but I don’t want anyone to understand. We should always demand and… I’m no different.” Talk about owning the moment!
Injuries Piling Up, But Bellamy Stays Gritty
This tough patch is clearly the most difficult stretch of Bellamy’s tenure, which, let’s not forget, actually started with a phenomenal nine-game unbeaten run and even saw them promoted from Nations League B. They even snagged second place behind Belgium in World Cup qualifying before getting knocked out by Bosnia-Herzegovina in the play-off semi-final. That semi-final loss, by the way, was the kickoff to this current winless streak they’re desperate to snap against Norway. Bellamy knew this was coming, telling everyone, “I knew what I was coming into and I said when I was nine, 10 games unbeaten, there will be moments [like this] – it’s inevitable.” He’s trying to show everyone that he’s not just going to “go crazy,” instead focusing on getting the team and himself to improve.
And it’s not like the team is at full strength, either. Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks, who actually started that 1-0 loss in Portugal, was out for the 2-0 defeat in Denmark and won’t be in the lineup for Norway because of injury. On top of that, Wales is already missing key players like their first-choice goalkeeper Karl Darlow, centre-backs Joe Rodon and Dylan Lawlor, and crucial forward Harry Wilson. So, yeah, the deck is stacked against them right now.
Kompany’s Shadow: Bellamy’s Unexpected Source of Hope
Looking for a spark, Bellamy’s actually pulling inspiration from his time as an assistant to Vincent Kompany at Burnley. He’s talking about how you never truly get beaten, it’s about what you learn and how you improve. Bellamy shared, “I’ve been there as a player and I’ve been there as a coach. I went for a whole season only losing two games as a coach [at Burnley] to the next season only winning two games. That coach then [Kompany, who is now Bayern Munich boss], where’s he now? What’s he doing? But it was the moment when he wasn’t winning, that’s the coach you see now. That’s what I got to witness. So for me I’m always, yeah, keep working, keep going.” It’s a cliché, sure, but the guy who only won two games one season is now managing Bayern Munich. That’s a heck of a lesson.
The challenge is real, especially with Norway’s Erling Haaland having already bagged three of their four goals in this Nations League campaign. Norway, by the way, were beaten 2 [the source article cuts off here].
So, can Bellamy’s crew turn it around? They’ve got Norway on Thursday at Cardiff City Stadium, then Denmark on Sunday. It’s time for Wales to dig deep and show some fight, because the questions aren’t stopping until the wins start rolling in.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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