Wales is currently staring down three straight losses, sitting dead last in Nations League A Group 4, and manager Craig Bellamy isn’t ducking any of the heat. Bottom of their group after opening defeats to Portugal and Denmark, this squad is in a real slump, and Bellamy fully accepts that questions about their form are not only fair, but necessary.
Bellamy’s Reign Hits Its Toughest Stretch
Let’s be real, this is a gut punch for Wales fans. It’s now three successive losses and a brutal six games without a win since they thumped North Macedonia way back last November. This is, without a doubt, the most difficult spell of Bellamy’s entire reign, which, if you remember, kicked off with a stellar nine-game unbeaten run and promotion 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-finals. That play-off exit? Yeah, that was the start of this brutal winless streak.
Bellamy, appointed back in June 2024 on a four-year deal, isn’t surprised by these rough patches, saying, “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 gets it. He doesn’t want anyone to “understand” or make excuses. He wants demand. He wants improvement, both from his team and from himself as a coach. You gotta respect that.
The Injury Bug And A Beacon Of Hope?
It’s not just the form, either; injuries are piling up like crazy. Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks, who actually started the 1-0 loss in Portugal, was out for the 2-0 defeat in Denmark and won’t play against Norway. And he’s just the tip of the iceberg. Wales is also missing their first-choice goalkeeper Karl Darlow, starting center-backs Joe Rodon and Dylan Lawlor, and key forward Harry Wilson. Losing that many core guys? That’s going to hurt any team, especially when you’re already struggling to find a win.
So, where’s the inspiration coming from? Bellamy’s looking back to his time as an assistant under Vincent Kompany at Burnley. He saw Kompany go from a season losing only two games to the next season winning only two. That struggle, Bellamy says, is what forged the coach Kompany is today (now the Bayern Munich boss). It’s a cliche, he admits, but it’s about what you learn when things go south. That’s the mindset he’s trying to instill.
A Looming Challenge: Norway and Haaland
Wales will try to break this winless curse against Norway on Thursday in Cardiff before facing Denmark on Sunday. And let’s be honest, Norway isn’t some walk in the park. They’ve got Erling Haaland, who’s already bagged three of Norway’s four Nations League goals this campaign. Norway kicked off their Nations League with a 3-2 home victory over Denmark, then got edged out 2-1 at home by Portugal. They even beat Brazil in the World Cup Round of 16 before falling to England in the quarter-finals. Plus, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has some fitness concerns, which might be the only silver lining for Wales.
This Thursday’s match against Norway at Cardiff City Stadium isn’t just another game. It’s a chance for Bellamy’s side to dig deep, show some of that fight he’s talking about, and finally snap this brutal winless streak. No more hiding, no more excuses. It’s time to deliver.
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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