After the bitter taste of missing this summer’s World Cup, Craig Bellamy’s Wales squad isn’t getting any gentle re-entry. Nope, they’re jumping straight into the absolute fire, kicking off their UEFA Nations League League A Group Four campaign with a brutal four matches packed into just 10 days. Talk about a baptism by fire, right?
Kicking Off Against Giants
This insane gauntlet starts Thursday, September 24th, with a trip to Lisbon to face none other than Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. Yeah, that Ronaldo, who at 41 years old is still getting selected and could face Wales for the first time since he scored that crucial header that led Portugal to a 2-0 win in the Euro 2016 semi-final. Portugal, fresh off reaching the World Cup last 16 where eventual winners Spain barely edged them out with a late Mikel Merino strike, is no joke. Then, just three days later on Sunday, Wales heads to Denmark. The Danes might’ve missed the World Cup, but don’t sleep on them; they’re ranked 21st in the world and loaded with quality like Napoli’s Rasmus Hojlund, Porto’s Victor Froholdt, and Brentford playmaker Mikkel Damsgaard. Denmark has also won their last three against the Dragons, including an Euro 2020 last 16 clash. Seriously, what a start to the campaign!
Home Stand, Haaland Horror, and Coach’s Choices
After those two brutal away tests, Wales finally gets to host some action at Cardiff City Stadium. First up, Norway rolls into town on October 1st. And guess who’s leading their attack? The one and only Erling Haaland, who’s bagged an unbelievable 62 goals in just 54 international appearances. Norway themselves reached the World Cup quarter-finals before England took them out 2-1 thanks to a Jude Bellingham brace. Wales hasn’t even played Norway since 2011, when a team featuring Gareth Bale, Sam Vokes, and even current boss Craig Bellamy netted a 4-1 win. Then, just three days later on October 4th, Denmark comes calling again for the second leg of their group battles. It’s absolutely relentless!
Squad Deep Dives and Bellamy’s Big Call
But the challenge isn’t just the opponents; it’s who’s actually available for Bellamy. The squad is already facing gaps in defense with Joe Rodon and Dylan Lawlor unavailable. On top of that, injuries have sidelined key players like talisman Harry Wilson, Nathan Broadhead, and their number one keeper Karl Darlow. That’s a lot of firepower out! It’s opened the door for some fresh faces though: Cardiff City’s Cian Ashford, Huddersfield Town forward Joe Taylor, and veteran keeper David Cornell from Leicester City are all earning their first call-ups. Plus, Reading midfielder Charlie Savage, Oxford United’s Mark Harris, and Leicester duo Wes Burns and Liam Cullen are back in the mix, with Burns potentially making his first international appearance since way back in 2024. And speaking of Bellamy, he was subject to intense speculation over the Burnley managerial gig this summer, but he shut it down. His take? “I had a decision to make and I made it. It didn’t break down. I said no, it’s not for me.” He’s all in with Wales, clearly.
So get ready, because this whole wild ride kicks off Thursday against Portugal in Lisbon. After the World Cup heartbreak, every single one of these four matches in 10 days is a chance for Wales to reset, prove what this squad is truly made of, and fight through some serious adversity. Can Bellamy rally the Dragons through this insane schedule with so many key players out? We’re about to find out, and it’s going to be absolutely compelling viewing.
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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