Craig Bellamy says questions over Wales’ form are fair as they face Norway

Image source, FAW

Image caption, Craig Bellamy was appointed Wales boss on a four-year deal in June 2024

• Published12 minutes ago

Craig Bellamy says he accepts that questions will be asked about Wales’ form as they prepare for Thursday’s Nations League game against Norway in Cardiff.

Wales are bottom of League A Group 4 following opening defeats in Portugal and Denmark.

It is now three successive losses in total for Wales – and six games without a win – since they thumped North Macedonia in World Cup qualifying last November.

Bellamy’s side will complete what has so far proved a challenging international window by hosting Norway and then Denmark on Sunday.

When asked whether it would be unfair to suggest Wales are under pressure to deliver results in those games given the calibre of opposition, Bellamy said: “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.”

Wales v Norway

Nations League Group A4

Thursday, 1 October, 19:45 BST

Cardiff City Stadium

Watch on iPlayer
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Live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and 5 Live, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.

This is comfortably the most difficult spell of Bellamy’s reign, which began with a nine-game unbeaten run and promotion from Nations League B.

Wales then finished second behind Belgium in World Cup qualifying, but lost at the play-off semi-final stage to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

That was the start of the winless sequence which Wales will attempt to end against Norway at Cardiff City Stadium.

“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,” Bellamy added.

“Now in the moments, you’ll see a bit more of me because I think you all thought I’d go crazy but no, I want us as a team to improve and I want to improve as a coach.”

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Injuries still concerning for Wales

Bournemouth midfielder David Brooks, who began the 1-0 loss in Portugal last Thursday, missed Sunday’s 2-0 defeat in Denmark and will again be absent through injury against Norway.

Wales were already without a number of players including first-choice goalkeeper Karl Darlow, centre-backs Joe Rodon and Dylan Lawlor and key forward Harry Wilson.

As his side look for inspiration, Bellamy has pointed to his spell as assistant to Vincent Kompany at Burnley as a reason for optimism.

“You never truly get beaten and I’m sorry, it’s a cliche saying it, but it’s what you learn… how can you improve?” he said.

“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.”

Haaland likened to Lomu

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Erling Haaland has scored three of Norway’s four goals in this Nations League campaign

Norway were beaten 2-1 at home by Portugal on Sunday having begun their Nations League campaign with a 3-2 home victory over Denmark.

That was Norway’s first game since the World Cup, when they overcame Brazil in the round of 16 before losing out to England in the quarter-finals.

Norway have fitness concerns over Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, but Wales can expect to face Erling Haaland, scorer of 65 goals in 57 internationals.

Bellamy dismissed the suggestion that the striker may be affected by news that his club, Manchester City, have been found guilty of breaking the majority of the 115 financial rules they were accused of breaching.

“I don’t think he’ll be distracted. The guy’s a machine – have you seen his record at international level?” Bellamy said.

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“He just wants to score – that isn’t stopping. He’s brilliant. If you love football, you have to appreciate him.”

Bellamy, a former striker himself, went on to compare Haaland to former New Zealand rugby superstar Jonah Lomu.

“It’s very rare you have a player who’s his size and has his mobility,” he added.

“When you see certain moments in sporting careers or certain sports, you remember the Jonah Lomu factor, we’re coming through the Haaland factor in this present moment.

“Now we will adapt, the game will adapt. How we’re able to combat that is going to be another challenge, but an exciting challenge.”